PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eli Gardenia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve Jackson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jackson
vs
Gardenia

198 cm
27
220 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

212 cm
24
222 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great elbows
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Eli Gardenia!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gardenia scores with a hook.
Jackson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jackson misses with a body kick.
Gardenia goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Jackson moves into the clinch.
Jackson has Gardenia pressed against the cage.
Jackson misses with a knee to the head.
Jackson lands a damaging elbow.

Gardenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jackson moves in looking to clinch but Gardenia pushes him off.
Jackson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gardenia lands with a straight right. Jackson didn't see that one coming.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gardenia is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gardenia keeps the fight on the outside.
Gardenia just misses with a punch to the body.
Gardenia circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gardenia cracks Jackson with a good jab.
The crowd cheers as Gardenia lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jackson doesn't seem phased though.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gardenia scores with a hook to the body. Jackson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Gardenia scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jackson in his tracks.
Jackson wants to clinch
letting Gardenia counter with a right hand.
Gardenia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gardenia scores with a body shot.
Gardenia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gardenia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gardenia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gardenia dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jackson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Gardenia has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gardenia connects with a single shot there.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gardenia fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jackson takes one to the chin there.
Jackson avoids the body shot from Gardenia.
A low kick from Jackson is predictable there
and Gardenia counters with a two punch combo.
Gardenia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jackson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Gardenia.
Gardenia connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jackson moves to clinch but Gardenia breaks away
letting Gardenia counter with a right hand.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice body punch from Gardenia.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Gardenia on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gardenia is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Gardenia scores with a shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Gardenia.
Jackson tries to clinch but Gardenia is having none of it.
A countering left hand to the body from Gardenia misses.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Gardenia swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It seemed like Gardenia was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Gardenia is avoiding it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gardenia. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gardenia connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jackson's hands.
Jackson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Jackson takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gardenia.
Gardenia connects with a looping right hand.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Gardenia circles away and keeps his distance.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Gardenia works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Jackson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gardenia comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gardenia, as that shot connected.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Gardenia circles away and keeps his distance.
Gardenia doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Jackson walks into a stiff left hand from Gardenia.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gardenia, as that shot connected.
Jackson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gardenia counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jackson thinking.
Gardenia is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Jackson had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Gardenia keeps it at a distance.
Gardenia scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Gardenia is avoiding it.
Jackson tries to clinch there but Gardenia circles away.
Gardenia scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Gardenia throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson is looking to counter the offense by Gardenia and move into the clinch.
Jackson tries to clinch
and Gardenia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gardenia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gardenia takes a swing at Jackson's ribcage but misses.
Jackson is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Gardenia.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A cross from Gardenia lands.
Gardenia jabs at Jackson's body.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Gardenia paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gardenia scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gardenia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Gardenia digs a good body shot into Jackson's ribs.
Gardenia wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Eli Gardenia seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jackson misses with the body kick
and Gardenia counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Jackson tries a head kick but it misses.
Jackson tries to clinch but Gardenia moves away
and Gardenia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gardenia bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gardenia lands with a good body shot.
Jackson tries to clinch but Gardenia moves away
and Jackson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jackson tries to clinch but Gardenia is having none of it.
Steve Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gardenia scores with a sloppy right hand. Jackson should have avoided that one.
Gardenia has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jackson moves in looking to clinch but Gardenia pushes him off.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gardenia scores with a one two! Jackson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Gardenia connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jackson momentarily.
Gardenia has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A cross from Gardenia lands.
Gardenia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jackson wants to clinch but Gardenia slips to the side
and Gardenia counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jackson thinking.
Gardenia stuns Jackson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Gardenia is avoiding it.

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Gardenia.
Jackson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gardenia is keeping busy.
Jackson throws an elbow that misses.

Gardenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gardenia comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jab by Gardenia.
Gardenia dips to his left and cracks Jackson with an uppercut!
Jackson darts in trying to clinch
and Gardenia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gardenia keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson misses with the combination.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jackson doesn't manage to clinch there - Gardenia circles away.
Gardenia cracks Jackson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gardenia swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson tries to land a body kick
and Gardenia counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jackson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Gardenia against the cage.
Jackson trying to land knees to the body.

Gardenia escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gardenia avoids the body shot from Jackson.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Gardenia fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jackson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Gardenia lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gardenia cracks Jackson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jackson takes one to the chin there.
Jackson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Gardenia connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Jackson scrambles back to his feet.
Jackson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Gardenia counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gardenia lands a jab to the nose.
Gardenia throws a shot to the body.
Jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gardenia counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gardenia wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gardenia jabs Jackson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gardenia lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson closes the distance but Gardenia moves to the side
and Gardenia counters with a left to the body.
Jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gardenia counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Good exchange - Gardenia coming out on top.
Nice straight punches there by Gardenia. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Gardenia.
Gardenia connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jackson momentarily.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gardenia, as that shot connected.
Gardenia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gardenia lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jackson tries to clinch up.
Jackson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Gardenia keeps it at a distance.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Gardenia lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jackson backs up against the cage.
Gardenia jabs Jackson right on the nose. Jackson blinks but takes it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eli Gardenia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gardenia just misses with a punch to the body.
Gardenia swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
Jackson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Jackson tries to clinch but Gardenia moves away
and Gardenia counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jackson thinking.
The fighters circle momentarily. Gardenia darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Gardenia lunges at Jackson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jackson's hand.
Gardenia clobbers Jackson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gardenia connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Jackson's hands.
Gardenia throws a shot to the body.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Gardenia scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab by Gardenia.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to control Gardenia's arms but Gardenia gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jackson has his back to the cage.
Gardenia scores with a hook to the body.
Gardenia on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Jackson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gardenia avoids it.
Jackson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gardenia wants to break free but Jackson has control.
Gardenia avoids the elbow strike from Jackson, against the cage.

Gardenia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gardenia lands with a good body shot.
Jackson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jackson closes the distance but Gardenia moves to the side
and Gardenia counters with a nice uppercut.
Gardenia scores with a hook to the body. Jackson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Steve Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gardenia lands an overhand right.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jackson tries to clinch
and Gardenia counters with a one-two to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gardenia digs a good hook to Jackson's body.
Gardenia scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Jackson doesn't seem bothered though.
Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Gardenia scores with a nice strike.
Gardenia scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Jackson is rocked!
Jab from Gardenia.
Oh Jackson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Jackson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Gardenia drops Jackson with a straight left! Oh this is bad for Jackson! Gardenia dives in and starts dropping bombs - the referee has no choice but to step in and save him!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eli Gardenia!