PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Jackson (ranked 3772 p4p, 385 weight class) and Troy Niklas (ranked 3573 p4p, 371 weight class). Niklas has chosen Pretty Fly (For a White Guy) by The Offspring as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Troy Niklas is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Jackson
vs
Niklas

191 cm
20
266 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

196 cm
26
265 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Knockout power

424 Co.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Zack Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Troy Niklas!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Niklas wants to clinch.

Niklas has managed to clinch.
Jackson blocking some punches.
Niklas looking to stall.
Niklas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Niklas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Niklas struggles to land a body shot inside as Jackson controls his hands.
Niklas doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niklas is defending well against a takedown attempt.
I was talking to Jackson's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Niklas misses with a punch on the inside.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jackson blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niklas can't find room to land a body shot as Jackson controls the action.
A head punch on the inside from Niklas fails to land.
Niklas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jackson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Niklas is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Niklas being controlled against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Niklas scores with a nice short uppercut.
Niklas struggles to land a body shot inside as Jackson controls his hands.
Niklas misses with the head strike.
Jackson is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Niklas working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niklas.
Niklas misses with some punches.
Niklas is pushing Jackson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niklas misses with a punch on the inside.
Niklas prevents the takedown attempt.
Jackson wants to take the fight to the mat but Niklas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Niklas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Niklas misses with the head strike.
Niklas swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Come on Niklas - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Still in the clinch, Niklas scores with a nice short uppercut.
Niklas prevents a takedown attempt there.
The referee is keeping an eye on Niklas - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niklas throws a head punch that misses.
Jackson wants a takedown.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niklas.
Niklas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jackson.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jackson is looking for a takedown.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jackson.
Jackson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Niklas after a bit of a struggle.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niklas.
Niklas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Niklas throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson has Niklas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niklas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Niklas lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Niklas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Niklas misses with a punch on the inside.
Niklas stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Niklas swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niklas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Niklas working aggressively here.
Jackson blocks a body shot from Niklas.
Niklas working aggressively here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niklas swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jackson blocks a body shot from Niklas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy Niklas dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Niklas clinches up against the cage.
Niklas throws a head punch that misses.
Jackson goes for a takedown attempt but Niklas pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Niklas has closed the distance and engaged Jackson in a clinch.
Niklas misses with the head strike.
Jackson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Niklas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The referee calls for Niklas to work.
Niklas misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niklas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Niklas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Jackson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niklas lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch on the inside from Niklas fails to land.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Niklas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Niklas working aggressively here.
Niklas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Niklas has a couple of punches blocked by Jackson.
Niklas presses Jackson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Niklas working aggressively here.
Troy Niklas seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A head punch on the inside from Niklas fails to land.
Niklas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jackson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Niklas is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from Niklas.
Niklas content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Niklas lands a nice uppercut.
Jackson blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niklas prevents it.
Niklas throws a head punch that misses.
Niklas tries a body shot but Jackson blocks it.
Niklas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niklas misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Niklas.
Niklas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Niklas throws a head punch that misses.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Jackson tries to score a body lock takedown but Niklas shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Niklas tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Niklas stops a takedown attempt from Jackson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niklas gets through Jackson's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Niklas misses with the head strike.
Niklas tries to work over Jackson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niklas.
Niklas lands a right hand that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Niklas lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Jackson.
Niklas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Niklas.
Niklas swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niklas scores with a shoulder strike.
Niklas has a couple of punches blocked by Jackson.
Niklas throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Niklas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niklas struggles to land a body shot inside as Jackson controls his hands.
Niklas has a couple of punches blocked by Jackson.
Jackson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Niklas pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Niklas tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Niklas working aggressively here.
Jackson has Niklas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niklas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Niklas tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Jackson's elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Niklas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jackson trying to stall but Niklas improves his position.
Niklas has a couple of punches blocked by Jackson.
Niklas misses with the head strike.
Niklas is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Troy Niklas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Niklas drives through and clinches with Jackson against the cage.
Niklas lands with a left to the head.
Niklas avoiding damage.
Niklas scores with a nice hook to the head.
Niklas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Niklas fails to land.
Niklas holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Jackson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Niklas is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Niklas swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Niklas misses with a punch on the inside.
Jackson wants to take the fight to the mat but Niklas manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niklas working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Jackson as Niklas tries to tie him up.
Niklas lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Niklas lands a shoulder strike.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Niklas manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zack Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice left hand lands by Niklas.
Niklas throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jacksons head.
Niklas lands a hook to the side of the head.

Jackson is rocked!
Niklas misses with the head strike.
Niklas trying to control the position but instead, Jackson has worked for underhooks and has pushed Niklas into the cage.
Niklas swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niklas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niklas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niklas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Niklas swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jackson blocking some punches.
Niklas tries to throw a body punch but Jackson avoids it by throwing Niklas back against the cage.
Niklas prevents the takedown attempt.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Niklas takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Jackson blocks an uppercut.
Niklas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jackson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Niklas lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Jackson blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Niklas misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jackson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The referee calls for Niklas to work.
Jackson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Niklas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Niklas.
Troy Niklas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jackson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Niklas lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Niklas working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Niklas fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson blocks an uppercut.
Niklas scores with a shoulder strike.
Jackson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Niklas after a bit of a struggle.
Zack Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson tries for a takedown but Niklas manages to get underhooks.
Jackson has Niklas pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Niklas manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Niklas pushes Jackson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Niklas softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Troy Niklas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Niklas winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 24:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 24:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Troy Niklas!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Troy Niklas made sure he mentioned 424 Co., along with how happy he was to win his fight.