PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Jackson (ranked 3822 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Aarnio (ranked 2752 p4p, 295 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jackson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Beat It. Aarnio comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ice Cube - Why We Thugs kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jackson
vs
Aarnio

190 cm
34
202 lbs
21 - 18 - 0

198 cm
37
190 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 18 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikael Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jari Aarnio!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Columbo Gatti and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice combination there by Jackson.
Aarnio takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Jackson just misses with a punch to the body.
A low kick from Jackson is predictable there
and Aarnio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Aarnio, which made it look bad.
Aarnio wants to counter with a clinch but Jackson pushes him away.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Jackson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
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!
Aarnio is trying to control Jackson's posture but Jackson avoids it.
Aarnio is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Aarnio is looking to regain half guard here but Jackson keeps moving and retains side control.
Jackson working the strikes but Aarnio uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Jackson wants to work for an arm triangle but Aarnio is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jackson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Jackson controlling the pace.
Jackson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Still in half guard, Jackson seems content to control.
Jackson wants to control but Aarnio is keeping him busy.

Aarnio makes his way to full guard, as Jackson worked for a kimura.
Jackson stands and throws Aarnio's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Aarnio is trying to get back to half guard.
Aarnio regains half guard.
Aarnio is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson moves nicely into side control.
Aarnio is not content to let Jackson control the position.
Check out the look on Jackson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Jackson trying to control the position but Aarnio is working away.
Aarnio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jackson off and has taken his back!

Aarnio working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Jackson is trying to break free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aarnio is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Jackson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Jackson for a finish.

Jackson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Aarnio's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Jackson tries to break free.

Aarnio has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Jackson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Aarnio wants to control the position but Jackson frees himself and scrambles - Aarnio manages to regain control in side control.
Aarnio wants to control but Jackson is keeping him busy.
Jackson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikael Jackson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Aarnio drops his hands momentarily and Jackson takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Aarnio checks a leg kick.
Aarnio with the counter takedown but Jackson avoids it easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Aarnio checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Aarnio throws a fast counter high kick but Jackson manages to duck under it in time.
Jackson misses with the combination.
Aarnio changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Aarnio but Aarnio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aarnio is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aarnio blocks a low kick nicely.
Jackson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Jackson misses the body punch
and Aarnio counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson thows a leg kick but Aarnio checks it

and Aarnio counters with a shoot takedown. Jackson fights it but they end up in guard.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Aarnio controls the pace.
Aarnio pushing down on Jackson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Aarnio seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jackson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Aarnio moves into full mount! Jackson won't be happy about that!
Aarnio fails to move to back control.
Jackson tries to lock up and control but Aarnio gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Aarnio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jackson is desperately trying to improve his position but Aarnio has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to hold on but Aarnio pushes him away.
Aarnio has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Jackson's face.
Aarnio fails to advance to Jackson's back.
Aarnio trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jackson tries to hold on but Aarnio postures up.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Aarnio has hold of Jackson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Jackson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Jackson tries to reverse the position but Aarnio maintains control.
Jackson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Aarnio passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jackson!
Aarnio controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is desperately trying to improve his position but Aarnio has a good base and remains in mount.
Aarnio looking to control but Jackson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Aarnio is looking to work his way around to Jackson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Jackson is desperately trying to improve his position but Aarnio has a good base and remains in mount.
Aarnio is looking to work his way around to Jackson's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Jackson is trying to escape the mount but Aarnio keeps good control and instead manages to take Jackson's back.
Aarnio trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Aarnio. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Jackson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Aarnio's arms.
You can see the frustration on Jackson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aarnio looking for the RNC.
Aarnio is landing with strikes from the back.
Jackson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Aarnio wants to take Jackson's back but he can't do it this time.
Jackson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Jackson is squirming around, avoiding Aarnio's attempts to control the action.
Aarnio prevents Jackson from getting the reversal.
Jackson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Aarnio wants to control the pace but Jackson is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aarnio fails to advance to Jackson's back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Aarnio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Aarnio has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jackson.
Aarnio stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Jackson.
Jackson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Aarnio. That did some damage!
Jackson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Nice sprawl there from Jackson as Aarnio shoots in.
Jackson tries to counter with a takedown but Aarnio is quick to defend against it.

Jackson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jackson showed some decent athleticism there.

Jackson seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aarnio regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Jackson.
Jackson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jackson stopping the sweep attempt from Aarnio.
Aarnio lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Aarnio avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Aarnio pushing down on Jackson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Jackson is looking to improve his position.
Jackson is working hard here to advance position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio wants to control but Jackson is keeping him busy.

Jackson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Aarnio takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Aarnio throws a sloppy head kick and Jackson moves out of range easily.
Aarnio has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jackson.
Jackson misses with a low kick.
Aarnio walks into a jab.
Mikael Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jackson works the jab nicely.
Jackson misses with a hook
and Aarnio counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Aarnio gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jackson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aarnio's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aarnio moves out of range of the leg kick from Jackson.
Aarnio steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Nice defenses there by Aarnio.
Jackson misses with a looping right.
Aarnio feints the counter takedown.
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Aarnio saw that one coming.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Aarnio checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Aarnio tries for a takedown but Jackson circles away easily
and Jackson counters with a nice uppercut.
Mikael Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jari Aarnio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aarnio closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Jackson misses with an uppercut
and Aarnio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jackson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson throws a jab but it's blocked by Aarnio.
And Aarnio tries to counter it with a takedown but Jackson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Jackson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikael Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jackson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikael Jackson!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Mikael Jackson made sure he mentioned Sin City Allstars, along with how happy he was to win his fight.