PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Luther Jackson (ranked 1509 p4p, 199 weight class) and Domenik Panayotov (ranked 1596 p4p, 206 weight class). Domenik Panayotov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Jackson
vs
Panayotov

185 cm
25
197 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Luther Jackson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Domenik Panayotov!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Panayotov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Panayotov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jackson dives in for a single leg takedown but Panayotov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've been hearing reports that Jackson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Panayotov lands with a good body shot.
Jackson throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Panayotov to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Luther Jackson has been cut.
Panayotov misses with an uppercut. Jackson saw that one coming.

Jackson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Panayotov is trying to defend but Jackson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Jackson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Panayotov is just riding it out for now. Jackson eventually gives up the hold.
Jackson thows a huge punch but Panayotov dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Panayotov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Panayotov is defending well.
Panayotov is looking for a sweep. Jackson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Jackson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Panayotov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jackson.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Panayotov won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jackson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Jackson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Jackson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Panayotov is looking to improve his position.
Jackson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Panayotov wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy.
Panayotov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Panayotov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Jackson wants to work for an arm triangle but Panayotov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Jackson passes to full mount!
Jackson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson punching from mount but Panayotov doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Panayotov tries to hold on but Jackson postures up.
Panayotov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jackson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson throwing strikes here but Panayotov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Jackson working for a guillotine from mount but Panayotov is in no mood to give up.
Jackson raining down shots from the mount!
Panayotov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Jackson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Panayotov because Jackson loaded up on that one.
Jackson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Jackson has hold of Panayotov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Panayotov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov blocking the ground and pound.
Jackson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jackson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Panayotov because Jackson loaded up on that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jackson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Panayotov is surviving well by controlling Jackson's body position as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Jackson working for a guillotine from mount but Panayotov is in no mood to give up.

Jackson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Panayotov is squirming around, avoiding Jackson's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Jackson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luther Jackson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jackson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Panayotov to the mat! Panayotov manages to get full guard.
Panayotov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson throwing strikes but missing.
Luther Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jackson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.
Jackson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Panayotov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jackson is looking to work some ground and pound but Panayotov has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panayotov controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.
Jackson trying to control but Panayotov is working from the bottom.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jackson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The strikes coming from Jackson are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Panayotov is not content to let Jackson control the position.
Jackson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Panayotov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Jackson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Jackson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
An elbow from Jackson crashes against the mat.
Panayotov tries to improve position but can't.
Jackson tries to score with some ground and pound. Panayotov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Jackson trying to control the action but Panayotov is working from the bottom.
Jackson working the ground and pound but Panayotov is defending the strikes.

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

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Panayotov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jackson looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Panayotov is avoiding damage well.
Panayotov is trying to improve his position.
Panayotov stops Jackson from passing to mount.
Jackson passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Panayotov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Panayotov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Jackson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Jackson is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Panayotov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Panayotov tries to hold on but Jackson postures up.
Jackson misses with a head shot.
Panayotov wants to control but Jackson is having none of it.
Panayotov blocking the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Panayotov wants to control but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Jackson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luther Jackson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Panayotov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Jackson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Panayotov is trying to keep Jackson in close.
Jackson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Panayotov wants to control but Jackson postures up.

Jackson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Panayotov dodges the ground and pound from Jackson.

Jackson has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Panayotov is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Jackson yanks on the arm and Panayotov is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Jackson.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Luther Jackson!
Luther Jackson is the new middleweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Luther Jackson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.