PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darren Jacks (ranked 3370 p4p, 366 weight class) and Henry Armstrong (ranked 6072 p4p, 495 weight class). Armstrong comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 999 - Homicide kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Darren Jacks has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Jacks
vs
Armstrong

176 cm
21
170 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

165 cm
29
160 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Darren Jacks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Henry Armstrong!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Armstrong will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Armstrong avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Armstrong connects with a high kick.
Armstrong doesn't manage to clinch there - Jacks circles away.
Armstrong ducks under a wild hook from Jacks.
We've been informed that Armstrong has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
No joy there for Armstrong, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jacks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A decent looking cross lands there for Jacks.
Jacks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Jacks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Armstrong looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Armstrong dodges the ground and pound from Jacks.

Armstrong explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Armstrong throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jacks has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Oooooh!!! Armstrong has knocked Jacks down with a huge combo! Armstrong steps away and waves a wobbly Jacks back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Armstrong throws a hook but Jacks blocks it.
Jacks attempts a counter takedown but Armstrong avoids it well and moves away.
Henry Armstrong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Armstrong swings for the body but Jacks moves out of range.
Jacks half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jacks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Armstrong.
Jacks half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jacks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Armstrong checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Armstrong swings for the body but Jacks moves out of range.
Jacks drops down looking for a counter takedown but Armstrong sprawls and moves away.
Henry Armstrong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Armstrong doesn't manage to clinch there - Jacks circles away.
Armstrong tries to close the distance and clinch but Jacks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Jacks shoots in and gets a takedown into Armstrong's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Armstrong wants to stand and escape but Jacks is having none of it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jacks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jacks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jacks postures up in Armstrong's guard and throws a big left but Armstrong blocks it.
Armstrong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Jacks is controlling him.
Jacks throws a big right hand that misses.
Armstrong wants to get back to his feet but Jacks is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Armstrong is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Jacks trying to control but Armstrong is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jacks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jacks works over Armstrong with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Armstrong keeping moving, preventing Jacks from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Armstrong is looking to stand up but Jacks isn't so interested in that idea.
Armstrong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Armstrong manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jacks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Armstrong.
Jacks throws an overhand right that lands on Armstrong's shoulder, as Armstrong tries to avoid the shot.

Jacks feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Armstrong uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Jacks shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Armstrong is trying to stand up here but Jacks is controlling him well.
Jacks lands with a punch from half guard.
Jacks stops Armstrong from getting back to his feet.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Jacks connects with a nice short shot to Armstrong's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jacks tries to pass the half guard into mount. Armstrong knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jacks throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Armstrong pushes Jacks off and gets back to his feet.
Armstrong scores with a one two! Jacks had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Armstrong throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jacks fails with the takedown.
Armstrong is looking to clinch but Jacks is avoiding it.
Armstrong lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Jacks getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jacks checks a low kick from Armstrong.
Armstrong wants to clinch up but Jacks keeps it at a distance.
Jacks cracks Armstrong with an open hand slap.

It looks like Henry Armstrong has been cut.

Armstrong lands a left and a right that send Jacks crashing to the mat, dazed. Armstrong thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Jacks is rocked!

Armstrong moves into the clinch.
Oh Jacks is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Armstrong creates some distance for himself and unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Jacks's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Jacks drops to his knees and Armstrong pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Henry Armstrong!
Henry Armstrong decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.