PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jimmy Jackson (ranked 5998 p4p, 525 weight class) and Vaai Finau (ranked 23363 p4p, 588 weight class). Jimmy Jackson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Vaai Finau's chin.

Jackson
vs
Finau

196 cm
27
215 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

196 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Dangerous GnP
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jimmy Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vaai Finau!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Ben Hemmingworth and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finau is looking to score with low kicks.
As Finau looks to move away, Jackson throws a big counter combo but Finau just gets out of the way.
Finau misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Finau throws a head kick that misses
and Jackson counters with a left and a right that stings Finau.
Jackson keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Finau gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Finau looking to stall.
Finau tries to pull guard but Jackson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Jackson stalling the fight.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson has Finau pushed against the cage.
Finau is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Finau lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau prevents Jackson from breaking the clinch.

Finau manages to break the clinch.
Jackson slips a straight right by Finau.
Jackson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The fighters circle momentarily. Finau darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Finau lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Jimmy Jackson has been cut.
Finau loads up on a big right hand but Jackson slips the punch.
Jackson walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vaai Finau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Finau throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Jackson is looking to counter punch.
Finau shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Finau's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
As Finau looks to move away, Jackson throws a big counter combo but Finau just gets out of the way.
Finau tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Finau displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
A nice leg kick lands there from Finau.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson avoids a punch combination nicely.
A quick step to the side and Jackson tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Finau.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Finau on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jackson walks into a left hand.
Finau pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Finau misses with a hook. Jackson ducked under it nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.
Jackson moves out of range as Finau strikes.
Jackson throwing a counter right hand but Finau manages to avoid it.
Jackson drops his hands momentarily and Finau takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Finau takes a swing at Jackson's ribcage but misses.
Jackson throws a big counter combination but Finau scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finau swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Jackson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Finau lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Jackson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Finau will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jackson throws a big counter combination but Finau scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Finau misses with an uppercut.
Finau lands with a kick to the ribs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Finau, as that shot connected.
Finau throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Finau swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finau lands a leg kick that knocks Jackson off balance momentarily.
Finau lands with a hook. Jackson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Jackson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Finau throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jackson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Finau throws a lazy body kick
and Jackson counters with a left and a right that stings Finau.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Finau lands a head kick!
Jackson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Finau throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
Nice straight punches there by Finau. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Finau.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaai Finau dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Jackson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The crowd cheers as Finau lands an impressive looking overhand right. Jackson doesn't seem phased though.
Finau lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Finau throws a head kick that misses.
Finau misses with a left hand
and Jackson counters with a left and a right that stings Finau.
Finau throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Jackson.
Finau tries to clinch but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson is looking to counter punch.
Finau looks to throw the jab but Jackson is out of range.
Jackson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jackson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Jackson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jackson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Vaai Finau seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jackson takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Finau moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Finau misses the target.
Jackson throws a big counter combination but Finau scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Jackson throws a hook but Finau blocks it.
Finau changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Finau throws a big shot that misses.
Finau misses with a takedown attempt
and Jackson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Finau waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jackson.
Jimmy Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Finau.
Finau throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Jackson throwing a counter right hand but Finau manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finau cracks Jackson with an open hand slap.
Finau swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jackson throwing a counter right hand but Finau manages to avoid it.
A slow jab from Finau misses its intended target.
It looked like Jackson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Finau swings widly with a right hand
and Jackson counters with a left and a right that stings Finau.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Finau shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Finau showed some decent athleticism there.
Jackson is trying to get back to full guard.
Finau thows a huge punch but Jackson dodges it nicely.
Jackson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jackson tries to get out of the position.

Finau seems to be working for a kimura but Jackson defends the submission attempt.
Jackson controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Finau keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Jackson's head.
Jackson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Finau trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finau has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finau stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Finau trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Finau is working Jackson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jackson has Finau pulled in close to control his posture.
Finau postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Finau throwing strikes but missing.
Finau stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Finau fails with a takedown attempt.
Finau lunges at Jackson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jackson's hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vaai Finau showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jimmy Jackson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Finau throws a poor cross that misses
and Jackson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Good standup being displayed there by Finau as he connects with a hook.
Jackson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Finau throws a leg kick but Jackson moved away.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.
Finau looks to land a right hand but Jackson moved out of range.
Jackson lands with a nice body punch.
Finau throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
Jackson throws a big counter combination but Finau scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Finau fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Finau is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jackson.
Finau misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finau cracks Jackson with an open hand slap.
Finau throws a lazy head kick

and Jackson counters with a single leg into guard. Finau didn't expect that.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Finau on the ground.
Finau looking to control.
Finau keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Finau trying to keep a closed guard but Jackson is proving a slippery customer.
Finau is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Jackson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jackson is fighting to break Finau's control of his arms but Finau is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Finau wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.
Vaai Finau is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finau is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Finau wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Finau is pulling down on Jackson's head. It's preventing any offense from Jackson, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Good standup being displayed there by Finau as he connects with a hook.
Finau rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Jackson to counter with a crisp jab.
A jab from Finau finds it's way through Jackson's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson needs to keep his hands up - Finau had a free shot at his head there.
Finau's corner calls for a 1-2. Finau obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
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.
Finau wants to slow Jackson down by chopping away at his legs.
Jackson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A big left from Finau misses.
Finau swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Finau misses with a straight left.
Jackson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Finau wants to clinch.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Finau.
Jackson throwing a counter right hand but Finau manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finau connects with a solid leg kick.
Finau cracks Jackson with an open hand slap.
Jimmy Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Good leg kick by Finau there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Finau throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Jackson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A swing and a miss from Finau.
Finau loads up on a big right hand but Jackson slips the punch.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Finau on that attempt.
Jackson appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Finau smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Jackson blocks a head kick by Finau.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finau's jab looks to have found its range, popping Jackson under the eye.
Finau jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vaai Finau comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Finau 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vaai Finau!
After winning the bout, Vaai Finau thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.