PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luther Jackson (ranked 2714 p4p, 3939 weight class) and Sambo Trambai (ranked 340 p4p, 448 weight class). Jackson comes into the arena with Come As You Are - Nirvana blaring out of the sound system. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Jackson
vs
Trambai

185 cm
38
212
32 - 21 - 0

191 cm
36
218
16 - 7 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Altitude Clothing

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 32 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luther Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Sambo Trambai!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Trambai has taken the fight to the clinch.
Trambai gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jackson.
Trambai lands a right hand.
Jackson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Trambai doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Jackson is trying to maintain a safe position but Trambai gets an underhook and turns Jackson into the ropes.
Jackson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Trambai is trying to stall.
Trambai looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

Jackson has Trambai pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jackson pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Trambai tumbling to the mat - Jackson dives into Trambai's guard.
Trambai controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trambai seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Jackson looking to sit in guard and control but Trambai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jackson has his foot on Trambai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Trambai works his way back into a safe position though.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Jackson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Trambai defends well.
Trambai trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.

Jackson has his foot on Trambai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Trambai works his way back into a safe position though.
Jackson is trying to keep Trambai in close.
Jackson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Trambai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Our spies down at at JAG Battle Gym inform us that Trambai has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Jackson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Trambai is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jackson, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to keep a closed guard but Trambai is proving a slippery customer.
Trambai is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Jackson has his foot on Trambai's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Trambai works his way back into a safe position though.
Trambai wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson is trying to control the position but Trambai postures up.
Trambai looking to sit in guard and control but Jackson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Trambai keeps moving.
Trambai is trying to keep Jackson in close.
Jackson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Trambai swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jackson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Trambai keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luther Jackson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson tries to counter with a takedown but Trambai is quick to defend against it.

Jackson clinches up with Trambai and pushes him back against the ropes.
Jackson lands a body punch.

Trambai pulls guard effortlessly.
Trambai keeping full guard, as Jackson tries to pass.
Trambai trying to control the position here.
Jackson stops Trambai from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Jackson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Trambai manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Jackson has Trambai in his guard.

Trambai wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jackson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Trambai stacks Jackson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Trambai!
Trambai is looking to take a break and control but Jackson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jackson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Jackson wants to control but Trambai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jackson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Trambai wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jackson keeps working.
Jackson wants to improve his position but Trambai is controlling well.

Jackson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Trambai pulls his head out easily.
Trambai is trying to control. Jackson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Jackson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jackson.
Trambai is stalling in the full guard.
Trambai wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trambai wants to pass the guard but Jackson is keeping the position.
Trambai's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Trambai tries to clinch but Jackson is having none of it.
Sambo Trambai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Trambai misses with a punch on the inside.

Trambai pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Trambai tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.

Trambai moves into range and clinches up with Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Jackson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jackson manages to end up in side control.
Trambai is not content to let Jackson control the position.

Jackson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Trambai rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Jackson's guard! Nice work there by Trambai!
Trambai won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Trambai gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A short right from Trambai.

It looks like Luther Jackson has been cut.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sambo Trambai showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Luther Jackson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jackson scores with a takedown into Trambai's guard.
Trambai is looking to stand back up but Jackson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Trambai.

Jackson wants to work for an arm triangle but Trambai is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

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.
Jackson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson trying to control from Trambai's half guard. Trambai has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.
Trambai working a defensive guard here.
Trambai keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Trambai working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson looking to sit in guard and control but Trambai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jackson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Trambai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.
Trambai wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Trambai has picked Jackson up and slammed him! Jackson can't keep hold of the triangle and Trambai manages to pass to side control!

Trambai thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jackson tries to improve position but can't.
Trambai controls the position from side control.
Jackson gets back to half guard.
Jackson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Trambai is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Jackson actively working from the bottom here.
Trambai prevents Jackson from improving his position.
Trambai content to control rather than advance.
Jackson wants to control but Trambai is keeping busy.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jackson manages to get to full guard.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Trambai is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Luther Jackson.
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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luther Jackson!
A very excited looking Luther Jackson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.