PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Xavier Knight (ranked 2304 p4p, 2241 weight class) and Jam Sackson (ranked 236 p4p, 230 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Jam Sackson enters the cage!

Knight
vs
Sackson

180 cm
26
165
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
166
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xavier Knight!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jam Sackson!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knight looks to land a right hand but Sackson moved out of range.
Knight misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The fighters circling - Knight throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Sackson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Knight throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Sackson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Knight stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Xavier Knight seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Knight tries for a takedown but Sackson circles away easily
and Sackson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Knight misses with a hook. Sackson ducked under it nicely.
Knight with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sackson cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xavier Knight. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sackson moves out of range as Knight strikes.
Knight tries to clinch there but Sackson circles away.
A swing and a miss from Knight.

Knight shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Knight lands a nice short elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sackson pushes Knight off looking to stand but Knight dives back in and keeps control.
Sackson is not content to let Knight control the position.
Sackson is trying to stand back up but Knight is controlling him

Sackson has one foot on Knight's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Knight wants to land a leg kick but Sackson is out of range.
Sackson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Knight fails with a takedown attempt.

Knight closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sackson to the mat! Sackson manages to get full guard.

Sackson pushes Knight off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Knight shoots in for a takedown but Sackson shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Knight dives in for a single leg takedown but Sackson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Knight looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Knight keeps control of Sackson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Knight wants to take the fight to the mat but Sackson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Knight has Sackson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Sackson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Knight tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sackson avoids it.
Sackson wants to break free but Knight has control.
Sackson wants to break free but Knight has control.
Sackson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sackson working hard to break the clinch.

Knight gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sackson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Knight scores with a couple of nice shots.
Sackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sackson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Knight lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Knight is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Sackson tries to kick Knight off but Knight keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
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. Knight connects with a nice short shot to Sackson's temple.
Sackson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knight. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Knight scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Sackson is rocked!
Knight lands a big elbow - Sackson is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Knight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Xavier Knight!