PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael dos Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson comes to the cage accompanied by Franklin's Theme Song. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Jackson
vs
dos Santos

163 cm
27
148 lbs
8 - 9 - 1

178 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Franklin Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson tries a head kick but it misses.
Jackson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A punch combination from dos Santos misses.

Jackson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jackson.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jackson just stands there and leans against the cage.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jackson just stands there and leans against the cage.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but Jackson holds him up against the cage and eventually dos Santos drops back down to his feet.
Franklin Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rafael dos Santos.

dos Santos jumps guard.
dos Santos looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jackson is one step ahead there.
dos Santos is controlling Jackson's posture.

dos Santos has an active guard here but Jackson has managed to pass into half guard.
dos Santos is staying active underneath Jackson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

dos Santos actively working from the bottom here.
Jackson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but dos Santos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
dos Santos gets full guard.
dos Santos 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 postures up.
Jackson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from dos Santos.
dos Santos avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
dos Santos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jackson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
dos Santos looks gassed!

Jackson pushes dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
dos Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
dos Santos throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jackson.
dos Santos fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Jackson wants to clinch.
dos Santos avoids a punch combination nicely.
Jackson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from dos Santos.
Jackson looks for the body kick but dos Santos saw that one coming.
Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jackson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Jackson throws a head kick but dos Santos moves out of range.

Jackson has dos Santos up against the cage in a clinch.
Jackson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Jackson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jackson lands an elbow just above dos Santos 's eye.
Jackson scores with a shoulder strike.
Jackson lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
A nice inside leg kick there by Jackson. That's going to slow dos Santos down.
A swing and a miss from dos Santos.
Jackson throws a body punch but dos Santos moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Jackson.
dos Santos lunges at Jackson with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Jackson's hand.

dos Santos tries to keep at a distance but Jackson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jackson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
dos Santos fails to pull guard.
dos Santos jumps guard but Jackson stands there with dos Santos around his waist. dos Santos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jackson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Jackson lands a nice uppercut.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but Jackson holds him up against the cage and eventually dos Santos drops back down to his feet.
Jackson lands a nice shot to the body.
Jackson lands with a short shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jackson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Jackson with a knee to the head.
Jackson lands a nice uppercut.
Jackson misses with a knee strike.
Jackson digs a right hand into dos Santos's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on dos Santos's gas tank.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
dos Santos tries to pull guard but Jackson holds him up against the cage and eventually dos Santos drops back down to his feet.
dos Santos drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

dos Santos works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
dos Santos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
dos Santos forces his way into half guard.

dos Santos seems to be working for a kimura but Jackson defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklin Jackson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jackson looks to land a right hand but dos Santos moved out of range.
Jackson throws a combination that misses

and dos Santos counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jackson punching from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
dos Santos wants to free his trapped foot but Jackson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
dos Santos is just content to waste time from the top position. Jackson takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing dos Santos from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
dos Santos won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.
Jackson keeping full guard, as dos Santos tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
dos Santos avoids a kick to the body.
Jackson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jackson lands a high kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson misses with a looping left.
dos Santos avoids the head kick by Jackson.

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.
dos Santos swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
dos Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jackson as he avoids it easily.
Jackson thows a body shot but no joy.
Franklin Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
dos Santos avoids the head kick by Jackson.
Jackson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for dos Santos on that attempt.
dos Santos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jackson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
dos Santos tries to bum rush Jackson with a series of wild strikes but Jackson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jackson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but dos Santos moves away.
dos Santos wants to clinch up but Jackson keeps it at a distance.

dos Santos shoots in and bounces Jackson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
dos Santos trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
dos Santos preventing the sweep.
Jackson looking to control but dos Santos passes into half guard.
Jackson won't allow dos Santos to pass to mount.

dos Santos is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Jackson has managed to free his arm - good work.
dos Santos is looking to stall here but Jackson recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
dos Santos advances to half guard.
Jackson moves into full guard.
dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.
Jackson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
dos Santos looking to sit in guard and control but Jackson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael dos Santos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Jackson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson throws a right and a left that dos Santos avoids nicely.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

dos Santos looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
dos Santos trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. dos Santos defends it easily.
dos Santos tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

dos Santos is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Jackson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Jackson has escaped and now he's on top!
dos Santos manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jackson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Jackson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! dos Santos 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 two minutes gone in the round.

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

Jackson is posturing up here but dos Santos has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Jackson tries to roll out but it's too tight and Jackson has to tap! Slick submission there by dos Santos!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rafael dos Santos!