PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Vrbanek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Jackson
vs
Vrbanek

180 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ricardo Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Joe Vrbanek!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Dillan Fox and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vrbanek tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jackson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vrbanek is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Vrbanek.
Joe Vrbanek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jackson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

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 is working for a kimura but Vrbanek is defending it quite comfortably.

Jackson seems to be working for a kimura but Vrbanek defends the submission attempt.
Vrbanek pushes Jackson off looking to stand but Jackson dives back in and keeps control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson seems to be working for a kimura but Vrbanek defends the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jackson prevents Vrbanek from improving his position.
Jackson prevents Vrbanek from standing back up.
Vrbanek keeping hold of Jackson's head, controlling as best he can.

Jackson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jackson is breathing heavily.

Jackson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vrbanek tests Jackson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Jackson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vrbanek sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vrbanek scores with a body shot.
No luck for Vrbanek with that takedown attempt.
Vrbanek shoots in and drives through. Jackson sprawls well.
Vrbanek lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Vrbanek lands a glancing blow to the side of Jackson's head.

Jackson is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Vrbanek, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Vrbanek clinches with his opponent.
Vrbanek stalling against the cage.
Vrbanek with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Vrbanek has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Jackson is trying to keep an underhook but Vrbanek manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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. Vrbanek connects with a nice short shot to Jackson's temple.
Jackson pushes Vrbanek off looking to stand but Vrbanek dives back in and keeps control.
Vrbanek perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson is looking to escape.

Vrbanek is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jackson tries to kick Vrbanek off but Vrbanek keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jackson tries to kick Vrbanek off in order to stand up. Vrbanek Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Vrbanek drags him back down.

Vrbanek decides to stand back up. Vrbanek steps back and let's Jackson get back to his feet.

Vrbanek shoots in and bounces Jackson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vrbanek stands and throws Jackson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson pushes Vrbanek away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vrbanek gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Vrbanek dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Vrbanek fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Vrbanek circles away and keeps his distance.

Vrbanek drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Vrbanek decides to stand up, so the ref orders Jackson to his feet.
Vrbanek looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson misses with a takedown
and Vrbanek counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vrbanek wants to clinch.
Vrbanek looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vrbanek fails to land the takedown.
Ricardo Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Vrbanek.
A combination from Jackson does no damage.

Jackson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Jackson is looking for a kimura here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vrbanek tries to kick Jackson off but Jackson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vrbanek is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Jackson is working for a kimura but Vrbanek is defending it quite comfortably.

Jackson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vrbanek sees it coming and defends easily.
Vrbanek is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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 is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Vrbanek sees it coming and defends easily.

Jackson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vrbanek has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vrbanek keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Jackson is looking for a kimura but Vrbanek is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jackson to get the leverage.

Jackson seems to be looking for submissions.
Vrbanek really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vrbanek works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vrbanek is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jackson is trying to stand.
Jackson is trying to escape back to his feet but Vrbanek uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Vrbanek stands up and beckons Jackson to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Vrbanek will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Vrbanek tries to bum rush Jackson with a series of wild strikes but Jackson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vrbanek shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.
Vrbanek is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Jackson moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Vrbanek has worked his arm free - good work by Vrbanek!
Vrbanek is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vrbanek wants to control but Jackson postures up.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jackson tries to advance position but instead Vrbanek slips a leg back in to half guard.
Vrbanek keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Jackson is trying to work for a kimura but Vrbanek is defending well.

That's two 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.
Vrbanek tries to get to full guard but Jackson has control of the leg.
Vrbanek moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Vrbanek has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jackson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Vrbanek throws a one two combo.
Jackson takes a head kick and keeps coming.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vrbanek is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vrbanek has escaped and now he's on top!
Vrbanek is in close to Jackson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Vrbanek gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ricardo Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No joy there for Vrbanek, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vrbanek looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.
Vrbanek shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.
Ricardo Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Vrbanek.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vrbanek napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vrbanek is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Joe Vrbanek has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson working away.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Vrbanek tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Joe Vrbanek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vrbanek has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vrbanek has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Joe Vrbanek!