PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Stageberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stageberg has chosen Bone Thugs and Harmony - Tha' Crossroads as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jackson
vs
Stageberg

185 cm
22
170 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
185 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Stageberg!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stageberg misses with a few strikes there.
Jackson slips a straight right by Stageberg.
Stageberg throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Stageberg looks to land a combination but Jackson avoids it well.
Jackson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Stageberg sprawls well. Stageberg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jackson gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson slips a jab from Stageberg.
Stageberg swinging wildly here.
Stageberg throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
Stageberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stageberg misses with an uppercut. Jackson saw that one coming.
Stageberg throws out a loose jab but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jackson looks for a takedown but Stageberg sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stageberg defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jackson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stageberg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Jackson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jackson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Stageberg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stageberg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Stageberg looks to land a right hand but Jackson moved out of range.
Stageberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.
Stageberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Stageberg looks gassed!
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Stageberg tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stageberg manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson slips under a jab.

Jackson shoots in and bounces Stageberg off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jackson trying to control but Stageberg is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.
Stageberg keeping full guard, as Jackson tries to pass.
Jackson working some strikes from top position.
Stageberg wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.
Stageberg wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.
Jackson trying to control but Stageberg is working from the bottom.
Stageberg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Stageberg is retaining full guard.
Jackson throws and elbow that misses. Stageberg uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jackson's guard. Nice move by Stageberg!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stageberg decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jackson, up you get!
Stageberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Stageberg scores with a jab. Jackson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stageberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jackson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Stageberg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jackson somewhat.
Stageberg scores with a sloppy right hand. Jackson should have avoided that one.
Jackson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Stageberg avoids it really well and circles away.
Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stageberg swivels and escapes.
Joey Stageberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stageberg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg swinging wildly here.
Joey Stageberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
No joy there for Stageberg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice takedown defense from Stageberg. No joy for Jackson on that attempt.
A punch combination from Stageberg misses.
Stageberg throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stageberg lands a jab-cross combination.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Stageberg misses with an uppercut.
Stageberg throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Stageberg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jackson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Stageberg. No joy for Jackson on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joey Stageberg dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Stageberg throws a series of punches but Jackson moves out of range.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stageberg throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch combination from Stageberg misses.
Nice uppercut there from Jackson.

Jackson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nice strikes from Jackson there.
Stageberg is trying to stand up here but Jackson is controlling him well.
Jackson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson is taking a breather. Stageberg says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Jackson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stageberg is refusing to be controlled, as Jackson sits in half guard.

Stageberg kicks Jackson off and gets back to his feet.
Stageberg misses with a wild combination.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stageberg as he avoids it easily.
Stageberg misses with a straight left.
Stageberg wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jackson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Jackson lands a glancing blow to the side of Stageberg's head.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stageberg misses with a straight left.
Stageberg misses with a wild combination.
Jab by Jackson.
Stageberg might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Stageberg scores with a crisp jab that stopped Jackson in his tracks.
Stageberg misses with a few strikes there.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stageberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stageberg slips a jab and a cross from Jackson.
Stageberg throws the left hand but Jackson avoids the punch easily.
Stageberg pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stageberg slaps away a takedown attempt from Jackson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Stageberg, as that shot connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jackson shoots in but Stageberg avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stageberg throws a series of strikes that have Jackson backpedaling.
Jackson tries to clinch but Stageberg moves out of range.
Stageberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Jackson dives in and grabs Stageberg's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stageberg pushes down on Jackson's head and hops out.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stageberg thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stageberg connects with a crisp jab.
Stageberg is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jackson.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Stageberg misses with a combination

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson prevents Stageberg from getting back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jackson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.
Jackson wanted to stand there but Stageberg had control of the position.
Jackson looking to sit in guard and control but Stageberg gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Stageberg content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that James Jackson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Stageberg lands with a shot to the body.
A jab from Stageberg misses.
Jackson shoots in and drives through. Stageberg sprawls well.
Stageberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stageberg's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stageberg duly obliges.

It looks like James Jackson has been cut.
Stageberg thows a left - swing and a miss!
Stageberg is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Stageberg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stageberg wants it to stay on the feet.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stageberg.
Stageberg scores with a hook.
Stageberg misses with the combination.
Stageberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stageberg misses with a double jab
and Jackson counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson slips under a jab.
Stageberg throws a combination that misses

and Jackson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jackson tries to break free but Stageberg pushes him back against the cage.
Jackson jumps guard but Stageberg stands there with Jackson around his waist. Jackson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Stageberg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stageberg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Stageberg swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown. Stageberg fights it but they end up in guard.
Stageberg is looking to stand up but Jackson isn't so interested in that idea.
Stageberg preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Stageberg pushes Jackson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Stageberg swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
Stageberg throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stageberg missing with a left hand there. Jackson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stageberg looks to land a right hand but Jackson moved out of range.
Stageberg throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stageberg misses with a hook.
Stageberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stageberg throws a looping overhand right but Jackson ducks down to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Stageberg.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Stageberg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Stageberg throws an overhand right that lands on Jackson's shoulder, as Jackson tries to avoid the shot.
Stageberg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Jackson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Stageberg shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stageberg throws out the jab.
Stageberg rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Stageberg throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stageberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Stageberg, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Stageberg against the cage but Stageberg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jackson ducks under a wild hook from Stageberg.
Stageberg misses the shot to the body.
Jackson moves away from the strike by Stageberg.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jackson is defended easily by Stageberg.
Stageberg connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Stageberg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Stageberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Stageberg misses with a hook. Jackson ducked under it nicely.

Jackson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stageberg's half guard.
Jackson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Stageberg defending well though.
Jackson misses with a head shot. Stageberg uses the momentum to regain guard.
Jackson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stageberg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
James Jackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stageberg controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Stageberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Stageberg has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight for Joey Stageberg!
Judge George Francis scores the fight for Joey Stageberg!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Joey Stageberg!

Joey Stageberg wins by unanimous decision!