PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Jackman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Mata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mata has chosen Jimmi Hendrix - Voodoo Child as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Jackman
vs
Mata

189 cm
20
200 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dave Jackman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juan Mata!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackman tries to keep at a distance but Mata has taken the fight into the clinch.
Jackman tries to pull guard but Mata forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Mata gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Jackman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Mata is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jackman to the mat. Jackman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Jackman is looking for a triangle but Mata pushes his legs off easily.
Mata is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Let's hope that Mata has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mata wants to get up but he can't break Jackman's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Jackman trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mata is aware though and is defending well.
Mata is stalling in the full guard.
Jackman looking to control.
Jackman is pulling down on Mata's head to control his posture.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Juan Mata wasn't active enough on the ground.
Jackman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Mata displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Jackman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mata holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Mata gets control of Jackman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Mata will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackman wants to control from the top but Mata keeps moving.
Mata controlling Jackman's posture.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Jackman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mata to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata wants to stand but Jackman is controlling his posture from full guard.

Jackman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mata can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Mata trying to control but Jackman is working from the bottom.
Mata is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jackman pulls Mata in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Jackman looking to control but Mata passes into half guard.
Mata wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jackman keeps working.
Jackman trying to control from the bottom.

Mata escapes and gets back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jackman.
Jackman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mata gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mata breaks the clinch.
Jackman shoots for a takedown but Mata saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Mata dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jackman fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Jackman with that takedown attempt.

Mata throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jackman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mata is in Jackman's guard.

Mata stands up and waves to Jackman to follow him.
Mata uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackman.
Jackman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mata moves away.
Jackman throws a lazy right hand but Mata sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Mata manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Jackman on his heels. He'll look to pass Jackman's guard now, I'm sure.
Mata must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Jackman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Mata can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Jackman keeping full guard, as Mata tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mata postures up.

Jackman isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Mata stacks Jackman 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 Mata!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackman is trying to control Mata's posture but Mata avoids it.
Mata working the ground and pound but Jackman is defending the strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mata happy to just control the position for now.
Jackman can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackman is trying to get back to half guard.
Jackman is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mata's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Juan Mata has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackman is trying to control but can't.
Still in half guard, Mata seems content to control.
Jackman trying to hold on to Mata's head to control him but Mata postures up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jackman tries to clinch but Mata moves out of range.

Jackman gets caught flat footed, as Mata shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mata advances to half guard.
Mata scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata controlling the pace.
Mata tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Jackman.
Mata seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Jackman is trying to control but Mata manages to pass to mount!
Mata sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Mata there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jackman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mata tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Jackman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jackman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackman tries to hold on but Mata pushes him away.
Mata trying to control but Jackman is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Mata showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jackman tries to clinch but Mata is having none of it.
Jackman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mata is fending him off so far but Jackman persists. Nope, Mata circles away and we're back to standing.

Mata clinches up with Jackman and pushes him back against the cage.
Mata with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jackman being controlled against the cage.

Mata manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Mata is trying to control the position but Jackman postures up.

Jackman has gone for a leg lock! Mata slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jackman's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackman is trying to control the position but Mata postures up.

Jackman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mata doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mata manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mata sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Mata in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mata trying to control but Jackman is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Juan Mata has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Mata fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jackman.
Jackman has his takedown stuffed

and Mata moves into the clinch.

Mata pulls guard.
Mata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mata is controlling Jackman's posture.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Mata escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jackman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Mata really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mata takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mata is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Juan Mata has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Jackman misses with a series of wild punches.

Mata drives through with a takedown into Jackman's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Mata controlling from the top position.
Jackman is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mata wants to control from the top but Jackman keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Mata gets to his feet - Jackman follows without any prompting.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jackman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Jackman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mata sprawls well. Mata wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jackman gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mata will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Mata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Mata 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Mata!