PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heath Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darren Manhove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Darren Manhove will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Jackson
vs
Manhove

155 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Heath Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Darren Manhove!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Ben Watson and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manhove cracks Jackson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Manhove drives through and clinches with Jackson against the cage.
Jackson connects with a knee to the head.
Manhove tries for a takedown but Jackson manages to get underhooks.
Manhove keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Jackson's efforts to push away.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Manhove slaps away a takedown attempt from Jackson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manhove misses with an uppercut.
Jackson really is a fat lump.
Manhove fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jackson stuffs the takedown.
Heath Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Manhove.
Manhove fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhove fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Manhove throws a right hand that misses
and Jackson counters with a big head kick but Manhove shrugs it off.

Manhove feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Manhove throwing strikes but missing.
Manhove preventing the sweep.

Jackson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Manhove pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jackson wants to stand but Manhove is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Manhove!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Jackson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Manhove is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Manhove and Jackson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
You can see the frustration on Manhove's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Jackson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Manhove is looking for a sweep.
Manhove wants to get back to his feet but Jackson drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Jackson is trying to get an arm triangle but Manhove is defending well.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Manhove is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Jackson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Manhove has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Jackson but great work by Manhove.
Jackson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Jackson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Manhove controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhove in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Manhove is dominant here and he's now got Jackson's back!
Manhove gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Manhove working for a choke but Jackson is defending well.
Manhove lands with a hammerfist to the side of Jackson's head.
Manhove trying to control momentarily.
Jackson can't escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

Manhove has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Jackson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Jackson is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Manhove jabs Jackson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Manhove closes the distance looking to clinch
and Jackson counters with a head kick.
Manhove catches Jackson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Manhove.
Darren Manhove has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manhove working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Manhove prevents Jackson from escaping the position.
Jackson being controlled for a moment.

Manhove stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Manhove on that attempt.
Manhove lands a slapping body shot.
Manhove throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.

Manhove has managed to clinch.
Jackson is trying to push Manhove away but Manhove has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Manhove has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jackson uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manhove has a closed guard, preventing Jackson from standing up.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jackson is fighting to break Manhove's control of his arms but Manhove is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Manhove working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jackson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jackson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Jackson postures up in Manhove's guard and throws a big left but Manhove blocks it.
Manhove has control of Jackson's left arm, preventing Jackson from doing any damage.

Manhove has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Jackson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Manhove is breathing heavily.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Manhove is trying to control the position from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Manhove's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson postures up and lands a big shot to Manhove's brow.
Jackson preventing the sweep.
Jackson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Manhove's guard.
Jackson throws a big right hand that misses.
Manhove controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.
Manhove is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Jackson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Manhove looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to stand but Manhove is controlling from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Manhove dives in and scores a takedown into Jackson's guard.
Jackson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Jackson is pulling down on Manhove's head to control his posture.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson keeping full guard, as Manhove tries to pass.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darren Manhove showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Manhove misses with a takedown attempt
and Jackson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Manhove lands with a cross.
Jackson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Manhove shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jackson as he avoids it easily.
Manhove shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Heath Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Darren Manhove.
Manhove looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Manhove shoots in for a takedown but Jackson shows good takedown defense.
Manhove takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manhove tries to clinch but Jackson moves out of range.
Jackson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Manhove is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Manhove slaps away a takedown attempt from Jackson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Manhove is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Jackson misses with a head shot. Manhove uses the momentum to regain guard.
Manhove wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson stands up and waves to Manhove to follow him.
Manhove throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jackson's waist but Jackson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Manhove off to one side.
Jackson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Manhove throws a right and a left that both miss.

Jackson moves into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson scores with a knee to the head.

Jackson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jackson manages to end up in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to ground and pound but Manhove uses the momentary lack of control by Jackson to regain half guard.
Jackson is thwarting Manhove's attempts to control the position.
Jackson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Manhove keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jackson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Manhove to regain full guard.
Jackson distracts Manhove with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Manhove has his hands on Jackson's head, controlling the position.
Manhove wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manhove working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jackson.
Manhove bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jackson's guard.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Manhove defends it easily.
Manhove pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.

Jackson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Manhove uses it to pass to side control.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A lull in the action here as Manhove stalls from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Heath Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Manhove 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Darren Manhove!