PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Randall Jackson (ranked 617 p4p, 77 weight class) and Kendo Hirigushi (ranked 818 p4p, 95 weight class). Jackson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deliverance. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Jackson
vs
Hirigushi

173 cm
25
157 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

181 cm
27
160 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BuriedAlive// Fight Gear
Arcticus University: London

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 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Randall Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Kendo Hirigushi!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirigushi wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jackson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hirigushi misses with the combination.
Jackson is looking to counter punch.
A slow jab from Jackson misses its intended target.
Hirigushi misses with a right hand
and Jackson counters with a nice body shot.
Jackson throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Hirigushi to counter with a crisp jab.
A big left from Jackson misses.
Jackson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Jackson misses with a body shot
and Jackson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirigushi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jackson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hirigushi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Jackson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The fighters circling - Jackson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A nice side step and Hirigushi releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirigushi defending well as Jackson loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jackson. Hirigushi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jackson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hirigushi to score with a decent uppercut.
Hirigushi has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Hirigushi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jackson blocks an uppercut.

Hirigushi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hirigushi.
Jackson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hirigushi connects with a looping right hand.
Jackson cracks Hirigushi with a good jab.
Jackson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hirigushi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hirigushi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson takes one to the side of the head.
Hirigushi has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Hirigushi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hirigushi scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hirigushi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jackson.
Hirigushi keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hirigushi is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Jackson.
Hirigushi gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jackson.

Hirigushi is rocked!
Jackson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hirigushi is still on wobbly legs! Can Jackson finish him?
Hirigushi slips under a jab from Jackson.
Hirigushi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Jackson.
Hirigushi seems to have recovered his senses.
Hirigushi uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Jackson has time to react.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi swinging wildly here.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hirigushi, as that shot connected.
Hirigushi misses with a hook.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.
Jackson looks to land a left hand but Hirigushi moved out of range nicely.
Hirigushi throws out a powerful jab.
Kendo Hirigushi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jackson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hirigushi.
Hirigushi lands a slapping body shot.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Hirigushi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
Hirigushi tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jackson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hirigushi cracks Jackson with an open hand slap.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Hirigushi is just out of range.
Hirigushi sizes up Jackson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jackson misses with a hook.
Jackson takes a swing at Hirigushi's ribcage but misses.
Hirigushi throws out a loose jab but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
A little feinted left hand from Jackson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kendo Hirigushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hirigushi throws a shot to the body.
Hirigushi sizes up Jackson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Jackson misses with a double jab
and Hirigushi counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hirigushi misses with a hook. Jackson ducked under it nicely.
Hirigushi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Jackson back to the cage. Hirigushi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Jackson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hirigushi.
Hirigushi throws the left hand but Jackson avoids the punch easily.
Hirigushi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hirigushi tries to clinch

and Jackson counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Hirigushi down! Jackson is looking to finish but Hirigushi is intelligently defending himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson looking to pass the guard.
Hirigushi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson lands a couple of elbows.
Hirigushi wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jackson trying to control but Hirigushi is working from the bottom.
Hirigushi wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.
Jackson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson throwing strikes from guard but Hirigushi blocks nicely.
Jackson stops Hirigushi from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hirigushi cracks Jackson with a good jab.
Jackson with a poor takedown
and Hirigushi counters with a two punch combo.
Hirigushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jackson moves out of range as Hirigushi strikes.
Jackson connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hirigushi's hands.
Hirigushi lands a nice shot that snaps Jackson's head back.
Hirigushi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jackson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hirigushi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hirigushi with a jab.
Hirigushi takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Hirigushi gets caught flat footed, as Jackson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson stops Hirigushi from standing up.
Jackson working some strikes from top position.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hirigushi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson landing with the ground and pound.
Jackson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hirigushi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jackson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hirigushi keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson throws an elbow that misses. Hirigushi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jackson's guard. Nice move by Hirigushi!

Hirigushi tries to stand but Jackson is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kendo Hirigushi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jackson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hirigushi looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.
Jackson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hirigushi lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Jackson misses with a right hand
and Jackson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jackson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jackson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hirigushi looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.
A slow jab from Hirigushi misses its intended target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hirigushi misses with a looping right.
Jackson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hirigushi scores with a punch to the head.
Hirigushi lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirigushi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Jackson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hirigushi connects with a body shot.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Hirigushi tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hirigushi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson staying out of range there.
Hirigushi lands the left hand.
Hirigushi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Jackson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jackson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hirigushi's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi throws a hook to the side of Jackson's head but Jackson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jackson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hirigushi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jackson takes one on the button.
Jackson misses with a lunging right hand
and Hirigushi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jackson throws a right hand that misses
and Hirigushi counters with a left to the body.
Kendo Hirigushi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A punch lands to the side of Jackson 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Hirigushi cracks Jackson with a good jab.
A jab lands there for Jackson.
Hirigushi paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hirigushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hirigushi avoids the body shot from Jackson.
Randall Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson misses with an uppercut
and Hirigushi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hirigushi thuds his right hand into Jackson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Jackson throws a lazy right hand but Hirigushi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Some wild striking there from Hirigushi.
Hirigushi dodges the punch combination from Jackson.
Kendo Hirigushi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Jackson lands a nice looking body shot.
Jackson misses with a hook
and Hirigushi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirigushi scores with a nice right hand.
Hirigushi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hirigushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hirigushi connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jackson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Hirigushi gets a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson tries to pull guard but Hirigushi won't allow it.
Hirigushi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Jackson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
Jackson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hirigushi's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kendo Hirigushi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hirigushi winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kendo Hirigushi!
Kendo Hirigushi spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.