PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cesare Tiramanti (ranked 1233 p4p, 1995 weight class) and Luther Jackson (ranked 187 p4p, 288 weight class). Jackson has chosen Come As You Are - Nirvana as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Tiramanti
vs
Jackson

185 cm
27
207
17 - 7 - 1

185 cm
35
212
30 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Gatoroids

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 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cesare Tiramanti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Luther Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson clinches up against the cage.
Tiramanti working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Jackson is trying to pull guard but Tiramanti has him pressed against the cage.

Jackson is trying to trip Tiramanti. He has hold of a leg but Tiramanti is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Jackson persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson advances position into side control!
Jackson advances nicely into full mount.
Jackson fails to move to back control.
Jackson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jackson won't let Tiramanti get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Jackson looking to control but Tiramanti is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Tiramanti defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Jackson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiramanti prevents Jackson from taking his back.

Jackson has control of Tiramanti's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Tiramanti regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Jackson tries to take Tiramanti's back but instead Tiramanti uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Tiramanti manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Jackson keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Jackson wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Cesare Tiramanti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luther Jackson.

Tiramanti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tiramanti lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

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

Jackson is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Tiramanti still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Tiramanti has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom here.
Jackson is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Tiramanti presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Jackson tries to hold on but Tiramanti pushes him away.
Tiramanti manages to capitalize on a mistake by Jackson to take his back!

Tiramanti gets to his feet and calls for his opponent to stand and trade! Heeeere we go!
Tiramanti lands a jab.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Tiramanti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson feints the counter takedown.
Tiramanti throws an off balance right hand

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

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

Jackson is looking for a kimura here.
Jackson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tiramanti keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cesare Tiramanti dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Jackson tries to clinch up
and Tiramanti cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Tiramanti scores with a jab.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Tiramanti circles away and keeps his distance.
Tiramanti went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tiramanti displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.
Tiramanti scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tiramanti as he avoids it easily.
Cesare Tiramanti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luther Jackson.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Tiramanti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Luther Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Tiramanti as Jackson shoots in.
Jackson moves in looking to clinch but Tiramanti pushes him off.
Cesare Tiramanti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tiramanti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Jackson defending well as Tiramanti loads up on a big left hand.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Tiramanti tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tiramanti manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Tiramanti - just one landing.
Tiramanti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Jackson shoots in but Tiramanti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
As Jackson tries to get set, Tiramanti tries to push him back and clinch up but Jackson manages to avoid the attempt.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Tiramanti, which made it look bad.
Tiramanti's jab looks to have found its range, popping Jackson under the eye.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Cesare Tiramanti is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Tiramanti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jackson doesn't manage to clinch there - Tiramanti circles away.
Jackson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tiramanti counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tiramanti gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jackson.

Tiramanti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jackson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tiramanti counters by moving into the clinch.

Tiramanti breaks from the clinch.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Tiramanti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tiramanti tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Jackson manages to circle out of the way.
Tiramanti scores with a jab. Jackson acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tiramanti wants it to stay on the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Jackson.
Tiramanti tries to escape but Jackson is in control.

Jackson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tiramanti knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Jackson goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tiramanti rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Jackson's guard! Nice work there by Tiramanti!

Tiramanti gets to his feet - Jackson follows without any prompting.
Jackson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Tiramanti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Cesare Tiramanti dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jackson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tiramanti counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jackson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jackson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tiramanti is defending well.

Tiramanti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A nice leg kick from Tiramanti, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tiramanti stuffs the takedown attempt from Jackson. Jackson gets slowly back to his feet.
Cesare Tiramanti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luther Jackson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson shoots and misses

and Tiramanti counters by clinching up.
Tiramanti controlling the action here for a moment.

Tiramanti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiramanti misses with a looping left.
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Tiramanti sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tiramanti keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Tiramanti shows good takedown defense.
A big right from Tiramanti misses.
Tiramanti misses with a two punch combination.
No luck for Jackson with that takedown attempt.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tiramanti as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti stuffs the takedown.
Tiramanti drops down looking for a counter takedown but Jackson sprawls and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jackson.
Tiramanti seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Jackson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tiramanti as he jumps to the side.
Luther Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tiramanti throws out the jab.
Jackson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tiramanti swivels and escapes.
Tiramanti wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Jackson takes one on the button.
Jackson shoots in looking for a takedown. Tiramanti tries to sprawl out of it but Jackson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tiramanti manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tiramanti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tiramanti wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Luther Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Tiramanti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cesare Tiramanti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tiramanti is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Jackson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiramanti is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Tiramanti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tiramanti slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Tiramanti tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Tiramanti to the ground. Tiramanti escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Tiramanti is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jackson darts in looking for a takedown but Tiramanti gets double underhooks and turns Jackson into the cage.
Tiramanti throws a wild body kick that Jackson sees coming a mile off.
Jackson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Tiramanti counters by moving into the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tiramanti missing with knees to the body.
Tiramanti lands a nice uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Jackson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cesare Tiramanti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tiramanti has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cesare Tiramanti!
In his post fight interview, Cesare Tiramanti started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.