PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luther Jackson (ranked 1160 p4p, 1063 weight class) and Tomomisan Tsuruta (ranked 160 p4p, 144 weight class). Jackson comes into the arena with Come As You Are - Nirvana blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Jackson
vs
Tsuruta

185 cm
40
212
36 - 24 - 0

192 cm
35
209
23 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

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 36 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luther Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tomomisan Tsuruta!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Ron Honeybunn and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tsuruta scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Luther Jackson has been cut.
Jackson misses with a body shot.
Jackson throws a jab when Tsuruta was well out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Tsuruta misses.
We've been hearing reports that Jackson has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Tsuruta steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tsuruta manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tsuruta feints the counter takedown.
Jackson slips a jab from Tsuruta.
Jackson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
An attempted straight right counter from Jackson misses the target.
Jackson looks to land a combination but Tsuruta avoids it well.

Jackson rushes Tsuruta and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed right hand from Tsuruta misses the target.
Tsuruta avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tsuruta throws a shot to the body.
Jackson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Tsuruta counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jackson moves in looking to clinch but Tsuruta pushes him off.
Tsuruta with the counter takedown but Jackson avoids it easily.
Jackson staying out of range there.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Jackson avoids the body shot from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta throws the left hand but Jackson avoids the punch easily.
Jackson blocks a jab.

Jackson darts in and clinches Tsuruta up against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Jackson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
Tsuruta shoots in but no luck this time.
Tsuruta works Jackson's body with a nice hook.
Tsuruta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Nice body punch from Jackson.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tsuruta throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
Luther Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson misses with a series of wild punches.
It seemed like Tsuruta was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Tsuruta misses with a looping right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tsuruta stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tsuruta fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Jackson with a hook.
Tsuruta ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Donk. Tsuruta catches Jackson right on the button with a cross.
Jackson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tsuruta pinned against the cage. Tsuruta gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Tsuruta tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Tsuruta is just out of range.
Tsuruta wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Sloppy strikes from Jackson. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Tsuruta showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jackson.
Tsuruta throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tsuruta throws a good cross that connects.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tsuruta connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jackson avoids the body shot from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta throws a hook but Jackson blocks it.
Tsuruta displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Jackson.

Jackson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tomomisan Tsuruta will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luther Jackson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tsuruta looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.
Jackson just misses with a punch to the body.
Tsuruta misses the shot to the body.
Jackson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tsuruta manages to circle out of the way.
Jackson ducks under a wild hook from Tsuruta.
Jackson misses with a straight left.
Jackson is looking to wear down Tsuruta with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Jackson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tsuruta swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Jackson avoids the body shot from Tsuruta.
Jackson throws an overhand right that lands on Tsuruta's shoulder, as Tsuruta tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tsuruta misses with a body shot.
Jackson is looking to counter the offense by Tsuruta and move into the clinch.
Jackson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Tsuruta counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Jackson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tsuruta defends well.
Jackson pulls Tsuruta in close to prevent any damage.
Tsuruta tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.
Jackson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tsuruta's guard.

Tsuruta wants to hit a sweep here but Jackson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tsuruta there!
Tsuruta holds on for dear life, controlling Jackson's posture momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tsuruta tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tsuruta wants to control but Jackson is having none of it.
Tsuruta is wriggling around trying to escape.
Jackson misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Tsuruta keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tsuruta wants to hold on but Jackson pushes him away.
Tsuruta slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Tsuruta avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jackson.
Tsuruta wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Tsuruta moves into full guard.
Jackson preventing the sweep.
Tsuruta controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tsuruta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson trying to control but Tsuruta is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tsuruta trying to control the position.

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.
Jackson is looking to work some ground and pound but Tsuruta has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tsuruta tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tsuruta misses the shot to the body.
Jackson swings for the body but Tsuruta moves out of range.
Tsuruta changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Jackson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Tsuruta's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson stopping the sweep attempt from Tsuruta.
Tsuruta trying to control the position.
Jackson looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luther Jackson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Luther Jackson's cut.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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 cracks a nice hook into Tsuruta's ribs.
Tsuruta clobbers Jackson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tsuruta.
Jackson tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tsuruta manages to circle out of the way.
Tsuruta throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson throws a shot from downtown. Tsuruta moves away and avoids it.
Tsuruta is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.

Jackson takes the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson breaks the clinch.

Tsuruta fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jackson sprawls well initially but Tsuruta persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Tsuruta seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Jackson is in trouble now - Tsuruta has advanced to mount!
Tsuruta cracks Jackson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Jackson is bucking up trying to escape but Tsuruta cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Jackson is looking to get to half guard.
Tsuruta lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta trying to control but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson tries to hold on but Tsuruta postures up.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Tsuruta working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Tsuruta raining down hammerfists from mount.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tsuruta cracks Jackson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Tsuruta raining down hammerfists from mount.
Tsuruta unloading with bombs!
Tsuruta is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jackson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Jackson is bucking up trying to escape but Tsuruta cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsuruta controlling the pace for now.
Jackson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tsuruta scoring with strikes but Jackson is staying in there.
Jackson is trying to stand up.
Tsuruta connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Tsuruta raining down shots from the mount!

Jackson is rocked!
Tsuruta has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jackson takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Tsuruta's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tomomisan Tsuruta!
Tomomisan Tsuruta took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Voodoo Nutrition for their support in the buildup to the fight.