PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Jakobsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Biggie Saulnier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saulnier has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jakobsen
vs
Saulnier

180 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Thomas Jakobsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Biggie Saulnier!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jakobsen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Jakobsen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saulnier looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Jakobsen landing strikes from the mount and Saulnier is in trouble!
Jakobsen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Saulnier looks a forlorn figure.
A nice elbow there by Jakobsen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jakobsen working Saulnier over with strikes here.

Jakobsen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Saulnier is surviving well by controlling Jakobsen's body position as best he can.
Jakobsen wants to control the pace but Saulnier is squirming around nicely.
Jakobsen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Jakobsen could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Jakobsen scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Jakobsen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Saulnier is surviving well by controlling Jakobsen's body position as best he can.
Jakobsen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saulnier is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jakobsen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Saulnier manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Jakobsen working the body and head with strikes.
Saulnier is not content to let Jakobsen control the position.
Jakobsen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Saulnier some visible discomfort.
Saulnier takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Jakobsen misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Jakobsen prevents Saulnier from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakobsen controlling the position from side mount.
Jakobsen is looking to take a break and control but Saulnier is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Jakobsen stands up and beckons Saulnier to his feet.

Saulnier tries to keep at a distance but Jakobsen has taken the fight into the clinch.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Saulnier is fighting off a takedown attempt but Jakobsen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Saulnier to the mat. Saulnier regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Jakobsen chips away with some ground and pound.
Jakobsen throwing strikes from guard but Saulnier blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jakobsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier wants to stand up but Jakobsen is controlling him.
Saulnier keeping full guard, as Jakobsen tries to pass.
Saulnier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jakobsen wants to pass the guard but Saulnier is keeping the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jakobsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saulnier smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Jakobsen gets a takedown into half guard.
Saulnier is trying to stand up here but Jakobsen is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier wants to control but Jakobsen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Saulnier is trying to get back to full guard.

Jakobsen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saulnier defends it well.
Saulnier trying to control from the bottom.
Saulnier is positioning himself well to prevent Jakobsen advancing to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jakobsen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Saulnier's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jakobsen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jakobsen shoots for a takedown but Saulnier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jakobsen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jakobsen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Jakobsen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saulnier!
Saulnier wants to control but Jakobsen is having none of it.

Jakobsen looking to secure an arm triangle but Saulnier defends it well.
Saulnier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saulnier tries to lock up and control but Jakobsen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Jakobsen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Saulnier can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saulnier sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Jakobsen wants to control but Saulnier is keeping him busy.

Jakobsen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Saulnier defends it well.
Jakobsen throwing shots but Saulnier is blocking nicely.
Saulnier is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Saulnier has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jakobsen is working away from the top position though.
Saulnier is staying active underneath Jakobsen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jakobsen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Saulnier wants to control but Jakobsen is keeping busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A punch lands to the side of Jakobsen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Jakobsen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Saulnier.

Jakobsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Jakobsen trying to control but Saulnier is working from the bottom.
Saulnier wants to stand and escape but Jakobsen is having none of it.
Jakobsen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Saulnier is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Saulnier wants to get back to his feet but Jakobsen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Jakobsen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saulnier, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Jakobsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ground and pound from Jakobsen.
Saulnier keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jakobsen wants to free his trapped foot but Saulnier is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Saulnier is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jakobsen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jakobsen's back!
Saulnier has the hooks in. Jakobsen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Saulnier trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Jakobsen breaks Saulnier's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Saulnier pushes Jakobsen off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Jakobsen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Saulnier swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Jakobsen scores with a takedown into Saulnier's guard.
Saulnier looking to control.
Jakobsen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Jakobsen wants to control from the top but Saulnier keeps moving.
Jakobsen chips away with some ground and pound.
Saulnier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Saulnier keeping moving, preventing Jakobsen from controlling successfully.
Jakobsen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saulnier doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Jakobsen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Saulnier makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jakobsen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Saulnier throws out the jab.
Saulnier closes the distance but Jakobsen moves to the side

so Jakobsen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Saulnier not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jakobsen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Saulnier has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jakobsen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Saulnier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Biggie Saulnier is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saulnier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Jakobsen drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Saulnier controlling the position.
Saulnier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Jakobsen is one step ahead there.

Saulnier kicks Jakobsen off and gets to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jakobsen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saulnier is looking to clinch but Jakobsen is avoiding it.
Jakobsen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Saulnier looks to land a left hand but Jakobsen moved out of range nicely.
Jakobsen shoots in for a double leg but Saulnier sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Saulnier gets caught flat footed, as Jakobsen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Saulnier is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jakobsen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saulnier can do to turn this around?

Saulnier wriggles free and stands up.
Saulnier connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Jakobsen momentarily.

Jakobsen drives through and clinches with Saulnier against the cage.
Saulnier stops a takedown attempt from Jakobsen.
Saulnier unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jakobsen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jakobsen avoiding damage as Saulnier throws knees to the body.
Saulnier lands a nice elbow.
Saulnier unloads a knee to the mid-section. Jakobsen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Saulnier gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jakobsen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Jakobsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saulnier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jakobsen cracks the inside of Saulnier's front leg.

Jakobsen pushes Saulnier up against the cage in a clinch.

Jakobsen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saulnier uses from the top position.

Saulnier stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Jakobsen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jakobsen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Saulnier does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Saulnier is pressing down on Jakobsen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jakobsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Saulnier is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saulnier controls Jakobsen momentarily but Jakobsen frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Saulnier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Saulnier is adopting a defensive guard.
Saulnier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jakobsen won't allow Saulnier to get back to his feet.
Saulnier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jakobsen controls the pace.
Biggie Saulnier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Jakobsen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Saulnier, as that shot connected.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Jakobsen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jakobsen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Jakobsen!