PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Thiago (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and quinton jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago comes to the cage accompanied by I made it. The crowd seem to be enjoying jackson's choice of entrance music: Indestructible. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Thiago
vs
jackson

175 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

200 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Thiago!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, quinton jackson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
jackson moves in looking to clinch but Thiago pushes him off.
jackson throws a series of punches but Thiago avoids them all with ease.

jackson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Thiago moves into full guard.
Thiago wants to stand but jackson is controlling the position.

jackson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thiago rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but jackson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
jackson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
jackson tries to clinch but Thiago moves out of range.
jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thiago paws at him with a jab and circles away.
jackson lands a high kick!

It looks like Antonio Thiago has been cut.

jackson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
jackson has Thiago pressed against the cage, preventing Thiago from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
jackson throws an elbow but it misses.
jackson misses with a hook to the ribs.

jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
jackson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Thiago sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
jackson walks into a left hand.
Nice uppercut lands for Thiago. That snapped jackson's head back.
jackson tries to clinch up.
jackson looks gassed!
jackson tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
jackson tries to clinch up.
jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thiago fails with an attempt to clinch.
jackson slips a straight right by Thiago.

Thiago instigates a clinch.
jackson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Thiago has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Thiago stops a takedown attempt from jackson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago looking to slow down the pace here.
Thiago is trying to break the clinch but jackson is controlling him.
jackson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Thiago blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Thiago wants to break free but jackson has control.
jackson trying to control the position but instead, Thiago has worked for underhooks and has pushed jackson into the cage.
jackson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Thiago is defending well for now.
Thiago tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Thiago has had enough of the clinch but jackson keeps him there for the moment.
jackson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Thiago looking to slow down the pace here.
jackson throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Thiago tries to break the clinch but jackson is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thiago wants to break free but jackson has control.
jackson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Thiago's defenses.

Thiago breaks the clinch.

Thiago clinches with his opponent.
Thiago is trying to force a seperation but jackson has the dominant position.
jackson tries for a takedown but Thiago manages to get underhooks.
Antonio Thiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of quinton jackson.

jackson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Thiago regains guard.

Thiago uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Thiago throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. jackson was covering up waiting for the punch and Thiago finishes the takedown easily into guard.
jackson can't keep his opponent in guard - Thiago advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Thiago wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

jackson kicks Thiago off and gets back to his feet.
jackson looks to clinch

and Thiago counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Thiago.
jackson taking a breather.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Knees to the body from jackson.
jackson looking to throw knees to the head but Thiago is blocking nicely.
Thiago wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Thiago prevents a takedown attempt there.
jackson misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiago tries to break free but jackson pushes him back against the cage.
jackson with a knee to the head.
A shot in the inside from jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Antonio Thiago will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antonio Thiago's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thiago throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Thiago pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Thiago misses with a hook. jackson ducked under it nicely.
jackson looks to clinch
and Thiago counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

jackson gets a clinch.
Thiago drops down looking for an ankle pick but jackson pulls his leg out and moves away.
jackson moves in looking to clinch but Thiago pushes him off.
jackson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Thiago counters with a three punch combo that has jackson backing up. jackson nods at Thiago to acknowledge the strikes.
Thiago checks a low kick from jackson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Thiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

jackson clinches up with Thiago and pushes him back against the cage.

jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Horrible takedown by jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Thiago which made him look bad.
jackson wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thiago throws out a loose jab but jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thiago circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thiago scores with a three punch combo!
jackson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Thiago scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
jackson tries to close the distance and clinch but Thiago swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
jackson doesn't manage to clinch there - Thiago circles away.
Thiago swats away the attempt to clinch by jackson.
Thiago is looking to clinch but jackson is avoiding it.
Thiago displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from jackson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Thiago is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thiago throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thiago looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
jackson clinches but Thiago breaks the clinch

and Thiago counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Thiago postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for jackson to stand up.
jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thiago counters with a three punch combo that has jackson backing up. jackson nods at Thiago to acknowledge the strikes.
Thiago throws a one two combo.
jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thiago counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thiago rushes jackson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Thiago letting jackson take a breather here.
Thiago wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Thiago. That's going to take a lot out of him.
jackson keeps control of Thiago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
jackson tries to land a knee to the head but Thiago blocks with his arms.

jackson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
jackson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Thiago tries to kick jackson off but jackson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Thiago kicks off jackson and gets to his feet.
Thiago throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by jackson.
jackson tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as jackson sprawls well. jackson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Thiago gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thiago scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
jackson doesn't manage to clinch there - Thiago circles away.
Thiago connects with a good right hand that stumbles jackson. jackson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
jackson tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
Thiago misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big left from Thiago misses.
Thiago circles away from the clinch attempt

and Thiago counters with a nice double leg into side control. jackson won't be happy with that.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

jackson sneaks out the side door and pushes Thiago away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
jackson tries to clinch up

and Thiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Thiago dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antonio Thiago's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

jackson tries to clinch up
and Thiago counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Thiago tries to clinch but jackson moves out of range.
jackson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Thiago cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Thiago throws a series of punches but jackson avoids them all with ease.
Thiago avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
jackson misses with a kick to the body.
jackson tries to clinch but Thiago is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
jackson wants to clinch
and Thiago counters with a series of strikes. jackson will be more careful next time no doubt.
jackson wants to clinch up but Thiago keeps it at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
jackson clinches but Thiago breaks the clinch

and Thiago counters with a nice double leg into side control. jackson won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thiago decides to stand back up. Thiago steps back and let's jackson get back to his feet.
jackson wants to clinch.
jackson blocks a head kick by Thiago.
jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Thiago stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Thiago wants it to stay on the feet.
Thiago looks to land a combination. jackson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Thiago swats him away and circles back towards the center.
jackson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
jackson wants to clinch

and Thiago holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
jackson keeps control of Thiago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
jackson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thiago's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thiago takes a knee right on the jaw!
jackson misses with an elbow strike.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Thiago is trying to break free.
Thiago avoiding damage as jackson throws knees to the body.
jackson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Thiago's efforts to push away.
jackson keeps control of Thiago as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Thiago is pressed up against the cage. jackson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thiago down to the mat. Thiago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thiago fails in his attempt to clinch.
jackson darts in trying to clinch

and Thiago moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, jackson throws an elbow but misses.

jackson breaks from the clinch.
jackson wants to clinch but Thiago slips to the side
and Thiago counters with a lovely straight right hand!
jackson darts in trying to clinch
enabling Thiago to counter with a crisp jab.
quinton jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
jackson clinches but Thiago breaks the clinch

so Thiago counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Thiago decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on jackson, up you get!
A decent looking cross lands there for Thiago.
Thiago stuffs the takedown.
Antonio Thiago has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of quinton jackson.
jackson clinches but Thiago breaks the clinch
and Thiago counters with a one-two to the body.
Thiago throws a right and a left that jackson avoids nicely.
Thiago avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
jackson darts in trying to clinch

and Thiago counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Thiago stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Thiago closes the distance and clinches.

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

Thiago darts in and clinches jackson up against the cage.
Thiago is pressed up against the cage. jackson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Thiago down to the mat. Thiago avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Thiago scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Thiago tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Thiago, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thiago fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Antonio Thiago is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Thiago shoots for a takedown but jackson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Thiago showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Thiago 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Thiago!