PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otto Rajala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson's entrance music is Don't Fail Me Darko. A fine choice. Rajala has chosen The Game - Dope Boys as his entrance music. Otto Rajala is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Jackson
vs
Rajala

185 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
166 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Otto Rajala!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Rajala.
Rajala wants to clinch up but Jackson keeps it at a distance.
Rajala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Rajala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jackson has a takedown stuffed.
Jackson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rajala gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jackson counters with a nice kick to the body.
Rajala throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Jackson on the side of the head.
Jackson blocks a jab.
Rajala wants to clinch
and Jackson counters with a big head kick but Rajala shrugs it off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rajala can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson crunches a lovely knee into Rajala's ribcage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jackson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Rajala ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rajala no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Jackson stays in close to Rajala's body and controls the position.

Jackson stands up and waves to Rajala to follow him.
Rajala tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jackson counters with an inside leg kick.

Jackson darts in and clinches Rajala up against the cage.

Rajala breaks the clinch.

Jackson rushes Rajala and presses him up against the cage.

Rajala manages to break the clinch.
Rajala closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jackson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Rajala is trying to force a seperation but Jackson has the dominant position.

Jackson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Rajala wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Rajala is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Rajala throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Rajala trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Rajala trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jackson's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rajala tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Jackson counters with a single leg into guard. Rajala didn't expect that.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rajala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson prevents Rajala from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rajala is controlling Jackson's posture.
Jackson pushes down on Rajala's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rajala tries to get to full guard but Jackson has control of the leg.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rajala trying to control from the bottom.
Jackson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Jackson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jackson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Jackson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rajala walks away with a smile on his face. Jackson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rajala lands a jab-cross combination.
Rajala blocks a head kick by Jackson.

Rajala has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jackson can't break the clinch.
Jackson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Jackson jumps guard but Rajala stands there with Jackson around his waist. Jackson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Jackson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rajala manages to break the clinch.
Jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Rajala, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.
Rajala leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rajala is looking to control Jackson's arms but Jackson gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rajala has his back to the cage.

Rajala breaks the clinch.
Rajala stuffs the takedown attempt from Jackson. Jackson gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson closes the distance and pushes Rajala back into the cage.

Jackson jumps guard and drags Rajala to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rajala wants to stand but Jackson is controlling his posture from full guard.
Jackson looking to control.
Rajala tries to stand but Jackson is controlling from the bottom.
Rajala is stalling in the full guard.

Rajala stands up and waves to Jackson to follow him.

Jackson gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to pull guard but Rajala holds him up against the cage and eventually Jackson drops back down to his feet.
Rajala tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jackson avoids it.
Rajala fails to pull guard.
Jackson keeps control of Rajala as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rajala's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rajala misses with an attempted mid kick.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.

Jackson has managed to clinch.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rajala is working an open guard so Jackson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rajala scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rajala sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Jackson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Otto Rajala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rajala wants to clinch but Jackson slips to the side

and Jackson counters by clinching up.
Jackson has had enough of the clinch but Rajala keeps him there for the moment.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Jackson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rajala keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Jackson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jackson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rajala closes the distance but Jackson moves to the side

and Jackson moves into the clinch.
Rajala has Jackson pushed against the cage.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
Jackson fails to land with a series of punches.
Jackson shoots in but Rajala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rajala wants to clinch
and Jackson counters with a big head kick but Rajala shrugs it off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rajala misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Jackson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rajala is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rajala wanted to stand there but Jackson had control of the position.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.
Rajala missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rajala doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rajala manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jackson trying to keep a closed guard but Rajala is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rajala trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rajala tries to clinch but Jackson moves away

and Jackson counters by clinching up.
Jackson tries for a takedown but Rajala manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rajala drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rajala jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jackson walks away with a smile on his face. Rajala gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Rajala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jackson is looking to control Rajala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Jackson avoid being mounted?
Rajala uses his free foot to push down on Jackson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jackson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Rajala working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rajala can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jackson is looking to escape.
Rajala scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jackson?
Jackson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Jackson tries to lock up and control but Rajala gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

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.

Rajala is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Jackson is surviving well by controlling Rajala's body position as best he can.
Jackson is looking to get to half guard.
Jackson tries to hold on but Rajala postures up.
Rajala trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Otto Rajala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jackson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rajala lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otto Rajala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jackson 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Jackson!