PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Bladen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Jackson
vs
Bladen

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Luke Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bladen!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bladen dodges the punch combination from Jackson.
Some wild striking there from Bladen.

Bladen shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Jackson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bladen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bladen.
Jackson pulls Bladen in close to prevent any damage.
Bladen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bladen wanted to stand there but Jackson had control of the position.
Bladen looks gassed!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jackson is on top in guard.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Jackson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jackson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bladen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jackson controls from within his opponent's guard.

Jackson drops back looking for a leg! Bladen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bladen manages to kick Jackson off! Jackson jumps back into Bladen's guard.
Jackson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Jackson cracks Bladen with a solid left hand.
Jackson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bladen can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Luke Jackson.
Bladen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bladen throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bladen throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
Jackson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Jackson fails to land with a series of punches.
Jackson cracks Bladen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Bladen slips a jab and a cross from Jackson.
Bladen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jackson.
Jackson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Jackson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jackson stalling.
Jackson works his way into side control.
Bladen trying to remain calm as Jackson controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Bladen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson trying to control the position but Bladen is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Jackson dominated that round.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jackson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jackson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bladen.
Jackson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Jackson throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Jackson misses with a few strikes there.
Jackson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Jackson.

Bladen is rocked!
Jackson scores with a three punch combo!
Bladen is still on wobbly legs! Can Jackson finish him?
Jackson tries to clinch up.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bladen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Jackson - the referee stops the clock and Bladen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Jackson. Bladen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bladen seems to have recovered his senses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bladen keeps the fight on the outside.

Jackson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bladen looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Jackson cracks Bladen with a big right hand but Bladen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson taking a breather here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Luke Jackson.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Bladen has Jackson up against the cage in a clinch.

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.
Bladen wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bladen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Jackson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bladen backwards.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bladen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jackson throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Luke Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Luke Jackson is winning the standup battle so far.
Bladen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Jackson. Jackson obviously looking to wear him down.
Jackson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bladen's head backwards.
Danga de danga de dang - Jackson scores with a four punch combination!
Bladen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Jackson on the side of the head.
Bladen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jackson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bladen somewhat.
Jackson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bladen defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bladen moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
Jackson tries to clinch

and Bladen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bladen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Jackson.
Bladen wants to stand up but Jackson manages to regain full guard.
Bladen wants to stand but Jackson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bladen throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson pulls Bladen in close to prevent any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jackson is on top in guard.
Jackson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Jackson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

Bladen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Jackson as Bladen shoots in.

Jackson moves into the clinch.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.
Jackson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Jackson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Jackson.
Jackson working Bladen over with knees to the body.

Jackson manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jackson pulls Bladen in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Jackson controlling his opponent.
Jackson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bladen for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jackson landing strikes, looking to finish!
Jackson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jackson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Jackson looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bladen tries to buck Jackson off but he can't manage it.
Jackson controlling the position easily from mount.
Jackson with the ground and pound from mount.
Luke Jackson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jackson looking to control and managing it successfully.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Luke Jackson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Jackson scores with a takedown into Bladen's guard.
Jackson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jackson throwing strikes but missing.
Bladen controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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