PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jon Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juga Zmaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zmaj is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by zgazi jajare. 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
Zmaj

174 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
178 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juga Zmaj!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Zmaj. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zmaj is defended easily by Jackson.
Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Zmaj tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.
A punch combination from Jackson misses.
Jackson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Zmaj.
Zmaj tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jackson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zmaj is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zmaj throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jackson's waist but Jackson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zmaj off to one side.
Jon Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juga Zmaj.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Jackson scores with a hook to the body. Zmaj takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zmaj fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zmaj is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Zmaj shoots in and drives through. Jackson sprawls well.
Zmaj moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.
A head kick misses from Zmaj.
Some wild striking there from Jackson.
Jackson lands a two punch combo.
Jackson misses with a double jab.
Zmaj tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zmaj fails to land the takedown.
Jackson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Zmaj.
Jackson tries to bum rush Zmaj with a series of wild strikes but Zmaj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zmaj showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jackson.
Zmaj fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Zmaj tries a head kick but it misses.

Zmaj closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jackson quickly recovers to half guard.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Zmaj is controlling him
Zmaj thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jackson's head.
Jackson is refusing to be controlled, as Zmaj sits in half guard.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zmaj winds up and cracks Jackson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Zmaj is working for a kimura but Jackson is defending it quite comfortably.
Jackson tries to kick Zmaj off but Zmaj keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Zmaj is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zmaj on the ground.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Zmaj is controlling him

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.
Zmaj passes the guard and advances to mount!
Zmaj working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zmaj lands a heavy elbow.
Poor strikes thrown by Zmaj there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jackson is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Zmaj can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jackson is looking to escape.
Jackson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Zmaj tries to control but Jackson wriggling away.
Zmaj won't let Jackson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juga Zmaj dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Zmaj throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jackson was covering up waiting for the punch and Zmaj finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zmaj with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Zmaj isn't so interested in that idea.
Jackson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zmaj trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jackson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jackson can't keep his opponent in guard - Zmaj advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Zmaj looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Jackson is trying to stand up here but Zmaj is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zmaj working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Jackson's thigh. Jackson counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Zmaj thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Jackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zmaj is controlling him.
Jackson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Zmaj stands up over Jackson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Zmaj lands a couple of elbows.
Zmaj won't allow Jackson to get back to his feet.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Zmaj throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Zmaj forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zmaj wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.
Zmaj scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Jackson won't allow Zmaj to pass to mount.

Zmaj is looking for a kimura but Jackson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zmaj to get the leverage.
Zmaj looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson is trying to stand.
Zmaj takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zmaj scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Zmaj is controlling him

Zmaj looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zmaj working Jackson over with strikes.
Zmaj wants to take a breather but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zmaj.
Zmaj seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four 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 looks like he's trying to stand up.
Zmaj has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zmaj.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Zmaj is controlling him
Zmaj trying to mount his opponent but Jackson defends it.
Zmaj is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Zmaj passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juga Zmaj showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Zmaj.
Jackson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jackson throws a nice looking combination but Zmaj bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zmaj fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.
Zmaj looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Zmaj persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Jon Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juga Zmaj.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zmaj shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Jackson sprawls well. Jackson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zmaj gets slowly back to his feet.
Zmaj takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a wild combination.
Zmaj misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zmaj fails with a takedown attempt.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Jackson!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zmaj is defended easily by Jackson.
Jon Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zmaj shoots in for a takedown but Jackson shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson just misses with a punch to the body.
Zmaj shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.
Jackson tries to bum rush Zmaj with a series of wild strikes but Zmaj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zmaj is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Zmaj dodges the punch combination from Jackson.
Zmaj walks into a left hand.
Zmaj will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jon Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jackson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zmaj backs up against the cage.
Zmaj shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jackson defends it nicely.
Zmaj shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Zmaj fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zmaj slips a jab and a cross from Jackson.
Jackson throws a series of strikes that have Zmaj backpedaling.
Zmaj shoots for a takedown but Jackson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zmaj on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A shot to the liver by Jackson. Beautiful body shot.
No joy there for Jackson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Jackson cracks Zmaj with an open hand slap.
Zmaj fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jackson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zmaj takes one on the button.
Jackson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Zmaj.
Juga Zmaj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zmaj fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jon Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Juga Zmaj is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zmaj slips under a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zmaj has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juga Zmaj!