PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jari Lehtonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Faction Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Lehtonen
vs
Jackson

190 cm
24
187 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

182 cm
28
197 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jari Lehtonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Faction Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Alexandre Firmino and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Lehtonen lands with an overhand left.
Jackson steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Lehtonen. That one must have hurt.
Jackson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Jackson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lehtonen was well out of range. Poor timing from Jackson.
Lehtonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Jackson moves out of range of the body kick from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen throws an off balance right hand

and Jackson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Jackson.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lehtonen holds on and takes a little breather.
Jackson wants to pass the guard but Lehtonen is keeping the position.
Lehtonen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lehtonen is on top in guard.
Lehtonen trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Jackson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lehtonen's guard.
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.
Lehtonen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lehtonen keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jackson thows a big elbow that misses.
Lehtonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jackson trying to control but Lehtonen is working from the bottom.
Jackson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jackson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jackson is looking to advance position but Lehtonen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Lehtonen with good strikes from the mount here!
Lehtonen looking to control but Jackson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lehtonen looking to ground and pound but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lehtonen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jackson wants to control but Lehtonen is having none of it.
Lehtonen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jackson hang on?
Jackson wants to hold on but Lehtonen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen raining down hammerfists from mount.
Jackson tries to reverse the position but Lehtonen maintains control.
Lehtonen scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Jackson?
Jackson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Jackson is trying to control but can't.
Lehtonen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Jackson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jackson is refusing to be controlled, as Lehtonen sits in half guard.
Jackson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Lehtonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lehtonen is working away from the top position though.
Jackson won't allow Lehtonen to pass to mount.
Lehtonen thows a huge punch but Jackson dodges it nicely.
Jackson wants to control but Lehtonen is keeping busy.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lehtonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Lehtonen is just out of range.
Lehtonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lehtonen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Jackson's head.
Lehtonen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Jackson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jari Lehtonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jackson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Jackson misses with a body shot.
Lehtonen throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Lehtonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jackson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jackson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lehtonen. Lehtonen obviously looking to wear him down.
Lehtonen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lehtonen misses with a looping right.
Lehtonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jackson.
Lehtonen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Jackson scores with a hook.
Lehtonen cracks the inside of Jackson's front leg.
Lehtonen punishes Jackson's body with a nice straight punch.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lehtonen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lehtonen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Jackson's sensitive parts.
Lehtonen wants to land a leg kick but Jackson is out of range.
A shot to the liver by Lehtonen. Beautiful body shot.
Lehtonen throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehtonen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Lehtonen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jackson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lehtonen is looking to chop away at Jackson's legs.
Lehtonen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jackson.
Jackson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lehtonen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Jackson.
Jackson lands a slapping body shot.
Lehtonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
Good leg kick by Lehtonen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lehtonen scores with a head kick.
Lehtonen throws a push kick but Jackson slaps the foot to one side.
Lehtonen lands the left hand.
Good work by Jackson as he checks the leg kick.
Lehtonen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lehtonen as he avoids it easily.
Jari Lehtonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Faction Jackson.
Lehtonen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Lehtonen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Jackson tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Lehtonen connects with the punch.
Lehtonen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jackson circles away quickly and effectively.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lehtonen.
Lehtonen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Jackson takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lehtonen connects with a leg kick. Jackson looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jackson. Lehtonen does a little dance to reset his feet.
That kick from Lehtonen tenderised Jackson's leg. Jackson is trying to keep his angry face on.
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!
Nice defenses there by Jackson.
Lehtonen misses with a head kick.
Jari Lehtonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lehtonen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jackson moves away.
Jackson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lehtonen thows a body shot but no joy.
Lehtonen throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
Jackson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lehtonen rather than just go for the knockout.
Jackson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lehtonen manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen connects with an inside leg kick.

Jackson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lehtonen is trying to maintain the position but Jackson is very close to passing his half guard.
Jackson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jackson trying to control from half guard but Lehtonen is working away.
Lehtonen trying to control here.
Jackson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Lehtonen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lehtonen being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehtonen wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.
Jackson trying to control but Lehtonen is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Jackson thows a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson postures up.
Lehtonen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Lehtonen dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Some wild striking there from Jackson.
Jackson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lehtonen.

Jackson shoots in and bounces Lehtonen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lehtonen is trying to keep Jackson in close.
Lehtonen has his hands on Jackson's head, controlling the position.
Jackson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lehtonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lehtonen seems keen to control Jackson's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehtonen trying to keep a closed guard but Jackson is proving a slippery customer.

We're going to have a standup here because Jari Lehtonen wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Jackson misses with a jab to the body
and Lehtonen counters with a series of strikes. Jackson will be more careful next time no doubt.

Jackson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lehtonen is trying to defend but Jackson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Lehtonen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Jackson working Lehtonen over with strikes.
Jackson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson thows a huge punch but Lehtonen dodges it nicely.
Jackson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Lehtonen defending well though.
Jackson trying to control the action but Lehtonen is working from the bottom.
Jackson throwing shots but Lehtonen is blocking nicely.
Lehtonen wants to improve his position but Jackson is controlling well.
Lehtonen is refusing to be controlled, as Jackson sits in half guard.
Jackson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Lehtonen wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Faction Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands strikes from half guard.
Lehtonen is pressing down on Jackson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Jari Lehtonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Lehtonen is retaining full guard.
Jackson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lehtonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson pushing down on Lehtonen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to advance position but Lehtonen counters by regaining guard.
Lehtonen has control of Jackson's left arm, preventing Jackson from doing any damage.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Lehtonen keeps moving.
Lehtonen pulls Jackson in close to his closed guard and prevents Jackson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lehtonen is trying to keep Jackson in close.

And that's the end of the fight!
Faction Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lehtonen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jari Lehtonen!