PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Abdullah Zaire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Jackson
vs
Zaire

185 cm
27
191 lbs
20 - 7 - 0

182 cm
26
193 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

-OVERDOSE Factory-
Gesundheit Designs

Down Under - Supplements. New 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Jackson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Abdullah Zaire!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaire fails to land with a series of punches.
Zaire thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zaire throws a series of punches but Jackson avoids them all with ease.
Zaire shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zaire's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Zaire showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jackson.
Jackson lands a nice hook to Zaire's body. Zaire takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Zaire throws an overhand right that lands on Jackson's shoulder, as Jackson tries to avoid the shot.

Zaire looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zaire tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Zaire isn't so interested in that idea.
Zaire trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zaire has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jackson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Jackson keeping full guard, as Zaire tries to pass.
Zaire trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zaire has gone for a leg lock! Jackson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zaire's guard.
Zaire tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jackson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ben Jackson.
Zaire looks to score with a jab to the body but Jackson is just out of range.
Zaire throws a chopping leg kick but Jackson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Jackson throws a hook but Zaire avoids it easily.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zaire tries to bum rush Jackson with a series of wild strikes but Jackson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Zaire tries a low kick but Jackson avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire throws a hook but Jackson avoids it easily.
A clash of legs there as Zaire blocks the low kick.
Jackson tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Zaire tries to clinch but Jackson is having none of it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaire. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jackson misses with an uppercut
and Zaire counters with a good low kick that Jackson was not able to check.
Zaire tries to clinch up
and Jackson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Zaire swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Zaire slips under a jab from Jackson.
Nice defenses there by Zaire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Zaire. Those never looked like landing.

Zaire moves into the clinch.
Zaire lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Jackson backwards.
Zaire lands a left hand.
Zaire throws a head punch that misses.
Jackson is stalling here.
Jackson blocks an elbow strike from Zaire.
Zaire misses with the head strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jackson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zaire throws a head punch that misses.
Zaire swings wildly with an uppercut but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zaire throws a sloppy head kick and Jackson moves out of range easily.
A big left from Zaire misses.
Zaire throws a nice head kick!
Zaire thows a body kick. Jackson tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Jackson feints and then cracks Zaire's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Zaire down.
Jackson misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
Jackson with a hook.
Zaire fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Jackson checks it well.
Zaire throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zaire slips a straight right by Jackson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zaire. Jackson does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a looping left.
Zaire throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zaire goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Jackson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zaire tries to land a leg kick but Jackson saw it coming and moves away.
Zaire slips a straight right by Jackson.
Abdullah Zaire is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zaire throws a solid leg kick but Jackson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Zaire.
Zaire looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.
Zaire throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Zaire walks into a left hand.
Jackson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zaire.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jackson.
A combination from Zaire does no damage.
Zaire slips under a jab from Jackson.
Zaire chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jackson can pounce on him.
Zaire has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Zaire there as he acknowledges the shot.
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!
Zaire throws out a loose jab but Jackson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zaire walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Jackson checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Jackson's corner calls for a 1-2. Jackson obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zaire swings for the body but Jackson moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Jackson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Some wild striking there from Zaire.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Zaire throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Zaire misses with a wild combination.
Nice shot lands for Jackson.
Jackson loads up on a big right hand but Zaire slips the punch.
Jackson scores with a head kick. Zaire tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Jackson checks a low kick from Zaire.
Jackson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jackson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zaire shoots and misses
enabling Jackson to counter with a crisp jab.

Zaire is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zaire bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jackson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zaire on the side of the head.
Zaire is still on wobbly legs! Can Jackson finish him?
Zaire fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zaire seems to have recovered his senses.
Jackson lands a slapping body shot.
Jackson throws a leg kick which misses Zaire's front leg but catches the back leg as Zaire tries to avoid it.
Nice jab there from Jackson.
Jackson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Zaire has time to react.
Ben Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Horrible takedown by Zaire or perhaps it was just good defense by Jackson which made him look bad.
Ben Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Abdullah Zaire.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaire tries to clinch but Jackson moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jackson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Zaire swings for the body but Jackson moves out of range.
Zaire rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Jackson counters with a stiff right hand.
Zaire takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zaire shoots in but no luck this time.
Zaire throws a sloppy body shot
and Jackson counters with a stiff right hand.

Zaire shoots in and bounces Jackson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Zaire passes into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jackson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zaire connects with a nice short shot to Jackson's temple.

Zaire is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jackson is just riding it out for now. Zaire eventually gives up the hold.
Zaire scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Zaire trying to mount his opponent but Jackson defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaire is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jackson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zaire.

Zaire is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Jackson sees it coming and defends easily.
Jackson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Zaire.
Zaire stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zaire looking to pass the guard.

Jackson pushes Zaire off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Jackson checks a leg kick nicely.
Zaire throws a leg kick which misses Jackson's front leg but catches the back leg as Jackson tries to avoid it.

Zaire bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Jackson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Zaire tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Zaire has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson defending against the ground and pound.
Jackson regains half guard, as Zaire was trying to land strikes.
Zaire is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Jackson reverses the position - he's now on top in Zaire's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zaire wants to improve his position but instead Jackson has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdullah Zaire really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Jackson blocks a head kick by Zaire.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Zaire ducks down to avoid it.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zaire takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Zaire throws a jab when Jackson was well out of range.
Zaire keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Zaire.
Zaire throws a head kick but Jackson moves out of range.
Jackson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Zaire throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jackson lands a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaire has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Jackson.
Zaire pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Zaire throws a sloppy head kick
and Jackson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zaire is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Jackson lands with a cross.
Zaire ducks under a wild hook from Jackson.
Jackson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zaire's head backwards.
Zaire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jackson lands with a cross.
Zaire looks to throw the jab but Jackson is out of range.
Jackson tests Zaire's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands a leg kick that knocks Zaire off balance momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zaire with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jackson to score with a decent uppercut.
Good work by Zaire as he checks the leg kick.
Zaire misses with an uppercut.
The fighters circling - Jackson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Zaire shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zaire's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Jackson misses with a hook. Zaire ducked under it nicely.
Zaire swinging wildly here.
Jackson throws a leg kick which misses Zaire's front leg but catches the back leg as Zaire tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Jackson.

Jackson drops Zaire with a beautiful combination! Zaire stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Jackson is looking for the KO!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson throws a monster overhand right that drops Zaire! Jackson follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ben Jackson!
Ben Jackson retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Ben Jackson thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.