PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keygo Atobe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Jackson looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Jackson
vs
Atobe

167 cm
19
135 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

210 cm
18
134 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Keygo Atobe!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atobe tries to clinch but Jackson is having none of it.
Jackson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Atobe instigates a clinch.
Atobe tries to land a knee to the head but Jackson blocks with his arms.
Atobe wants to take the fight to the mat but Jackson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Jackson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Atobe is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jackson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
James Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keygo Atobe.
Atobe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jackson tries to pull guard but Atobe forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Atobe is looking for a takedown.

Atobe pulls guard.
Jackson prevents Atobe from getting back to his feet.
Atobe has Jackson pulled in close to control his posture.
Atobe is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Jackson dives into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atobe manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Atobe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jackson tries to kick Atobe off but Atobe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Atobe.
Atobe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jackson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Jackson tries to get out of the position.
Jackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
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. Atobe connects with a nice short shot to Jackson's temple.
Jackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Atobe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Atobe lands strikes from half guard.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Atobe is controlling him
Atobe throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Atobe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Atobe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Atobe thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jackson's head.
Atobe prevents Jackson from standing back up.
Jackson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Atobe on the ground.
Jackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Atobe throwing shots but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Atobe thows a huge punch but Jackson dodges it nicely.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Atobe.

Jackson pushes Atobe off and gets back to his feet.
Atobe shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Jackson but Jackson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Atobe.

Jackson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Atobe is trying to defend but Jackson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Atobe is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Atobe tries to kick Jackson off but Jackson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atobe is trying to get back to full guard.
Atobe trying to control but Jackson postures up.
Atobe looks like he's trying to stand up.

Atobe makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Atobe shoots in for a takedown but Jackson shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Atobe with that takedown attempt.

Jackson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Jackson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Atobe makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Atobe fails with the takedown.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Jackson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Jackson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Atobe down.
Atobe is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Jackson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Atobe desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Jackson prevents Atobe from standing back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Atobe tries to get to full guard but Jackson has control of the leg.
Atobe taking some punishment here, with Jackson in his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keygo Atobe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jackson shoots in and bounces Atobe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Keygo Atobe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Atobe bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Jackson's guard.
Atobe landing some decent shots from guard.
Atobe is looking to work some ground and pound but Jackson has wrist control.
Jackson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Atobe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Atobe stands up over Jackson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Atobe throws a big right hand that misses.
Atobe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Atobe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Atobe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Atobe with a flurry of punches that miss.
Atobe prevents Jackson from getting back to his feet.
Atobe scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Atobe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atobe scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Atobe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jackson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Atobe is controlling him.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Atobe's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Atobe.
Atobe scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Atobe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Atobe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Atobe throwing strikes but missing.
Atobe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Jackson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Atobe jumps guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson stopping the sweep attempt from Atobe.
Jackson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Atobe is trying to control the position but Jackson postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Atobe wants to get back to his feet but Jackson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Atobe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Atobe is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atobe wants to stand but Jackson is controlling the position.
Jackson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Atobe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jackson manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Atobe won't allow Jackson to get back to his feet.
Atobe in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Atobe throws a big right hand that misses.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Atobe.
Atobe throwing strikes but missing.
Atobe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Atobe stands up over Jackson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Jackson wants to stand up but Atobe is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Atobe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Atobe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Atobe prevents Jackson from getting back to his feet.
Atobe throws a big elbow that misses.
Atobe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jackson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Atobe throwing strikes but missing.

Jackson uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atobe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Atobe shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jackson as he avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keygo Atobe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
No luck for Atobe with that takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Atobe shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keygo Atobe.

Jackson gets a clinch.

Jackson decides to pull guard.
Jackson has momentary wrist control but Atobe slips an elbow through the middle.
Atobe stops Jackson from standing up.
Atobe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Atobe isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atobe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Atobe throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Atobe is looking to work some ground and pound but Jackson has wrist control.
Atobe lands a couple of digs.

Jackson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Atobe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.

Jackson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Jackson is working Atobe over with some ground and pound from side control.
Atobe is trying to control Jackson's posture but Jackson avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson landing a few strikes.
Atobe can't do much from the bottom here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jackson scores with punches from side control.
Atobe is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Jackson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Jackson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jackson is working Atobe over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Atobe is looking to reverse the position.
Atobe pushes Jackson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Jackson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Atobe is looking for a sweep.
Atobe struggling a bit here.
Atobe tries to bench press Jackson off him but Jackson keeps the position.
Atobe is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Jackson is controlling him well.
Jackson working the body and head with strikes.
Jackson working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Atobe has escaped the position, nice work there.
Jackson is putting a hurting on Atobe here, landing some big shots from side control.
Jackson works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Atobe struggling a bit here.
Atobe tries to improve position but can't.
Atobe is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Jackson off and has taken his back!
James Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Atobe misses with a punch to the head.
Atobe missing with strikes.
Atobe throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Keygo Atobe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Atobe throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to James Jackson.
I think Atobe 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keygo Atobe!