PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jonathon Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith McBenderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Jackson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to What Ive Done. McBenderson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Beatles, Twist and shout. 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
McBenderson

180 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

180 cm
22
200 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Go 2 Sleep Fight Gear
Mango Nutrition

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 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jonathon Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keith McBenderson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McBenderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jackson swivels and escapes.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.

McBenderson darts in and clinches Jackson up against the cage.
McBenderson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
McBenderson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jackson pulls his leg out and moves away.
McBenderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Jackson sprawls well. He's pushed McBenderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jonathon Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith McBenderson.
Jackson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McBenderson.
Jackson misses with a jab, cross combination.
McBenderson avoids the body shot from Jackson.
McBenderson tries to clinch up.
Jackson misses with a double jab.

Jackson tries to sprawl but McBenderson drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McBenderson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
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. McBenderson connects with a nice short shot to Jackson's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back.
McBenderson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
McBenderson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Jackson!
McBenderson avoids the attempt from Jackson to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McBenderson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
McBenderson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McBenderson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
McBenderson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
McBenderson cracks Jackson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
McBenderson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McBenderson landing strikes from the mount and Jackson is in trouble!
McBenderson landing punches.
McBenderson looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McBenderson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

McBenderson working for a guillotine from mount but Jackson is in no mood to give up.
McBenderson controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBenderson avoids the attempt from Jackson to control.
McBenderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
McBenderson avoids the attempt from Jackson to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McBenderson controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

McBenderson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jackson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and McBenderson counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
McBenderson ducks under a wild hook from Jackson.

McBenderson darts in and clinches Jackson up against the cage.
McBenderson connects with a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

McBenderson breaks from the clinch.
McBenderson has a takedown stuffed.
Jackson lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as McBenderson backs up against the cage.
McBenderson shoots for a takedown but Jackson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Jonathon Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Keith McBenderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson leaves McBenderson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jackson misses with a double jab

so McBenderson counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
McBenderson is breathing heavily.
McBenderson stays in close to Jackson's body and controls the position.
McBenderson wants to pass the guard but Jackson is keeping the position.

McBenderson stands and steps away. Jackson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jonathon Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McBenderson checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

McBenderson gets a clinch.
McBenderson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

McBenderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but McBenderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
McBenderson scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
McBenderson tries to clinch but Jackson is having none of it.
McBenderson looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.
Jackson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson gets off balance looking for a body kick

and McBenderson counters with a takedown into side control.
McBenderson controlling the position from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McBenderson tries to move to mount but Jackson blocks the move with his legs.
Jackson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by McBenderson.
McBenderson controlling from side mount.

McBenderson tries for a kimura but Jackson is defending well.

McBenderson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Jackson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jackson regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McBenderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
McBenderson slows the pace down in half guard.
McBenderson thows a huge punch but Jackson dodges it nicely.

McBenderson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson throws a sloppy head kick and McBenderson moves out of range easily.
Jackson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith McBenderson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

McBenderson gets a clinch.
McBenderson misses with a knee to the head.
McBenderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Jackson.
Jackson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McBenderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Jonathon Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Jackson misses.
Jackson uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McBenderson has time to react.

McBenderson darts in and clinches Jackson up against the cage.
McBenderson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Jackson is trying to drag McBenderson to the mat but McBenderson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
McBenderson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

McBenderson manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Jackson.

McBenderson clinches up against the cage.
McBenderson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

McBenderson breaks from the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by McBenderson.
McBenderson lands some shots froms side control.
McBenderson content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
McBenderson lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McBenderson decides to stand back up.
McBenderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Jackson.

McBenderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Jackson was covering up waiting for the punch and McBenderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Jackson controls McBenderson momentarily but McBenderson frees himself.
McBenderson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Jackson's guard.
Jackson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McBenderson is working away from the top position though.

McBenderson stands up and beckons Jackson to join him on the feet.
McBenderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
McBenderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McBenderson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Jackson quickly recovers to half guard.
McBenderson slows the pace down in half guard.
Keith McBenderson has got the better of the ground game so far.

McBenderson gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Jackson tries to land a front kick but McBenderson steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
McBenderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Jackson as he jumps to the side.
McBenderson delivers a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McBenderson throws a shot to the body.
McBenderson fails with the takedown.
Keith McBenderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A low kick from Jackson misses

and McBenderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
McBenderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McBenderson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Keith McBenderson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Jackson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McBenderson moves away.
Jonathon Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

McBenderson clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keith McBenderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McBenderson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keith McBenderson!
Our winner, Keith McBenderson, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.