PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jack Reacher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reacher comes to the cage accompanied by We Are Electric. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reacher
vs
Jackson

187 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

225 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Reacher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Blake Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Reacher moves into range and clinches up with Jackson.
Jackson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Reacher fails to pull guard.
Reacher is trying to drag Jackson to the mat but Jackson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Jackson wants the takedown. Reacher is fighting it off but Jackson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Reacher's guard against the cage.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Jackson throwing strikes but missing.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Reacher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson stands and throws Reacher's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Reacher on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Jackson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Reacher to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reacher fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Reacher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Reacher as he jumps to the side.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Reacher shows good takedown defense.
Reacher is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Jackson fails to land with a series of punches.

Reacher clinches with his opponent.

Reacher gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Jackson working for a triangle but Reacher defends it easily.
Reacher works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reacher trying to control the action but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Reacher performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Reacher's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Reacher is looking for a kimura but Jackson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Reacher to get the leverage.

Reacher is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Jackson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Reacher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reacher is trying to control the action in half guard but Jackson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Reacher is breathing heavily.
Jackson is trying to stand back up but Reacher is controlling him
Reacher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jackson trying to control but Reacher postures up.
Jackson regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Reacher stands up and waves to Jackson to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries a head kick but it misses.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reacher tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reacher to the ground. Reacher escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jackson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Reacher throws a hook to the side of Jackson's head but Jackson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Jackson stuffs the takedown.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Reacher. Reacher gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jack Reacher will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Reacher instigates a clinch.
Jackson can't break the clinch.

Reacher breaks from the clinch.
Reacher 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 Reacher off to one side.
Jackson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Reacher avoids it really well and circles away.
Jackson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jackson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Reacher fails with a takedown attempt.
Reacher shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jack Reacher. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson stuffs the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jackson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jackson lands in his opponent's guard.
Reacher keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reacher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jackson being controlled here momentarily.
Reacher wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson looking to sit in guard and control but Reacher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Reacher postures up.

Jackson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Reacher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Blake Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Reacher trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Jackson working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Reacher has passed into half guard!
Reacher is taking a breather. Jackson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reacher seems to be looking for submissions.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.

Jackson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jackson is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Reacher is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Jackson defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Blake Jackson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Jackson shoots in and drives through. Reacher sprawls well.

Reacher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jackson, pushing him back against the cage.
Reacher drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jackson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jackson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Jackson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Reacher regains guard immediately.

Reacher manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Reacher manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson looks for a takedown but Reacher sprawls well.
Jackson throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Jackson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Reacher keeps it at a distance.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Reacher, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Reacher against the cage but Reacher circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jack Reacher has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Jackson.
Jackson looks for a takedown but Reacher sprawls well.
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Reacher. Reacher gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reacher is fending him off so far but Jackson persists. Nope, Reacher circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Reacher pinned against the cage. Reacher gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Reacher.

Reacher has closed the distance and engaged Jackson in a clinch.

Reacher's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Jackson as Reacher shoots in.
Reacher looks for the body kick but Jackson saw that one coming.
Reacher throws a combination that misses
and Jackson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Reacher thows a body shot but no joy.
A solid leg kick lands there for Jackson.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Jackson successfully pulls guard.
Reacher forces his way into half guard.
Reacher is looking to take a break and control but Jackson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Reacher stands up out of the half guard.
Jackson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Reacher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson forces Reacher back against the cage and clinches.
Reacher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jackson avoids it.
Reacher is looking for a takedown.
Jackson jumps guard but Reacher turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jack Reacher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jackson moves in looking to clinch but Reacher pushes him off.

Jackson clinches.
Reacher jumps guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Reacher looking to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Jackson pulls Reacher into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Blake Jackson.
I think Jackson 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Jackson!