PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Murray Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ariobaldo Tavarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Jackson
vs
Tavarez

182 cm
29
195 lbs
17 - 1 - 0

181 cm
28
200 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

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 17 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Murray Jackson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ariobaldo Tavarez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Alexandre Firmino and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson throws a lazy uppercut
and Tavarez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tavarez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Jackson throws out a loose jab but Tavarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jackson misses the jab.
Jackson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jackson lands a slapping body shot.

Tavarez drives through and clinches with Jackson against the cage.
Jackson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Jackson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
Tavarez connects with a crisp jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Tavarez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jackson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Tavarez ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Jackson.
Tavarez throws a shot from downtown. Jackson moves away and avoids it.
Jackson lands a glancing blow to the side of Tavarez's head.

It looks like Ariobaldo Tavarez has been cut.
Jackson loads up on a big right hand but Tavarez slips the punch.
Murray Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tavarez scores with a hook.

It looks like Murray Jackson has been cut.
Tavarez ducks under a wild hook from Jackson.
Jackson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Tavarez doesn't manage to clinch there - Jackson circles away.
Jackson looks to land a left hand but Tavarez moved out of range nicely.
Jackson is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tavarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
Nice uppercut there from Tavarez.
Tavarez throws a body punch but Jackson moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jackson throws an overhand right that lands on Tavarez's shoulder, as Tavarez tries to avoid the shot.
Jackson tries to bum rush Tavarez with a series of wild strikes but Tavarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tavarez throws a jab but it's blocked by Jackson.
Jackson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavarez manages to avoid it.
Tavarez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Jackson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavarez manages to avoid it.
Murray Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tavarez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Jackson tries to avoid it but Tavarez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Jackson to the ground. Jackson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jackson misses with a series of wild punches.
Jackson misses with a jab to the body
enabling Tavarez to counter with a crisp jab.
Jackson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tavarez's head backwards.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tavarez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez throws out a powerful jab.
Tavarez moves to clinch but Jackson breaks away
and Jackson counters with a straight right hand.
Jackson throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tavarez on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Tavarez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Tavarez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Tavarez needs to keep his hands up - Jackson had a free shot at his head there.
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!
Jackson thows a body shot but no joy.
Jackson cracks Tavarez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jackson is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Jackson uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a lunging right hand

and Tavarez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jackson prevents a body shot from Tavarez.
Tavarez tries to land a knee to the head but Jackson blocks with his arms.
Tavarez misses with a punch to the body.
Jackson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jackson misses with a body punch.
Tavarez blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Jackson fails to land.
Tavarez tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jackson tries to break the clinch but Tavarez is controlling the position.
Jackson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Tavarez backwards.
Tavarez tries to land a knee to the head but Jackson blocks with his arms.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tavarez lands a knee to the head.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson lunges at Tavarez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Tavarez's hand.
Tavarez throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jackson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Jackson dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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 throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tavarez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Jackson misses with an uppercut.
Jackson lands a nice shot that snaps Tavarez's head back.
Tavarez moves out of range of the strikes.
Jackson lands with a good body shot.
Jackson throws a big shot that misses.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice shot lands for Jackson.
The fighters circling - Jackson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Tavarez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Tavarez.
Jackson misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson tries to bum rush Tavarez with a series of wild strikes but Tavarez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jackson lands with a straight right. Tavarez didn't see that one coming.
Murray Jackson is winning the standup battle so far.
A big left from Jackson misses.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavarez is just out of range.
Jackson throws a right hand that misses
and Tavarez counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jackson throws a shot from downtown. Tavarez moves away and avoids it.

Tavarez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tavarez looking to throw knees to the head but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Jackson misses with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Jackson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Tavarez.
Jackson avoiding damage as Tavarez throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez misses with a knee strike.
Tavarez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tavarez looking to throw knees to the head but Jackson is blocking nicely.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice shot by Jackson.
Tavarez tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.
Jackson throws a looping overhand right but Tavarez ducks down to avoid it.
Jackson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tavarez.
Tavarez walks into a jab.
Jackson throws a shot from downtown. Tavarez moves away and avoids it.
Jackson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tavarez.
Jackson throws a hook to the side of Tavarez's head but Tavarez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez moves out of range as Jackson strikes.
Nice defenses there by Tavarez.
Jackson swings for the body but Tavarez moves out of range.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavarez is just out of range.
Jackson thuds a left hand into Tavarez's body.
Tavarez keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Jackson throws a jab when Tavarez was well out of range.
Jackson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Jackson keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Tavarez counters with a stiff right hand.
Tavarez misses the shot to the body.
Tavarez avoids the body shot from Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson swings for the body but Tavarez moves out of range.
Jackson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jackson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jackson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That has opened up Ariobaldo Tavarez's cut even more.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tavarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jackson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tavarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good exchange - Tavarez coming out on top.

Murray Jackson's cut is getting worse.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tavarez tries to clinch up.
Jackson looks to land a right hand but Tavarez moved out of range.
Tavarez takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Jackson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Jackson misses with a double jab.
Tavarez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jackson.
Tavarez slips under a jab from Jackson.
Tavarez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Jackson misses with a hook. Tavarez ducked under it nicely.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavarez is just out of range.
Jackson lands with an uppercut that bounces Tavarez off the cage and back into range.
The fighters circling - Jackson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jackson works Tavarez's body with a nice hook.
Tavarez moves away from the strike by Jackson.
Tavarez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jackson manages to avoid it.
Tavarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tavarez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Tavarez defending well as Jackson loads up on a big left hand.
Jackson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tavarez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jackson.
Jackson throws an overhand right that lands on Tavarez's shoulder, as Tavarez tries to avoid the shot.
Jackson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jackson moves out of range of the strikes.
Tavarez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tavarez blocks a jab.
A jab from Jackson misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson scores with a punch to the head.
Jackson looks to score with a jab to the body but Tavarez is just out of range.
Tavarez is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Tavarez misses with a straight right.
Tavarez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tavarez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tavarez needs to keep his hands up - Jackson had a free shot at his head there.
Jackson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tavarez manages to avoid it.
Jackson lands the left hand.
Tavarez scores with a nice right hand.
Tavarez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Jackson.
Jackson misses the shot to the body.
No joy there for Jackson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Jackson.
Tavarez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Jackson staying out of range there.
Jackson walks into a stiff left hand from Tavarez.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jackson just misses with a punch to the body.
Tavarez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Jackson counters with a left to the body.
Jackson scores with a hook.
Tavarez tries to clinch up.
A big left from Jackson misses.
Tavarez clobbers Jackson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jackson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson throws out a loose jab but Tavarez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jackson lands with a cross.
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!
Jackson lands a nice hook to Tavarez's body. Tavarez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tavarez.
Tavarez wants to clinch up but Jackson keeps it at a distance.
Tavarez shoots for a takedown but Jackson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tavarez takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Tavarez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tavarez walks into a left hand.
Tavarez wants to clinch up but Jackson keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Jackson clearly takes that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Tavarez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jackson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Jackson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jackson loads up on a big right hand but Tavarez slips the punch.
Tavarez works the jab nicely.
Tavarez dodges the punch combination from Jackson.
Jackson scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tavarez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Jackson throws a poor cross that misses
letting Tavarez counter with a right hand.
Tavarez misses with a straight right.
A punch combination from Jackson misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tavarez tries to clinch up but Jackson circles away and keeps his distance.
Tavarez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tavarez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Jackson.
Jackson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jackson throws a hook but Tavarez blocks it.
Jackson lands with a right hand.
Tavarez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Tavarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jackson throws an overhand right that lands on Tavarez's shoulder, as Tavarez tries to avoid the shot.
Tavarez missing with a left hand there. Jackson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tavarez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jackson pinned against the cage. Jackson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Murray Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ariobaldo Tavarez.
Good standup being displayed there by Jackson as he connects with a hook.
Tavarez tries to close the distance and clinch but Jackson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tavarez clinches up against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Jackson.
Tavarez misses with a punch to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tavarez tries to land a knee to the head but Jackson blocks with his arms.
Jackson lands a nice shot to the body.
Tavarez is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Jackson is trying to break the clinch but Tavarez is controlling him.
Tavarez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jackson is defending well for now.
Jackson lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson lands a left hand.
Jackson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tavarez or not.
Tavarez misses with a knee strike.
Jackson misses with some punches.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jackson lands a jab to Tavarez's midsection.
Tavarez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Tavarez staying out of range there.
Tavarez is looking to clinch but Jackson is avoiding it.
Tavarez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Jackson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Tavarez throws out the jab.
Nice defenses there by Tavarez.
Nice defenses there by Jackson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws an overhand right that lands on Tavarez's shoulder, as Tavarez tries to avoid the shot.
Tavarez takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Tavarez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jackson feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Tavarezs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jackson stuns Tavarez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jackson connects with a crisp jab.
Tavarez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
Tavarez tries to clinch up
and Jackson counters with a left to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tavarez needs to keep his hands up - Jackson had a free shot at his head there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Jackson had his way with Ariobaldo Tavarez in that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Jackson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tavarez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jackson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tavarez.

Tavarez is rocked!
Jackson fakes the leg kick and throws a superman punch. It's knocked Tavarez out cold! Brutal finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:22 of round 5, we have a winner by way of KO (Superman Punch). Murray Jackson!
Murray Jackson retains his middleweight title!