PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sugar Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Blagoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sugar Jackson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Jackson
vs
Blagoev

183 cm
18
211 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
209 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

ZSTAR

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sugar Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Blagoev!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blagoev fails with the takedown.
Vladimir Blagoev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Blagoev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jackson as he avoids it easily.
Jackson misses with a head kick.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Blagoev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Jackson as Blagoev shoots in.
Sugar Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Blagoev.
Jackson tries to clinch there but Blagoev circles away.

Blagoev shoots in and bounces Jackson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Blagoev controlling from the top position.
Blagoev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blagoev wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Blagoev working some strikes from top position.

Jackson pushes Blagoev off and scrambles back to his feet.

Blagoev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Blagoev controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I looks like Blagoev might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Blagoev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Blagoev stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson pushes Blagoev off looking to stand but Blagoev dives back in and keeps control.
Blagoev controlling the action here.

Blagoev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Blagoev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blagoev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Blagoev controlling the action here.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vladimir Blagoev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Blagoev scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Blagoev trying to control from Jackson's half guard. Jackson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Blagoev landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Blagoev dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A decent looking cross lands there for Jackson.
Blagoev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Blagoev gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Blagoev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Still in the clinch, Jackson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Blagoev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jackson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sugar Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Blagoev.
Nice takedown defense from Blagoev. No joy for Jackson on that attempt.

Blagoev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Blagoev is chipping away with strikes.
Blagoev cracks Jackson with a big elbow.
Jackson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Blagoev throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blagoev slows the pace down.
Jackson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Blagoev is controlling him well.
Blagoev controlling from side mount.
Jackson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Blagoev is putting a hurting on Jackson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Blagoev controlling the position from side mount.
Let's hope that Blagoev has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Blagoev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Jackson rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Blagoev's guard! Nice work there by Jackson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blagoev controlling Jackson's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vladimir Blagoev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Blagoev gets the takedown into side control.
Blagoev controls the position from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Blagoev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jackson is looking to clinch but Blagoev is avoiding it.
Blagoev shoots for a double leg takedown but Jackson sprawls well. He's pushed Blagoev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jackson looks to clinch

and Blagoev counters with a shoot takedown. Jackson fights it but they end up in guard.
Vladimir Blagoev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blagoev controls the pace.
Blagoev trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Jackson wants to stand but Blagoev is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blagoev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blagoev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Blagoev slips nicely into half guard.
Blagoev controlling the action here.
Jackson looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blagoev throwing shots but Jackson is blocking nicely.
Blagoev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vladimir Blagoev just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jackson stuffs the takedown attempt from Blagoev. Blagoev gets slowly back to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Blagoev as Jackson shoots in.
Jackson is looking to clinch.

Blagoev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Blagoev lands in his opponent's guard.
Blagoev works over Jackson with some ground and pound from guard.
Blagoev throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Blagoev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sugar Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Jackson has his foot on Blagoev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blagoev works his way back into a safe position though.
Blagoev throws and elbow that misses. Jackson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Blagoev's guard. Nice move by Jackson!
Blagoev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Blagoev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Blagoev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Blagoev!