PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Willie Salazar (ranked 4569 p4p, 571 weight class) and Smoosh Jackson (ranked 18308 p4p, 939 weight class). Smoosh Jackson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Salazar
vs
Jackson

185 cm
29
170 lbs
7 - 14 - 0

184 cm
32
175 lbs
9 - 22 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 14 - 0, fighting out of New York, Willie Salazar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 22 - 0, fighting out of New York, Smoosh Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salazar fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jackson, pushing him back against the cage.
Jackson lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Salazar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Jackson uses from the top position.
Salazar keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Salazar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Jackson won't allow Salazar to sweep him here.
Salazar keeping full guard, as Jackson tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Salazar keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Salazar not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson cracks Salazar with a solid left hand.

Salazar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Jackson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Jackson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Salazar keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Jackson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Jackson prevents Salazar from improving his position.
Salazar moves into full guard.
Jackson chips away with some ground and pound.
My spies in The Factory inform me that Jackson has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Salazar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Salazar looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Jackson trying to move into half guard but instead Salazar has managed to sweep!

Jackson keeping moving, preventing Salazar from controlling successfully.
Salazar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salazar is one step ahead there.

Jackson working for a triangle but Salazar defends it easily.

Jackson looking for subs off his back but Salazar has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salazar is trying to work for a kimura but Jackson is defending well.
Jackson manages to get to full guard.
Salazar trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Salazar postures up.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Salazar doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Salazar manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jackson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Salazar wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Jackson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Salazar is pushing down on Jackson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Jackson is fighting to maintain full guard but Salazar has managed to sneak the leg through.
Jackson wants to sweep but Salazar has passed to side control!
Jackson is trying to improve his position.
Jackson manages to get back to half guard.
Salazar prevents Jackson from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Smoosh Jackson will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Salazar moves into range and clinches up with Jackson.
Salazar stalling against the cage.
Salazar slowing the pace effectively.

Salazar manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Salazar won't let him.

Salazar is looking for a triangle but Jackson pushes his legs off easily.
Salazar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Willie Salazar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Jackson gets to his feet - Salazar follows without any prompting.
Smoosh Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson slaps away a takedown attempt from Salazar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Salazar wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salazar drives through and clinches with Jackson against the cage.

Salazar manages to break the clinch.
Salazar is looking to clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson closes the distance and clinches.
Salazar scores with a nice hook to the head.

Jackson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Salazar tries to clinch
enabling Jackson to counter with a crisp jab.

Jackson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Salazar presses Jackson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jackson tries to break the clinch but Salazar is controlling the position.
Jackson is trying to force a seperation but Salazar has the dominant position.
Jackson is stalling here.
Nice body punch from Salazar.
Salazar is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Salazar is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Jackson to keep the fight standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salazar scores with a hook to the body.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Salazar sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Salazar seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salazar moves in looking to clinch but Jackson pushes him off.

Jackson moves into the clinch.
Salazar with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salazar throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Jacksons head.

Jackson gets control of Salazar's arms and successfully pulls guard. Jackson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Salazar wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

Jackson has his foot on Salazar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Salazar works his way back into a safe position though.
Jackson looking to control.

Jackson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Salazar.
Salazar trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salazar slips nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson moves into full guard.
Salazar slips nicely into half guard.

Jackson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Salazar pulls his head out easily.
Salazar sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Jackson defending well though.
Jackson wants to control but Salazar is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ground and pound from Salazar.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Salazar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Jackson regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Willie Salazar will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Salazar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Jackson manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Jackson takes the fight into the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Jackson throws an elbow but misses.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Jackson drives through and clinches with Salazar against the cage.
Jackson lands with a right to the head.
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 is looking for a takedown.

Salazar jumps into guard, dragging Jackson to the mat.
Salazar controls Jackson momentarily but Jackson frees himself.

Salazar had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Jackson defends it easily.
Jackson trying to control but Salazar is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson advances to half guard.
Jackson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Salazar.

Jackson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
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. Jackson connects with a nice short shot to Salazar's temple.

Salazar looking for submissions off his back.
Jackson is taking a breather. Salazar 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 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.
Jackson trying to control the action but Salazar is working from the bottom.

Salazar actively working from the bottom here.
Jackson is controlling the pace.
Jackson is trying to control the action in half guard but Salazar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Salazar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Jackson trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Salazar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Salazar flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Salazar is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jackson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jackson's back!
I really don't envy Jackson right now.
Jackson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Salazar's guard. Nice work there by Jackson.
Jackson looking to sit in guard and control but Salazar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jackson keeping moving, preventing Salazar from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
Salazar pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson is trying to control the position but Salazar postures up.
Salazar stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Salazar wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson trying to control the position.
Salazar connects with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Smoosh Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Smoosh Jackson!