PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jack Rackham (ranked 2620 p4p, 279 weight class) and Marco Polo (ranked 3119 p4p, 308 weight class). Polo has chosen On The Floor as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Marco Polo will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Rackham
vs
Polo

170 cm
26
145 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

178 cm
38
153 lbs
15 - 24 - 1

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Powerful

Aspire Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jack Rackham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 24 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Polo!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rackham lands a nice looking body shot.
Polo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Horrible takedown attempt by Polo or perhaps it was just good defense by Rackham, which made it look bad.
Rackham motions for Polo to come forward. Rackham throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Rackham moves into range and clinches up with Polo.
A head punch on the inside from Rackham fails to land.
Polo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rackham working aggressively here.

Polo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rackham staying out of range there.
Rackham jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Polo misses with a lunging right hand
and Rackham cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Polo slips under a jab from Rackham.
Rackham throws a shot from downtown. Polo moves away and avoids it.
Polo shoots and misses
and Rackham counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rackham missing with a left hand there. Polo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Polo throws a push kick but Rackham slaps the foot to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo throws a body kick that misses
and Rackham counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rackham throws out a loose jab but Polo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rackham ducks under a wild hook from Polo.
Rackham tries to score with a low kick but Polo moves his leg out of the way.
Polo looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Rackham ducks under a wild hook from Polo.

Polo feints and as Rackham raises his hands in defense, Polo changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Polo won't allow Rackham to sweep him here.
Polo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rackham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rackham keeping moving, preventing Polo from controlling successfully.
Polo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Polo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Polo tries for a takedown but Rackham sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jack Rackham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Polo.

Rackham closes the distance and pushes Polo back into the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Rackham.
A head punch on the inside from Rackham fails to land.

Rackham is fighting off a takedown attempt but Polo is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Rackham to the mat. Rackham regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Rackham is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Polo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham misses with the head strike.
Rackham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Polo blocks an uppercut.
Rackham lands a hook that snaps the head of Polo backwards.
Polo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Polo pulls Rackham into guard.
Rackham being controlled here momentarily.
Polo working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo pulls Rackham in close to his closed guard and prevents Rackham from doing any damage or advancing position.
Polo looking to control.
Rackham controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rackham has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Polo is proving hard to escape from.
Polo is pulling down on Rackham's head to control his posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Rackham dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Polo takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Polo takes one on the button.
Rackham stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rackham wants it to stay on the feet.
Rackham takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Polo misses with a takedown attempt - Rackham sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Polo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Polo throws a looping overhand right but Rackham ducks down to avoid it.
Polo on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Rackham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Polo.
Jack Rackham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Polo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rackham clinches.
Rackham swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Polo lands a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Polo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Polo trying to control but Rackham is working from the bottom.

Polo has gone for a leg lock! Rackham slips out almost immediately though and dives into Polo's guard.

Polo pulls Rackham in close to his closed guard and prevents Rackham from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rackham slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Polo pulls Rackham in close to his closed guard and prevents Rackham from doing any damage or advancing position.
Rackham has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rackham content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Jack Rackham is winning the standup battle so far.

Polo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo advances to full mount.
Polo looking to finish with strikes here!
Polo tries to control but Rackham wriggling away.
Polo misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Polo lands a big shot there that rocks Rackham but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Polo throwing strikes but Rackham bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
Polo has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Polo wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
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 Jack Rackham will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rackham finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Polo moves away from the strike by Rackham.
Rackham swings for the body but Polo moves out of range.
Rackham has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Polo finds it's way round the side to connect with Rackham's head.
Rackham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Polo can do to turn this around?
Rackham looks to land a combination but Polo avoids it well.
Polo wants to counter the offense by Rackham and move into the clinch position.
Rackham misses with an uppercut

and Polo decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rackham's guard.
Polo wants to control from the top but Rackham keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham wants to sweep here but Polo controlling him for the moment.
Polo throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Polo wants to control from the top but Rackham keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Polo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rackham cracks a nice hook into Polo's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Polo ducks under a wild hook from Rackham.
Rackham lands a jab.
Polo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rackham sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Polo throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rackham counters with an outside leg kick.
Rackham connects with an inside leg kick.
Rackham misses with a lunging right hand
and Polo counters with a left to the body.
Rackham tries to land a leg kick but Polo saw it coming and moves away.
Polo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rackham sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Polo somewhat.
Rackham lands a jab to the nose.
Rackham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Polo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rackham circles away.
Jack Rackham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marco Polo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polo throws a leg kick
and Rackham counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice shot by Rackham.
Rackham misses with a looping right.
Rackham connects with a body shot that sends Polo's belly button to the back.
Polo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rackham counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Polo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Rackham connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Rackham misses with a low kick.
Jack Rackham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Polo moves away from the strike by Rackham.

Rackham takes the fight into the clinch.
Rackham lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Rackham throws a punch but it's blocked by Polo.
Marco Polo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Polo blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polo is trying to pull guard but Rackham turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Polo blocking some punches.
Rackham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Polo jumps guard but Rackham stands there with Polo around his waist. Polo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Rackham fails to land.
Rackham lands an uppercut.

It looks like Marco Polo has been cut.
Rackham lands a shoulder strike.
Polo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rackham smiles and moves away.
Polo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rackham as he avoids it easily.
Polo dives in and grabs Rackham's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rackham pushes down on Polo's head and hops out.
Polo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Polo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nice sprawl there from Rackham as Polo shoots in.
Polo scores with a nice head shot.
Rackham darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Rackham connects with a good right hand that stumbles Polo. Polo circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Rackham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rackham, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Rackham!
Jack Rackham thanked the fans post fight for their support.