PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Marcus Jackson enters the cage!

Ribeiro
vs
Jackson

175 cm
19
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paolo Ribeiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Jackson!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson takes a jab right on the kisser.

Jackson gets the takedown into side control.
Ribeiro can't do much from the bottom here.
Ribeiro is trying to improve his position.
Sloppy strikes there by Jackson.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ribeiro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ribeiro manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ribeiro tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Jackson wants to take a breather but Ribeiro is having none of it.

Jackson is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ribeiro has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is trying to work for a kimura but Ribeiro is defending well.
Jackson working over Ribeiro with some ground and pound. Ribeiro looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Jackson trying to control the action but Ribeiro is working from the bottom.
Ribeiro keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Jackson is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ribeiro has managed to free his arm - good work.
Jackson uses his free foot to push down on Ribeiro's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Ribeiro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Jackson goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ribeiro is on top in guard.
Ribeiro trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jackson's guard.
Jackson controls Ribeiro momentarily but Ribeiro frees himself.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ribeiro is one step ahead there.

Ribeiro drops back looking for a leg! Jackson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Jackson manages to kick Ribeiro off! Ribeiro jumps back into Jackson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson controlling the position.
Jackson trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ribeiro is stalling in the full guard.
Ribeiro wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ribeiro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Jackson.
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ribeiro fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jackson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ribeiro moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Nice uppercut there from Ribeiro.
A slow jab from Jackson misses its intended target.
Ribeiro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ribeiro keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Jackson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ribeiro misses with a series of wild punches.
Ribeiro uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jackson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Ribeiro dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ribeiro has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ribeiro there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ribeiro throws a left and a right that both miss

and Jackson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ribeiro!

Jackson jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ribeiro is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ribeiro and Jackson has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Jackson is trying to get an arm triangle but Ribeiro is defending well.
Jackson is chipping away with strikes.
Jackson prevents Ribeiro from escaping the position.

Jackson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Jackson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ribeiro keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson swings around for an armbar but Ribeiro sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jackson's guard.
Ribeiro trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ribeiro stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Ribeiro wants to stand but Jackson is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ribeiro pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ribeiro misses with a two punch combination.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Ribeiro shows good takedown defense.
Ribeiro swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Jackson throws a leg kick but Ribeiro moved away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ribeiro checks a leg kick.
Ribeiro misses with a hook. Jackson ducked under it nicely.
Paolo Ribeiro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jackson.
Ribeiro misses with a two punch combination.
Ribeiro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Jackson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ribeiro!
Ribeiro is squirming around, avoiding Jackson's attempts to control the action.
Jackson is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Jackson lands a big shot there that rocks Ribeiro but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Ribeiro tries to hold on but Jackson pushes him away.
Jackson scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ribeiro?
Jackson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Ribeiro is looking to escape.
Jackson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ribeiro is trying desperately to improve position.

Jackson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Ribeiro swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Jackson counters with a shoot takedown. Ribeiro fights it but they end up in guard.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribeiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ribeiro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Jackson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Ribeiro.
Ribeiro wants to get back to his feet but Jackson drags him back down.
Jackson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Jackson is trying to get an arm triangle but Ribeiro is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson cracks Ribeiro with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Ribeiro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Jackson working the ground and pound but Ribeiro is defending the strikes.

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.
Ribeiro manages to get back to half guard.
Jackson stalling away here and it's allowed Ribeiro to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Ribeiro keeps moving.
Jackson tries to stand but Ribeiro is controlling from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jackson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Ribeiro escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Jackson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.

Jackson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Jackson trying to control the position from guard on top but Ribeiro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Jackson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Ribeiro looking for submissions off his back.
Marcus Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ribeiro does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jackson working the head and body with strikes.

Jackson is looking for a kimura but Ribeiro is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Jackson to get the leverage.
Jackson blocks the strikes from Ribeiro.
Jackson trying to control from half guard but Ribeiro is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus 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 George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

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