PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Oba Ziyad (ranked 4219 p4p, 4165 weight class) and Marvin Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 506 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?

Ziyad
vs
Jackson

197 cm
23
220
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
23
205
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oba Ziyad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marvin Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ziyad blocks a jab.
Jackson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jackson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Ziyad saw that one coming.
Ziyad takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Ziyad decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Ziyad looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

It looks like Marvin Jackson has been cut.
Ground and pound from Ziyad.
Ziyad will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ziyad throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ziyad misses with a head shot. Jackson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ziyad throws a big right hand that misses.
Ziyad throwing strikes but missing.
Jackson trying to control the position here.
Ziyad stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson.
Ziyad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Jackson has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ziyad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Jackson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ziyad throws a big right hand that misses.
Jackson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ziyad is looking to work some ground and pound but Jackson has wrist control.
Ziyad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ziyad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ziyad postures up in Jackson's guard and throws a big left but Jackson blocks it.
Jackson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ziyad has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ziyad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ziyad stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ziyad throws a strike but Jackson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jackson landing with the ground and pound.
Jackson won't allow Ziyad to sweep him here.
Ziyad is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ziyad working for a triangle but Jackson defends it easily.
Jackson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jackson trying to control but Ziyad is working from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ziyad is on top in guard.

Ziyad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ziyad postures up in Jackson's guard and throws a big left but Jackson blocks it.
Ziyad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ziyad throws a big right hand that misses.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ziyad postures up in Jackson's guard and throws a big left but Jackson blocks it.
Ziyad with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jackson controlling Ziyad's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Ziyad from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ziyad scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ziyad throws a big right hand that misses.
Jackson is adopting a defensive guard.
Jackson wants to stand up but Ziyad is controlling him.
Ziyad wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jackson can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson pulls Ziyad in close to his closed guard and prevents Ziyad from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oba Ziyad dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marvin Jackson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Ziyad moves out of range as Jackson strikes.
Ziyad is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Jackson can do to turn this around?
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Ziyad saw that one coming.
Ziyad fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jackson connects with the punch.
Jackson misses with the combination.
Jackson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ziyad sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ziyad half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Jackson scores with a sloppy right hand. Ziyad should have avoided that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ziyad bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ziyad is putting a hurting on Jackson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Ziyad looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Jackson is avoiding damage well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ziyad lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jackson down.
Ziyad connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Jackson some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries to improve position but can't.
Jackson keeps trying to improve his position.
Ziyad working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ziyad throws an elbow but Jackson slips to the side and avoids it well.
Jackson tries to improve position but can't.
Ziyad lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Ziyad lands some shots froms side control.
Ziyad works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Ziyad working the head and body with strikes.
Jackson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Ziyad in side control, throwing shots but Jackson defends.
Oba Ziyad overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ziyad connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Jackson some visible discomfort.
Ziyad is putting a hurting on Jackson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Jackson is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad cracks Jackson with a big right hand but Jackson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Ziyad tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ziyad misses with the ground and pound.
Jackson is looking to reverse the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jackson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ziyad.
Jackson struggling a bit here.
The strikes coming from Ziyad are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ziyad throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ziyad working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom here.
Ziyad throws a strike aimed at the side of Jackson's head but Jackson avoids it well.
Ziyad throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Jackson taking a bit of punishment here - Ziyad scoring with strikes.
Jackson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ziyad is trying to control the action in half guard but Jackson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ziyad working the head and body with strikes.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Jackson trying to control from the bottom.
Jackson is breathing heavily.
Jackson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ziyad haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Ziyad throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ziyad slips a nice elbow through Jackson's hands, connecting with Jackson's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ziyad working the head and body with strikes.
Ziyad not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ziyad throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ziyad.
Jackson wants to improve his position but Ziyad is controlling well.
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. Ziyad connects with a nice short shot to Jackson's temple.
Ziyad landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ziyad not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ziyad drops an elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Ziyad not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ziyad drops an elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ziyad scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Oba Ziyad dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marvin Jackson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ziyad uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Jackson.
Ziyad throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson throws a body punch but Ziyad moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jackson. Ziyad does a little dance to reset his feet.
Jackson misses with an uppercut. Ziyad saw that one coming.
Jackson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ziyad uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Jackson.
Jackson misses with a body punch

and Ziyad counters with a single leg into guard. Jackson didn't expect that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ziyad.
Ziyad in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ziyad being controlled here momentarily.
Ziyad is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ziyad postures up in Jackson's guard and throws a big left but Jackson blocks it.
Ziyad in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ziyad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Jackson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ziyad with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ziyad missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ziyad makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Jackson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ziyad scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jackson has control of Ziyad's left arm, preventing Ziyad from doing any damage.
Ziyad throws an elbow that misses. Jackson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ziyad's guard. Nice move by Jackson!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is working Ziyad over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ziyad manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jackson manages to get himself to full guard.

Ziyad scoring with some ground and pound.
Ziyad distracts Jackson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ziyad throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Ziyad wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Ziyad trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ziyad scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Jackson pulls Ziyad in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad throwing strikes from guard but Jackson blocks nicely.
Ziyad trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ziyad throws a strike but Jackson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Jackson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ziyad wants to sweep but no luck.
Jackson distracts Ziyad with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jackson trying to control but Ziyad is working from the bottom.
Jackson advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ziyad regains full guard. Nicely done.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Ziyad keeps moving.
Jackson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson stopping the sweep attempt from Ziyad.
Jackson trying to control but Ziyad is working from the bottom.
Ziyad wants to sweep here but Jackson controlling him for the moment.
Marvin Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ziyad keeping moving, preventing Jackson from controlling successfully.
Ziyad is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jackson landing some decent shots from guard.
Ziyad wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Oba Ziyad showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ziyad, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Oba Ziyad!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Oba Ziyad!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Oba Ziyad!

Oba Ziyad wins by unanimous decision!
A very excited looking Oba Ziyad made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
The defeated Marvin Jackson had this to say: 'This sport SUX!'.