PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashad Jackson (ranked 2986 p4p, 3317 weight class) and Dylan Sydal (ranked 363 p4p, 405 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jackson
vs
Sydal

198 cm
26
265
4 - 3 - 0

201 cm
23
270
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

KRAKEN Nutrition + Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rashad Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dylan Sydal!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sydal shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jackson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Sydal scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jackson tries to kick Sydal off in order to stand up. Sydal Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson is looking for a sweep.

Sydal decides to stand back up.
Sydal avoids the head kick by Jackson.

Sydal closes the distance and clinches.
Sydal has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Jackson after a bit of a struggle.
Jackson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Jackson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jackson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Sydal counters with a takedown into side control.
Jackson is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Panda Sprawl n Brawl that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson is letting Sydal control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sydal has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Sydal closes the distance and pushes Jackson back into the cage.

Jackson breaks the clinch.
Jackson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sydal wants to counter the offense by Jackson and move into the clinch position.
Sydal shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jackson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Rashad Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dylan Sydal.
A good leg kick by Jackson.
Jackson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jackson swinging wildly here.
Sydal tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jackson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sydal somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Jackson.
Jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Jackson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Jackson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sydal.
Jackson works over Sydal's head and body with a nice combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sydal takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sydal is defended easily by Jackson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sydal takes one to the chin there.

Sydal closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Jackson explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

Jackson clinches with his opponent.
Jackson tries to circle away but Sydal has him pinned against the cage.
Sydal takes a shot to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sydal tries to pull guard but Jackson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Sydal looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Sydal works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Jackson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sydal puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to escape.
Sydal is nestled in close to Jackson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Sydal trying to control the pace.

Jackson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Sydal throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Jackson's waist but Jackson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sydal off to one side.

Jackson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Jackson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A body shot lands from Jackson.
Jackson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sydal gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Jackson lands a head kick. Sydal smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Jackson throws a right and a left that both miss.
Jackson comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sydal swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jackson throws a nice head kick!
Sydal walks into a left hand.
Jackson stuns Sydal with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Jackson dips to his left and cracks Sydal with an uppercut!

Sydal gets a takedown into half guard.

Jackson manages to escape and get back to his feet!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jackson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson stalks Sydal and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Sydal's face. Sydal staggers backwards, shaken.
Jackson throws a combination that misses

and Sydal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Jackson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Sydal dives into side control.
Sydal working the ground and pound from side control.

Sydal stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Sydal.

Sydal looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Jackson tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Sydal manages to move to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sydal landing strikes from the mount and Jackson is in trouble!
Sydal trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jackson is in a horrible position here. Sydal smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Dylan Sydal has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Jackson is working to get back to half guard.
Sydal controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson working to try and regain half guard.
Sydal trying to control but Jackson is having none of it.
Sydal landing punches.
Sydal dominating with strikes here.
Sydal controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to stand.

Sydal jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Jackson manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Jackson holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
You can see the frustration on Jackson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Jackson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Sydal is looking to take a break and control but Jackson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rashad Jackson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jackson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jackson lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Jackson lands with an overhand left.
Sydal scores with a shot to the body.
Jackson misses with a head kick.
Sydal tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Jackson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sydal closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sydal content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Sydal wants to control but Jackson is keeping him busy.

Sydal working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sydal looks up at the clock and then as Jackson takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sydal smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Sydal stands up and beckons Jackson to his feet.
Sydal is looking to clinch.
Jackson cracks Sydal with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Jackson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sydal paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sydal is defended easily by Jackson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sydal gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jackson.
Sydal tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jackson swivels and escapes.
Rashad Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jackson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sydal can do to turn this around?
Jackson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Sydal in his tracks.
Rashad Jackson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Sydal gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sydal is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Rashad Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dylan Sydal.
Jackson throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Sydal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jackson lands an elbow inside.
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!
Sydal tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Sydal takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sydal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Jackson throws a nice looking combination but Sydal bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jackson lands with a kick to the temple. Sydal shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Jackson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Jackson with a hook.
No joy there for Jackson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Jackson has Sydal up against the cage in a clinch.
Sydal jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jackson walks away with a smile on his face. Sydal gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson jabs Sydal to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Sydal on that attempt.
Sydal is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Jackson.
Rashad Jackson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sydal swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Jackson counter with a right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sydal.
A jab from Jackson does it's job there.
Rashad Jackson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jackson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Jackson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sydal, pushing him back against the cage.
Dylan Sydal has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sydal tries to land knees in the clinch but Jackson avoids the damage to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashad Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Jackson, 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashad Jackson!
An out of breath Rashad Jackson thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.