PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abraham Jackson (ranked 25091 p4p, 4009 weight class) and Mapple Syrup (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mapple Syrup looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Jackson
vs
Syrup

187 cm
22
185
0 - 2 - 0

198 cm
27
190
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abraham Jackson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mapple Syrup!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, David Schapiro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Syrup as Jackson shoots in.
Syrup looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Jackson gets caught napping as Syrup dives in and scores a takedown. Jackson manages to retain guard.
Syrup pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jackson is keeping the position for now.
Jackson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Syrup doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Syrup manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson looking to control.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson , not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Syrup wants to pass the guard but Jackson is keeping the position.
Jackson looking for a sweep. Not yet Jackson , not yet.
Syrup distracts Jackson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jackson is trying to keep Syrup in close.
Syrup is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Jackson working for a triangle but Syrup defends it easily.
Syrup not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Syrup stopping the sweep attempt from Jackson .

Jackson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jackson looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Syrup working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Syrup looking to pass the guard.
Syrup trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Jackson gets the takedown into side control.
Jackson trying to control the action but Syrup is working from the bottom.
Syrup tries to bench press Jackson off him but Jackson keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Syrup sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Syrup looks winded!
Syrup makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Syrup.
Jackson trying to control but Syrup is working from the bottom.
Jackson advances to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jackson is looking to stall here but Syrup recovers full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mapple Syrup will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jackson tries to clinch up but Syrup circles away and keeps his distance.

Jackson rushes Syrup and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jackson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Syrup after a bit of a struggle.
Syrup drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Syrup tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Syrup manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Syrup pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As Syrup tries to get set, Jackson tries to push him back and clinch up but Syrup manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Syrup misses with a wild combination.
Syrup is breathing heavily.
Jackson tries to clinch there but Syrup circles away.
Jackson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Syrup counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson looking for submissions off his back.
Jackson is trying to maintain the position but Syrup is very close to passing his half guard.
Syrup throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jackson tries to get to full guard but Syrup has control of the leg.
Jackson looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've been hearing good reports from Jackson 's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Jackson is trying to maintain the position but Syrup is very close to passing his half guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

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.
Syrup missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jackson wants to control but Syrup is keeping busy.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Syrup circles away from the clinch attempt.

Syrup clinches up with Jackson and pushes him back against the cage.

Syrup successfully pulls guard.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Syrup keeps moving.

Syrup is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Jackson is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Syrup is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Syrup wants to stand up but Jackson is controlling him.
Syrup has a closed guard, preventing Jackson from standing up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Syrup can't keep his opponent in guard - Jackson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four 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 from half guard but Syrup is working away.
Mapple Syrup has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Syrup is trying is best to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Syrup has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mapple Syrup will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Syrup fails with the takedown.
Jackson dives in and grabs Syrup's left leg, looking for a takedown. Syrup pushes down on Jackson 's head and hops out.
Syrup tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Syrup has taken the fight to the clinch.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jackson is defended easily by Syrup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Syrup's waist but Syrup gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jackson off to one side.
A nice side step and Syrup releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abraham Jackson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Syrup tries for a takedown but Jackson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jackson is looking to clinch.
Syrup takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson shoots in and drives through. Syrup sprawls well.
Jackson misses with the body kick

and Syrup counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Jackson keeping moving, preventing Syrup from controlling successfully.

Syrup avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Syrup stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jackson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Jackson postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Syrup to stand up.
Syrup shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Syrup's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Syrup takes one to the side of the head.
Jackson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Syrup manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jackson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Syrup sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jackson somewhat.
Syrup fails with a takedown attempt.
Jackson dives in and grabs Syrup's left leg, looking for a takedown. Syrup pushes down on Jackson 's head and hops out.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Syrup sprawls well. Syrup wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jackson gets slowly back to his feet.
Jackson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Syrup is fending him off so far but Jackson persists. Nope, Syrup circles away and we're back to standing.
Jackson wants to land a leg kick but Syrup is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Syrup tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Syrup to the ground. Syrup escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Syrup is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Syrup has managed to clinch.
Jackson tries to circle away but Syrup has him pinned against the cage.

Syrup pulls guard effortlessly.
Jackson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Syrup keeps moving.
Syrup pulls Jackson in close to his closed guard and prevents Jackson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Jackson tries to stand but Syrup is controlling from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mapple Syrup comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Syrup has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mapple Syrup!