PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Togashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kenji Togashi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Togashi
vs
Jackson

171 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

169 cm
18
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenji Togashi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Edson Gomes and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Togashi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Togashi jumps guard but Jackson stands there with Togashi around his waist. Togashi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Jackson continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Togashi misses with a knee strike.

Togashi successfully pulls guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Jackson stands and steps away. Togashi gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Togashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch but Togashi moves away
and Togashi counters with a body kick.
Togashi fails with the takedown.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Togashi keeps it at a distance.
Jackson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Togashi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Togashi.
Togashi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Jackson up against the cage.
Jackson is pushing Togashi up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Jackson.
Togashi keeps the fight on the outside.
Jackson takes one to the side of the head.
Togashi shoots for a double leg takedown but Jackson sprawls well. He's pushed Togashi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Togashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Togashi gets tackled into the cage by Jackson. Jackson maintains the clinch.
Togashi trying to land knees to the body.
Jackson stalls.
Togashi is trying to break the clinch but Jackson is controlling him.
The referee calls for Jackson to work.
Jackson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Togashi's efforts to push away.
Jackson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Togashi fails to pull guard.
Jackson stalls.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Togashi tries to circle away but Jackson has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Togashi is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Jackson.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Jackson.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Jackson is trying to stall.
Jackson just leaning against Togashi, taking a breather.
Togashi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Togashi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jackson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Togashi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jackson leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd are getting on Jackson's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Jackson.
Jackson looks to clinch

and Togashi counters with a shoot takedown. Jackson fights it but they end up in guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Togashi trying to stand up but can't free himself from Jackson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Togashi is breathing heavily.
Jackson striking from his own guard.
Jackson striking from his own guard.
Jackson striking off his back but it's not causing Togashi any problems.
Jackson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
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 Togashi to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Jackson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Togashi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Togashi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Jackson as Togashi shoots in.

Jackson darts in and clinches Togashi up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Jackson receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Togashi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Jackson leaning against his opponent.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Jackson.
Togashi swats away the attempt to clinch by Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch up but Togashi circles away and keeps his distance.
Jackson wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries to clinch but Togashi is having none of it.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Togashi keeps it at a distance.
Jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.

Togashi has managed to clinch.
Jackson wants to stall.

Togashi manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Jackson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Togashi closes the distance and pushes Jackson back into the cage.
Jackson is looking to control Togashi's arms but Togashi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jackson has his back to the cage.

Togashi breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Togashi fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Togashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Togashi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Togashi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jackson is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson is squirming around, avoiding Togashi's attempts to control the action.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jackson is working to get back to half guard.
Jackson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Jackson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Jackson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Togashi is trying to control. Jackson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jackson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Jackson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Jackson lands some strikes from the bottom.
Jackson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Jackson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
John Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jackson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Togashi is looking to get to half guard.
Jackson tries to control but Togashi wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Jackson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Jackson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Togashi is trying to break free.
Togashi is trying to pull guard but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Jackson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Togashi wants to break free but Jackson has control.
A short body shot lands from Togashi as the two fighters clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Jackson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
Togashi shoots in but no luck this time.

Jackson moves into range and clinches up with Togashi.
Togashi stalling in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Jackson.

Jackson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jackson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throwing short punches from the bottom.
Jackson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Jackson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
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 decides to return to a standing position.
Togashi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Jackson has Togashi up against the cage in a clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Togashi tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kenji Togashi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson is looking to clinch but Togashi is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson pushes Togashi up against the cage in a clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jackson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Still in the clinch, Togashi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Jackson is stalling here.

Togashi has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Jackson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Jackson turns into Togashi and is now in his guard.

Jackson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Togashi, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Togashi fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Togashi keeps it at a distance.
Togashi misses with a few strikes there.

Jackson has closed the distance and engaged Togashi in a clinch.
Jackson is struggling to control the position.
Togashi can't break the clinch.
Jackson stops a takedown attempt from Togashi.
Jackson is stalling here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by John Jackson.
Jackson wants to clinch up but Togashi keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Togashi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Jackson if he has to take too many more of those.
John Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Togashi shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Togashi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Jackson clinches with his opponent.
Jackson just leaning against Togashi, taking a breather.
Togashi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jackson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jackson is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Jackson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jackson 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30

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