PBP Commentary

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

Jackson
vs
Maninng

185 cm
19
185 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bo Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Craig Maninng!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jackson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Maninng lands a two punch combo.
Maninng is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Maninng is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Maninng fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maninng lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Maninng shows good takedown defense.
Maninng scores with a shot to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maninng.
Maninng throws a nice looking combination but Jackson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Jackson shoots in but Maninng avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bo Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Maninng looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Horrible takedown by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Maninng which made him look bad.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maninng circles away.
Maninng lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Jackson at a distance.

Jackson clinches with his opponent.
Maninng tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
Jackson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Jackson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maninng keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
Maninng lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Maninng closes the distance but Jackson moves to the side

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.
Maninng wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Maninng is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Maninng is looking to break free of the clinch but Jackson has double underhooks.
Maninng wants to get back to striking at distance but Jackson won't allow it.
Jackson wants a takedown but no success here.
Jackson prevents Maninng from breaking the clinch.
Maninng wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Maninng has had enough of the clinch but Jackson keeps him there for the moment.
Jackson keeps control of Maninng as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Maninng can't break the clinch.
Maninng is trying to break free.
Maninng can't break the clinch.
Maninng is looking to break free of the clinch but Jackson has double underhooks.
Jackson prevents the takedown attempt.
Maninng is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maninng is looking to break free of the clinch but Jackson has double underhooks.
Maninng is trying to break free.
Maninng wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maninng can't break the clinch.
Maninng is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Jackson prevents Maninng from breaking the clinch.
Maninng can't break the clinch.
Maninng can't get the takedown.
Maninng tries to pull guard but Jackson won't allow it.
Jackson prevents Maninng from breaking the clinch.
Maninng wants to break the clinch but can't.
Maninng wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Maninng wants to break free but Jackson has control.
Maninng wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.
Maninng is trying to break the clinch but Jackson has him pressed against the cage.

Jackson successfully pulls guard.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Maninng doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Maninng manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jackson trying to keep a closed guard but Maninng is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Jackson trying to control the position.

Jackson has his foot on Maninng's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Maninng works his way back into a safe position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Jackson working for a triangle but Maninng defends it easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Maninng fails to land the takedown.

That's four 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.
Jackson shoots for a takedown but Maninng saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Maninng scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Maninng digs a good hook to Jackson's body.
Craig Maninng seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Maninng.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maninng jabs at Jackson's body.
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Maninng.
Jackson shoots for a takedown but Maninng saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Jackson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Maninng paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jackson blocks a low kick nicely.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Maninng circles away.
Maninng scores with a punch to the head.
Maninng tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Jackson counters with a series of strikes. Maninng will be more careful next time no doubt.

Jackson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maninng, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Maninng dominated that round.
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.

Maninng throws a series of strikes that have Jackson backpedaling.
Jab from Maninng.
Jackson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Maninng to score with a decent uppercut.
Maninng looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.
Maninng throws a right and a left that both miss.

Jackson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Jackson trying to control from half guard but Maninng is working away.

Jackson is looking for a kimura here.
Maninng is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Maninng doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Jackson.
Jackson is trying to control the action in half guard but Maninng is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Jackson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jackson works his way into full mount!
Maninng tries to reverse the position but Jackson maintains control.

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 controlling from the full mount.
Maninng avoids a series of strikes thrown by Jackson.
Maninng bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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.
Jackson controls Maninng momentarily but Maninng frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to control the position here.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Maninng is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Jackson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Maninng's back instead.
Maninng wants to escape the position.
Maninng just trying to survive but Jackson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Jackson working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Maninng prevents Jackson from getting a body triangle.

Maninng is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Jackson misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bo Jackson dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Maninng lands a jab to Jackson's midsection.
Maninng throws a combination that misses

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch.
Maninng is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Left hook, right uppercut from Maninng.
Maninng is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Jackson rather than just go for the knockout.
Maninng takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Maninng goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Maninng gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch.
Jackson lands a shot to the body.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.

Jackson has taken the fight to the clinch.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.

Jackson gets a clinch.

Jackson jumps guard.
Maninng preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Jackson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jackson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maninng is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Jackson looking for a guillotine here but Maninng defends easily.
Jackson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Jackson is controlling Maninng's posture.
Maninng really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jackson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maninng with a flurry of punches that miss.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Jackson looks to land a left hand but Maninng moved out of range nicely.
Maninng scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Jackson swats away the attempt to clinch by Maninng.
No luck for Maninng with that takedown attempt.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Maninng, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Maninng against the cage but Maninng circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maninng cracks Jackson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maninng as he avoids it easily.
Maninng digs a good hook to Jackson's body.
Maninng throws a predictable looking body shot

and Jackson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Maninng won't be happy with that.
Jackson staying calm.

Jackson tries for a kimura but Maninng is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson trying to control the action but Maninng is working from the bottom.
Jackson working the ground and pound but Maninng is defending the strikes.
Jackson misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Maninng has escaped the position, nice work there.
Maninng tries to buck Jackson off but Jackson is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Maninng lands a nice looking body shot.
Jackson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Maninng stuns Jackson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Maninng ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Maninng scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Maninng sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson'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 Bo Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson closes the distance and clinches up with Maninng, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes Maninng against the cage but Maninng circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Jackson keeps the fight on the outside.

Jackson gets a takedown into half guard.
Jackson is looking to take a break and control but Maninng is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bo Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jackson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28

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