PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Deshawn Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avital Shafir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Jackson
vs
Shafir

150 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Deshawn Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Avital Shafir!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Shafir.

Jackson feints and as Shafir raises his hands in defense, Jackson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Shafir keeping full guard, as Jackson tries to pass.

Shafir working for submissions but it's allowed Jackson to get to half guard.
Jackson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shafir is trying to stand up here but Jackson is controlling him well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Jackson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Jackson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Shafir is just riding it out for now. Jackson eventually gives up the hold.
Jackson controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shafir is trying to stand.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Jackson goes for a double leg but Shafir avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shafir continues to drive forward.
Shafir misses with a low kick.
Jackson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Shafir pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shafir misses with a wild combination.
Avital Shafir is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shafir defends well and Jackson ends up having to push Shafir into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shafir throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shafir tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shafir to the ground. Shafir escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deshawn Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters circling a little - Shafir finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Shafir scores with a nice body kick.
Shafir fails to land with a series of punches.
Jackson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Shafir throws a low kick but Jackson avoids it.
Jackson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shafir. Shafir obviously looking to wear him down.
Jackson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shafir sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Jackson somewhat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Shafir.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shafir.
Shafir scores with a spinning back kick!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Jackson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Shafir pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shafir looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shafir throws a right and a left that Jackson avoids nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Shafir.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Shafir shows good takedown defense.
Shafir scores with a head kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shafir misses with a double jab.
Jackson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Shafir keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Shafir misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Shafir throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Danga de danga de dang - Shafir scores with a four punch combination!
Jackson looks for a takedown but Shafir sprawls well.
Shafir is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Shafir scoring well with a low kick there.
Sloppy strikes from Shafir. Those never looked like landing.
Shafir lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Jackson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Jackson trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Shafir knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Jackson throwing shots but Shafir is blocking nicely.
Jackson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

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.
Jackson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jackson trying to pass the guard but Shafir defending well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A punch combination from Shafir misses.
Shafir chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Shafir lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Shafir fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Jackson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Shafir is looking to land body kicks.
Jackson tries to counter by clinching up but Shafir breaks away and moves out of range.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Jackson checks a leg kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Shafir, which made it look bad.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deshawn Jackson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jackson slips a jab and a cross from Shafir.
Shafir looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Shafir has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
Shafir turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jackson moves out of range of the body kick from Shafir.
Jackson staying out of range there.
Shafir is looking to land body kicks.
Avital Shafir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Shafir is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jackson misses with the combination.
Jackson avoids a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Shafir circles away.

Jackson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Good body shot from Jackson.
Shafir tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jackson smiles and moves away.
Shafir falls off balance throwing a combination

and Jackson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jackson.

Jackson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shafir throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Jackson counters with a three punch combo that has Shafir backing up. Shafir nods at Jackson to acknowledge the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Shafir plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A leg kick checked by Jackson.
Shafir misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shafir misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avital Shafir showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Shafir misses with a combination

and Jackson moves into the clinch.

Jackson lands a takedown into guard.
Shafir can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Jackson controls the pace.
Jackson pushes down on Shafir's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Shafir wants to control but Jackson is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jackson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two 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.
Shafir explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Shafir throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Jackson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Shafir. Shafir obviously looking to wear him down.

Jackson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Shafir manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Shafir is trying to pull guard but Jackson turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Jackson breaks from the clinch.
Shafir tries to bum rush Jackson with a series of wild strikes but Jackson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Jackson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Shafir lands a leg kick that knocks Jackson off balance momentarily.
Shafir throws a low kick, looking for Jackson's leg but Jackson calmly moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shafir.

Jackson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shafir to the mat! Shafir manages to get full guard.
Shafir wants to get back to his feet but Jackson passes into half guard.

Jackson stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Shafir takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Jackson instigates a clinch.

Jackson pulls guard effortlessly.
Shafir won't allow Jackson to sweep him here.
Shafir looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shafir off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Jackson will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
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!

Jackson rushes Shafir and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shafir tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jackson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Jackson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Shafir regains guard immediately.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Shafir is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jackson defends well.

Jackson stands and steps away. Shafir gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

And that's the end of the fight!
Deshawn Jackson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shafir has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avital Shafir!