Chepe Mariscal earned a convincing decision victory over Damon Jackson tonight at UFC On ESPN 61.
Round One:
Both fighters miss with hooks in the opening seconds. Mariscal into the clinch and they trade knees.
Now a big judo throw from Mariscal slams Jackson to the mat. Jackson gets back up to his feet quickly though. They remain in the clinch and Mariscal gets over to the cage. Jackson turning into him though and getting the occasional knee to the body in there.
They move across the Octagon and Jackson is able to get more control in this clinch position and comes close to getting Mariscal down. Now Mariscal turns into him and he lands a knee. A full 360 turn in the clinch. Now two very hard left hands from Mariscal land and another in there for good measure.
Back in the clinch Mariscal lands a meaty left hand. Jackson pressing forward quickly, but Mariscal brings him down. Back up they go. Both men are bleeding and it may have been from a head clash. Mariscal has a significant cut below his left eye. Jackson trying to work the takedown, but Mariscal’s getting the better of it again. Back up and Jackson trying to land his own takedown. Mariscal denies that and tries for his own.
They end up going back to striking range. Not for long as Mariscal strikes his way back into the clinch while Jackson threatens with knees. Jackson working for a late takedown but it’s he who ends up grounded.
Round Two:
Jab from Mariscal as Jackson lands a calf kick. Mariscal into the clinch and trying to work a takedown. Jackson stays upright and throws a knee that lands to the groin.
Mariscal gets a stoppage but has a quick recovery and then is allowed to start from back in the clinch. They jockey for position against the cage. Knee to the body from Jackson. He lands another. Mariscal reverses the position and lands his own knee to the body. Back and fort they switch in the clinch. Neither man really having the upper-hand from this position until Mariscal suddenly sweeps out the leg nicely to land a takedown.
There’s a big scramble on the mat now and Mariscal manages to stay on top as Jackson goes to his knees. A few elbows to the head from Mariscal. Jackson tries to take the back but Mariscal adjusts and is now in half-guard.
Jackson back onto his knees and Mariscal sprawls on him. Mariscal posturing up and landing some strikes. Now Mariscal is really picking up the aggression, landing some big hammmerfists and Jackson might be wilting. He’s not giving up yet though. Heavy elbows from Mariscal to the side of the head, but Jackson survives to the end of the round.
Round Three:
Solid front kicks to the body from Mariscal. Missed punch from him and Jackson clinches up. Mariscal goes for a throw but Jackson stays upright. Now they are back to jockeying for position against the cage. Good knee to the body from Jackson.
Chopping elbow from Jackson in close. Now a nice couple of short punches from Mariscal and a big knee. He brings Jackson to the mat and takes the back. Good reversal from Jackson to get on top, but then Mariscal reverses him.
Back on the feet they go and Jackson is working for a takedown against the cage. Mariscal proving difficult to take down though, but Jackson goes for a double leg and lands it.
Mariscal landing elbows off his back. Now an armbar attempt from Mariscal that doesn’t amount to anything. Mariscal scrambles on top and lands some short hammerfists. Jackson rolls to his knees. Punches from Mariscal and then drags Jackson back down when he tries to stand.
Jackson turtled up with less than 90 seconds remaining. Jackson works over to the cage, but can’t escape Mariscal’s clutches. Jackson stands though, but Mariscal remains clinched to his back. Nice knee from Mariscal to the head. He blasts down some punches and Jackson paused for a moment there as if he was done, but then comes back to it.
Mariscal starts to flatten out Jackson in the final 10 seconds and land punches, but Jackson gets to his knees again and survives to the final bell.
Decision:
Very good performance from Mariscal here then, showing off his battling clinch, wrestling and grappling work on his way to a dominant unanimous decision victory. (30-25 x2, 30-26)
