PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jacob Hill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maurice Rabanbarou (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maurice Rabanbarou has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jacob Hill's chin.

Hill
vs
Rabanbarou

166 cm
27
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
19
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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Torment Fightwear

[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jacob Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maurice Rabanbarou!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hill darts in and clinches Rabanbarou up against the cage.
Rabanbarou tries to pull guard but Hill won't allow it.

Hill turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hill remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hill advances nicely into full mount.
Hill looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hill with a couple of short strikes.
Hill prevents Rabanbarou from getting the reversal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice elbow there by Hill.
Rabanbarou is in a horrible position here. Hill smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rabanbarou is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hill connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hill with a couple of short strikes.
Rabanbarou tries to reverse the position but Hill maintains control.
Hill lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hill controlling from the full mount.
Rabanbarou can't escape the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A nice elbow there by Hill.
Hill controlling the position easily from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rabanbarou is trying to escape the mount.
Hill can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rabanbarou is looking to escape.
Rabanbarou is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hill lands a big elbow.
Hill controlling from the full mount.
Hill prevents Rabanbarou from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hill breaks from Rabanbarou's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hill is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rabanbarou can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Hill has control of Rabanbarou's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Rabanbarou regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Rabanbarou is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hill trying to control but Rabanbarou is having none of it.
Hill lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Rabanbarou is working to get back to half guard.
Rabanbarou slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hill stalling.

Hill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rabanbarou sees it coming and defends easily.
Hill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabanbarou keeps working.
Hill prevents Rabanbarou from improving his position.

Rabanbarou actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hill looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rabanbarou with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hill drops an elbow to the side of Rabanbarou's head.
Hill slows the pace down in half guard.
Rabanbarou has hold of Hill's hands but Hill slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob Hill dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hill darts in and clinches Rabanbarou up against the cage.

Hill has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Rabanbarou regains guard immediately.

Rabanbarou throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Rabanbarou throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hill escapes and throws Rabanbarou's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rabanbarou prevents Hill from moving into mount.
Rabanbarou tries to bench press Hill off him but Hill keeps the position.
Rabanbarou stops Hill from passing to mount.
Rabanbarou manages to get back to half guard.
Hill looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hill takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Jacob Hill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabanbarou is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hill's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hill's back!

Rabanbarou is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hill is defending well though. Rabanbarou let's go of the attempt for now.

Rabanbarou is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hill is defending well though. Rabanbarou let's go of the attempt for now.
Rabanbarou gets his hands free as Hill looks to control.

Rabanbarou tightening his grip on Hill, looking for the choke.

Rabanbarou is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hill defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Hill might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Rabanbarou is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hill is defending well though. Rabanbarou let's go of the attempt for now.
Hill breaks Rabanbarou's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill controlling from the top position.
Rabanbarou manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hill manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hill 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.

Rabanbarou drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hill dives on top into guard.
Hill not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Rabanbarou looking for a guillotine here but Hill defends easily.
Hill not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Rabanbarou has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hill is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Rabanbarou.
Rabanbarou tries to bench press Hill off him but Hill keeps the position.
Hill controlling the position from side mount.
Hill cracks Rabanbarou with a big right hand but Rabanbarou just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rabanbarou tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hill wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rabanbarou being controlled for a moment.
Rabanbarou tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Rabanbarou manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rabanbarou looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rabanbarou is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hill pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jacob Hill will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hill's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hill closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rabanbarou quickly recovers to half guard.
Well, if Hill is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rabanbarou keeps working.
Hill has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hill sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rabanbarou is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rabanbarou bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Hill manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rabanbarou manages to get himself to full guard.
Hill passes Rabanbarou's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hill keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Rabanbarou is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hill pulls his head out easily.
Hill lands with a punch from half guard.
Hill is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hill looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rabanbarou with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Rabanbarou looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rabanbarou takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hill winds up and cracks Rabanbarou with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rabanbarou on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rabanbarou tries to get to full guard but Hill has control of the leg.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hill passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rabanbarou!
The referee warns Rabanbarou that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hill cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hill takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rabanbarou tries to reverse the position but Hill maintains control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill controlling his opponent.
Rabanbarou is trying to escape the mount.
Hill has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rabanbarou's face.
Rabanbarou tries to reverse the position but Hill maintains control.
Hill takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rabanbarou tries to reverse the position but Hill maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hill takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rabanbarou is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hill has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Rabanbarou's face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hill controlling from mount.
Hill seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Rabanbarou for as long as he can get away with.
Hill unloading with bombs!
Rabanbarou taking shots to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hill content just to control the position here.
Hill wants to control the pace but Rabanbarou is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Hill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hill has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob Hill!
After the big win, Jacob Hill made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors [WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.