PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jake Wills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shabazz Shabott (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wills kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Linkin Park - In The End. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wills
vs
Shabott

187 cm
20
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jake Wills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shabazz Shabott!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Francis DeMontford and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shabott shoots in looking for a takedown. Wills tries to sprawl out of it but Shabott keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wills manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wills is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shabott sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Shabott clinches up with Wills and pushes him back against the cage.
Wills is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shabott gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Wills has picked Shabott up - he's going for a ride! Wills dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wills trying to control the action but Shabott is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shabott is looking to improve his position.
Shabott trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wills trying to control from half guard but Shabott is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Wills in particular looking to stall.
Shabott keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Shabott works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wills stays in close to Shabott's body and controls the position.

Wills avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Shabott escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wills gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two 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.

Wills decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shabott wants to clinch up but Wills keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shabott looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wills shoots in for a takedown but Shabott shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Wills. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wills shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shabott manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shabott has his hands on Wills's head, controlling the position.
Wills trying to control but Shabott is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabott being controlled here, momentarily.
Shabott utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shabott keeping moving, preventing Wills from controlling successfully.

Shabott has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Wills has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Shabott wants to take the fight to the mat but Wills manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Shabott's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shabott throws a lazy head kick

and Wills counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shabott!

Wills wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shabott, who protects the arm well.
Wills wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shabott keeps working.
Shabott is pushing Wills's head away, looking to escape. Wills manages to hold on to the position though.

Wills wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Shabott, who protects the arm well.
Shabott wants to control but Wills postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jake Wills will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Wills shoots in for a takedown but Shabott shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shabott wants to clinch.
Shabott throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Jake Wills has been cut.
Wills ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wills half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Shabott fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Shabott. No joy for Wills on that attempt.
Wills tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shabott sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wills somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Wills. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wills shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shabott defends it nicely.
Shabott fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shabott shoots in and drives through. Wills sprawls well.
Wills closes the distance and clinches up with Shabott, looking for a takedown. Wills pushes Shabott against the cage but Shabott circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Wills shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Shabott napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Shabott sneaks out the side door and pushes Wills away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Shabott moves in looking to clinch but Wills pushes him off.
Shabott looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wills dives in for a single leg takedown but Shabott sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wills keeps the fight on the outside.
Wills has a takedown stuffed.
Shabott dives in for a single leg takedown but Wills sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wills misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jake Wills is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wills shoots in looking for a takedown but Shabott manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wills's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice takedown defense from Wills. No joy for Shabott on that attempt.
Shabott misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A head kick misses from Shabott.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wills shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Shabott as he avoids it easily.
Shabott slips a jab and a cross from Wills.
Shabott throws a head kick that Wills semi-blocks.
Shabott lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wills circles away quickly and effectively.

Wills drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wills prevents Shabott from getting back to his feet.
Wills passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wills trying to control the position but Shabott is working away.
Wills moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wills lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Shabott is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Wills off and has taken his back!
Jake Wills overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wills is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Shabott not allowing Wills to control his hands.
Wills is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shabazz Shabott showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jake Wills's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Nice takedown defense from Wills. No joy for Shabott on that attempt.
Wills tries for a takedown but Shabott circles away easily

and Shabott counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wills goes for a takedown attempt but Shabott pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shabott slaps away a takedown attempt from Wills, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Wills. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wills throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shabott's waist but Shabott gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wills off to one side.

Shabott closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Shabott lands in his opponent's guard.

Wills manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shabott taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wills changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shabott fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shabott gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shabott is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wills to keep the fight standing.

Shabott breaks the clinch.
Shabott doesn't manage to clinch there - Wills circles away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shabott.
Wills dives in and grabs Shabott's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shabott pushes down on Wills's head and hops out.
Shabott steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wills.

Wills decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wills lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wills wants to control but Shabott is keeping him busy.
Wills wants to pass the guard but Shabott is defending well.
It looks like Wills is going to stand back up.

Shabott actively working from the bottom here.

Wills looking for a submission but Shabott manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Wills missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wills controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wills trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Wills has gone for a leg lock! Shabott slips out almost immediately though and dives into Wills's guard.

Shabott got a little sloppy there for a moment and Wills has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Shabott has managed to get both his arms back between Wills's legs - danger averted.
Shabott tries to stand but Wills is controlling from the bottom.
Shabott must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

Wills has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Shabott off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Shabott clinches up against the cage.

Shabott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wills shoots in looking for a takedown but Shabott manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wills's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shabott tries to clinch there but Wills circles away.
Wills throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Shabott's waist but Shabott gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wills off to one side.
Shabott tries to close the distance and clinch but Wills swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shabott tries to clinch there but Wills circles away.
Shabott fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jake Wills.
I think Wills 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Shabazz Shabott!
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight for Shabazz Shabott!
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight for Shabazz Shabott!

Shabazz Shabott wins by unanimous decision!