PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between David Page (ranked 8747 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hamdi Shabani (ranked 7643 p4p, 653 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Page
vs
Shabani

200 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

191 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, David Page!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hamdi Shabani!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Trevor Gratis and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shabani displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Shabani throws a nice looking combination but Page bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Page really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Shabani darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Shabani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Page is looking to improve his position.
Page blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shabani.
Page blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shabani.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shabani looks to land a strike but Page avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Page controlling the position.
Shabani with a flurry of punches that miss.
Page is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Shabani with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabani trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Shabani is fighting to break Page's control of his arms but Page is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Shabani wants to control from the top but Page keeps moving.
Shabani works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shabani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shabani controlling the pace.
Page desperately trying to maintain half guard.

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.
Page tries to roll over but Shabani keeps him under control.
Shabani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shabani tries to pass to full mount but Page defends it.
Shabani throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Page to regain full guard.
Page looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Page bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shabani's guard.

Page is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shabani is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Shabani is wriggling around but Page manages to pass to half guard.
Page controlling the action here.
Shabani is trying to stand back up but Page is controlling him
Page is taking a breather. Shabani says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four 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.
Page is nestled in close to Shabani, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Shabani tries to kick Page off but Page keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Shabani wants to stand back up but Page manages to pass into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shabani is trying to get back to his feet.
Shabani seems a little lost for a moment, as Page dominates the positioning.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shabani pushes Page away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Page gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shabani tries to clinch but Page moves out of range.
Page is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Shabani.
Page gets cracked there but stands up to it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamdi Shabani dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Shabani closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Page quickly recovers to half guard.
Shabani thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Page moves into full guard.
Page wants to sweep here but Shabani controlling him for the moment.
Shabani trying to control but Page is working from the bottom.
Page has Shabani pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shabani stands up and waves to Page to follow him.
Shabani connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Shabani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shabani throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Shabani looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Shabani in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shabani wants to control from the top but Page keeps moving.
Page tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Page is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Page is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Page wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Shabani trying to control the position from guard on top but Page is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Page shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shabani but Shabani pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shabani misses with a few strikes there.

Shabani shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Shabani won't allow Page to sweep him here.
Shabani trying to control but Page is working from the bottom.
Shabani postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Page has his hands on Shabani's head, controlling the position.
Shabani controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shabani makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shabani must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shabani is pushing down on Page's leg trying to pass to half guard. Page is fighting to maintain full guard but Shabani has managed to sneak the leg through.
Shabani is thwarting Page's attempts to control the position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Page is trying to control but can't.
Page makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Page.
Hamdi Shabani has got the better of the ground game so far.
Page manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Shabani manages to get himself to full guard.

Shabani wants to get back to his feet but Page is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Shabani is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Page makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamdi Shabani showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shabani getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Shabani shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Shabani was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Shabani wants to stand but Page has his arm trapped.
Shabani trying to control the action but Page is working from the bottom.
Page wants to control but Shabani postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shabani wants to control but Page is keeping him busy.
Page manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Page manages to get to full guard.
Page is trying to keep Shabani in close.
Page is adopting a defensive guard.
Page looking to control.
Page is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Shabani is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Shabani stands up from guard. Let's bang!

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.
Shabani lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Shabani bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Page's head backwards.
Page moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Shabani tries to bum rush Page with a series of wild strikes but Page uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shabani scores with a nice strike.
Hamdi Shabani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shabani takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Page takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
David Page is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shabani connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Page dives in for a single leg takedown but Shabani sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Shabani throws a one two combo.
Shabani moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Page gets a double leg takedown into Shabani's guard.
Shabani wants to get back to his feet but Page is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Page is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Page's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Shabani is wriggling around but Page manages to pass to half guard.
Page takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Shabani is looking to get back to is feet but Page passes into side control.
Shabani seems a little lost for a moment, as Page dominates the positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Shabani is trying to buck Page off.
You can see the frustration on Shabani's face as Page controls the position.
Shabani wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sloppy strikes from Shabani. Those never looked like landing.
Page is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shabani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
David Page has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hamdi Shabani is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Page shoots in for a double leg but Shabani sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hamdi Shabani comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shabani has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamdi Shabani!