PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jason Stackhouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyle Willems (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stackhouse
vs
Willems

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

162 cm
26
144 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Stackhouse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lyle Willems!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Bruno Hogan and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Willems. Those never looked like landing.
Stackhouse checks a low kick from Willems.
Willems swings away with a body shot that misses
and Stackhouse counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Stackhouse bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Lyle Willems seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stackhouse listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Willems shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stackhouse lands the left hand.
Decent striking displayed by Stackhouse there.
Stackhouse lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Willems circles away quickly and effectively.
Willems fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Stackhouse lands a nice shot to the body.
Willems loads up on a big right hand but Stackhouse slips the punch.
Stackhouse moves into range and connects with a jab.
Stackhouse scores with a shot to the body.
Stackhouse lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Willems throws a nice looking combination but Stackhouse bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stackhouse scores with a sloppy right hand. Willems should have avoided that one.

Willems instigates a clinch.
Willems keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stackhouse's efforts to push away.
Willems doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Willems working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Stackhouse looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Stackhouse is looking to break free of the clinch but Willems has double underhooks.
Willems working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Willems has Stackhouse pressed against the cage, preventing Stackhouse from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Willems misses with a punch to the body.
Stackhouse's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Willems lands a right hand that snaps the head of Stackhouse backwards.
Stackhouse wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Willems has him pressed against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Willems.
Stackhouse is looking to break free of the clinch but Willems has double underhooks.
Stackhouse is trying to break the clinch but Willems is controlling him.
Willems misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Stackhouse lands a left hand that snaps the head of Willems backwards.
Stackhouse is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willems has Stackhouse pressed against the cage, preventing Stackhouse from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Willems is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Stackhouse can't break the clinch.
A short uppercut from Willems.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Willems tries a body shot but Stackhouse blocks it.
Stackhouse is trying to break the clinch but Willems has him pressed against the cage.
Willems lands a body shot.
Willems throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Stackhouse blocks it with crossed arms.
Stackhouse wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Willems has him pressed against the cage.

Willems lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Willems uses his free foot to push down on Stackhouse's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Stackhouse.
Stackhouse is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Willems throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Stackhouse because Willems loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willems looking to control but Stackhouse is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Willems throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Stackhouse avoids a series of strikes thrown by Willems.
Willems sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Willems misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Willems is working for a guillotine from mount but Stackhouse frees his head quite easily.
Willems looking to finish with strikes here!
Stackhouse is desperately trying to improve his position but Willems has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Willems controlling the pace for now.
Willems thowing shots but they're missing.
Willems working away from the top, dropping strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stackhouse is in a horrible position here. Willems smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stackhouse is wriggling around trying to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Willems dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Willems misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stackhouse swats away the attempt to clinch by Willems.
Stackhouse digs a good body shot into Willems's ribs.
Stackhouse misses with a takedown attempt - Willems sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stackhouse misses the jab.
Willems misses with a body shot
and Stackhouse counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Willems looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Stackhouse is fending him off so far but Willems persists. Nope, Stackhouse circles away and we're back to standing.
Stackhouse lands with a hook. Willems tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A left lands for Willems.
Stackhouse lands a two punch combo.

Willems has Stackhouse up against the cage in a clinch.
Willems lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Stackhouse wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willems holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Stackhouse working hard to break the clinch.
Stackhouse misses with some punches.

Stackhouse breaks the clinch.
Stackhouse scores with the left hand. Willems knows he should have avoided that one.
Willems throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Stackhouse lands a slapping body shot.
Donk. Stackhouse catches Willems right on the button with a cross.
Stackhouse lands a jab-cross combination.
Stackhouse jabs Willems right on the nose. Willems blinks but takes it well.
Willems misses with a low kick.
Stackhouse checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stackhouse connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jason Stackhouse is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Willems leaves Stackhouse with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A left lands for Willems.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stackhouse jabs Willems right on the nose. Willems blinks but takes it well.
Willems scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Willems misses with a lunging right hand
and Stackhouse counters with a one-two to the body.
Willems throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Stackhouse counters with a one-two to the body.
Willems throws a jab but it's blocked by Stackhouse.
Stackhouse is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Nice defenses there by Stackhouse.
Stackhouse stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Stackhouse wants it to stay on the feet.
Willems misses with a looping right.
Lyle Willems seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Willems moves into range and connects with a jab.
Willems is looking to clinch.
Willems throws an overhand right that lands on Stackhouse's shoulder, as Stackhouse tries to avoid the shot.
Stackhouse lands a right hook to the body.
Willems throws a lazy right hand but Stackhouse sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stackhouse avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stackhouse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Willems.
Willems throws a hook to the side of Stackhouse's head but Stackhouse sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stackhouse staying out of range there.
Willems thows a body shot but no joy.
Stackhouse slips a jab from Willems.
Stackhouse uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Willems.
Willems jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Willems lands with a hook. Stackhouse tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Stackhouse ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Willems fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willems throws a poor cross that misses
and Willems takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Stackhouse connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Willems's hands.
Stackhouse misses with a two punch combination.
Stackhouse lands with a straight right. Willems didn't see that one coming.
Willems throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Willems uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Stackhouse has time to react.
Willems moves in looking to clinch but Stackhouse pushes him off.
Willems shoots in for a takedown but Stackhouse shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Jason Stackhouse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lyle Willems.

Willems shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Willems was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Willems is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Stackhouse holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Willems tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willems thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyle Willems showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Willems misses with a looping left.
Willems throws a nice outside leg kick.
Willems chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stackhouse's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Stackhouse duly obliges.
Willems thows a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Willems. Stackhouse does a little dance to reset his feet.
Willems fails with a takedown attempt.
That kick from Willems tenderised Stackhouse's leg. Stackhouse is trying to keep his angry face on.
Willems is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stackhouse.

Willems clinches.
Willems lands a body punch.
Stackhouse wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stackhouse is trying to break free.
Willems has Stackhouse pushed against the cage.
Stackhouse can't break the clinch.
Stackhouse is trying to force a seperation but Willems has the dominant position.

Willems has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Stackhouse regains guard immediately.
Willems throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stackhouse works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stackhouse looking to control.
Willems passes Stackhouse's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Willems performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Willems thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willems passes the guard and advances to mount!
Willems looking to finish Stackhouse with some ground and pound. This is bad for Stackhouse!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Willems looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Willems thowing shots but they're missing.
Lyle Willems is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Willems controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Willems has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Willems has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Lyle Willems hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Willems throws a lazy right hand but Stackhouse sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyle Willems comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Willems 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyle Willems!
Lyle Willems was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.