PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Soboyt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donovan Shaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Donovan Shaw will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Soboyt
vs
Shaw

183 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

225 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Soboyt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donovan Shaw!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shaw shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soboyt as he jumps to the side.
Soboyt stuffs the takedown attempt from Shaw. Shaw gets slowly back to his feet.
Shaw shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Soboyt but Soboyt pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Johnny Soboyt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donovan Shaw.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shaw.
Shaw closes the distance and clinches up with Soboyt, looking for a takedown. Shaw pushes Soboyt against the cage but Soboyt circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shaw shoots for a double leg takedown but Soboyt sprawls well. He's pushed Shaw's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shaw has a takedown stuffed.
Shaw looks gassed!
Soboyt cracks a nice hook into Shaw's ribs.

Soboyt looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Shaw!

Soboyt with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Soboyt is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Soboyt rushes Shaw and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Soboyt really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soboyt is looking to break free of the clinch but Shaw has double underhooks.

Soboyt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Soboyt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Soboyt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soboyt throws a series of punches but Shaw moves out of range.

Soboyt darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Soboyt is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Soboyt seems to be working for a kimura but Shaw defends the submission attempt.
Soboyt prevents Shaw from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt slows the pace down in half guard.
Soboyt has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Shaw is pressing down on Soboyt's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Soboyt gets to his feet - Shaw follows without any prompting.

Shaw gets the takedown into side control.
Shaw working away.
The ground and pound from Shaw seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Soboyt wants to control but Shaw postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shaw looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Soboyt is avoiding damage well.
Soboyt is looking to reverse the position.
Soboyt is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Shaw is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
BOOM! Shaw connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Soboyt is looking to get to half guard.
Shaw is landing with some decent strikes but Soboyt is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shaw scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Soboyt can't escape the position.
Soboyt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Soboyt takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Soboyt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Shaw in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shaw with good strikes from the mount here!

Shaw is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Soboyt is surviving well by controlling Shaw's body position as best he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shaw looking to finish Soboyt with some ground and pound. This is bad for Soboyt!
Soboyt in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Shaw connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Shaw working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Soboyt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Shaw lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Soboyt hang on?
Shaw scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Shaw has control of Soboyt's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Soboyt regains control of the situation pretty easily.
A nice elbow there by Shaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Soboyt dominated that round.
That's time! Soboyt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shaw shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Soboyt is looking to improve his position but Shaw isn't that keen on the idea.
Shaw won't let Soboyt get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Shaw working the ground and pound effectively.
Shaw looking to finish Soboyt with some ground and pound. This is bad for Soboyt!

Shaw is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Soboyt has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Soboyt tries to hold on but Shaw pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw working the ground and pound effectively.
Shaw dominating with strikes here.
Shaw putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Shaw has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Soboyt wants to get back to his feet.
Soboyt is looking to get to half guard.
Shaw working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Shaw is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shaw lands with some strikes.
Shaw lands with some strikes.
Shaw is landing with some decent strikes but Soboyt is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Soboyt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Soboyt is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Shaw cracks Soboyt with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Shaw fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Soboyt keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shaw with good strikes from the mount here!
Soboyt is in all sorts of trouble here.
Soboyt wants to control but Shaw is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shaw has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Soboyt's face.
Soboyt is desperately trying to improve his position but Shaw has a good base and remains in mount.
Soboyt gets back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Shaw lands a nice short elbow.
Soboyt is looking to escape.
Shaw throwing shots but Soboyt is blocking nicely.
Soboyt tries to roll over but Shaw keeps him under control.
Shaw missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Soboyt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shaw.
Ground and pound from Shaw.
Shaw seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shaw shoots and misses

and Soboyt counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shaw is keeping the position for now.
Shaw throws some shots to the body, keeping his opponent honest.
Shaw wants to sweep here but Soboyt controlling him for the moment.
Soboyt wants to pass the guard but Shaw is keeping the position.
Soboyt won't allow Shaw to sweep him here.
Soboyt tries to stand but Shaw is controlling from the bottom.
Soboyt is in close to Shaw's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Donovan Shaw will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Soboyt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Shaw with a lazy takedown attempt

and Soboyt counters by clinching up.

Soboyt breaks the clinch.

Shaw tries to keep at a distance but Soboyt has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soboyt drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shaw pulls his leg out and moves away.
Johnny Soboyt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Soboyt circles away easily

and Soboyt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shaw has Soboyt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soboyt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johnny Soboyt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donovan Shaw.
Soboyt lands with a short shot to the head.
Soboyt is working for takedown but Shaw is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shaw has Soboyt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soboyt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A short left from Soboyt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shaw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shaw changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Soboyt fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shaw tries for a takedown but Soboyt circles away easily

and Soboyt holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Soboyt throws a punch but it's blocked by Shaw.
Shaw tries for a takedown. No joy.
Soboyt is trying to drag Shaw to the mat but Shaw just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Soboyt tries to break the clinch but Shaw is controlling the position.
Soboyt landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shaw has Soboyt pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soboyt manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Soboyt is trying to drag Shaw to the mat but Shaw just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Soboyt tries to land knees in the clinch but Shaw avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Soboyt stops a takedown attempt from Shaw.
Shaw tries to land knees in the clinch but Soboyt avoids the damage to the body.
Shaw is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Soboyt gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Soboyt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shaw blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shaw is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Soboyt pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Soboyt avoiding damage as Shaw throws knees to the body.
Shaw tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shaw looking for a takedown.
Soboyt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shaw fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shaw misses with a takedown attempt

and Soboyt counters with a single leg into guard. Shaw didn't expect that.
Johnny Soboyt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shaw tries to strike from the bottom.
Soboyt wanted to stand there but Shaw had control of the position.
Shaw manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Shaw looking to secure an arm triangle but Soboyt defends it well.
Shaw lands a big shot there that rocks Soboyt but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Soboyt trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soboyt trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Shaw has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Soboyt's face.
Shaw scoring with strikes but Soboyt is staying in there.
Soboyt throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Shaw scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Soboyt is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

Shaw has hold of Soboyt's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Soboyt manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Shaw lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Soboyt showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Soboyt 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Soboyt!