PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tavon Shebu (ranked 4412 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Metlock (ranked 5312 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Shebu
vs
Metlock

180 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tavon Shebu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Metlock!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Metlock shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Shebu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Metlock moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Shebu throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Shebu tries to clinch but Metlock is having none of it.
Shebu wants to clinch up but Metlock keeps it at a distance.
Metlock changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Shebu misses with a wild body shot.
Shebu scores with a sloppy right hand. Metlock should have avoided that one.
Metlock blocks a head kick by Shebu.

Shebu closes the distance and pushes Metlock back into the cage.
Metlock fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Shebu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Shebu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Shebu.
Shebu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Metlock swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shebu throws a solid leg kick but Metlock takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Shebu.
Metlock closes the distance and clinches up with Shebu, looking for a takedown. Metlock pushes Shebu against the cage but Shebu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Metlock forces Shebu back against the cage and clinches.

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

Shebu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shebu throws a head kick that misses.
A right-left combo lands from Shebu.
Metlock throws a lazy right hand but Shebu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Shebu throws a big counter combination but Metlock scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Shebu. Those never looked like landing.
Metlock tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Shebu has Metlock up against the cage in a clinch.
Shebu is trying to force a seperation but Metlock has the dominant position.
Shebu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right handed body shot lands from Shebu.
Shebu avoiding damage as Metlock throws knees to the body.
Shebu tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shebu digs a right hand underneath Metlock's ribcage. Metlock let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Metlock prevents a body shot from Shebu.
A nice left hand lands by Metlock.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shebu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shebu tries to move into range but Metlock moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Metlock instigates a clinch.
Metlock is trying to stall.
Shebu is pressed up against the cage. Metlock has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shebu down to the mat. Shebu avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tavon Shebu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Metlock.
Metlock misses with a low kick.
Shebu pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Metlock fails with the takedown.
Shebu swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Shebu clinches with his opponent.
Shebu trying to land knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu working hard to break the clinch.
Shebu is trying to push Metlock away but Metlock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shebu being controlled against the cage.

Shebu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shebu misses with a wild body shot.
Shebu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Metlock paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A left lands for Metlock.
Metlock takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Shebu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Metlock tries to clinch but Shebu moves away
and Shebu counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Shebu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shebu moves into range and connects with a jab.
Shebu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Metlock's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shebu ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Shebu closes the distance and clinches.
Shebu is trying to push Metlock away but Metlock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shebu trying to land knees to the body.
Shebu lands with a short shot to the head.
Shebu is trying to maintain a safe position but Metlock gets an underhook and turns Shebu into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Shebu's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Shebu breaks the clinch.
Metlock digs a good body shot into Shebu's ribs.
Shebu lands an overhand right.
Metlock takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Shebu is breathing heavily.
Shebu tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The fight stays on the outside here - Metlock looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shebu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Metlock can do to turn this around?
Shebu lands with a nice body punch.
Metlock avoids the head kick by Shebu.
Metlock misses with a wild body shot.
A nice combination there by Shebu.
A head kick from Shebu lands but Metlock takes it in his stride.
Shebu moves to clinch but Metlock breaks away

and Metlock counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shebu!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shebu is looking to regain half guard here but Metlock keeps moving and retains side control.
Metlock tries to move into full mount but can't pass Shebu's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shebu struggling a bit here.
Shebu is trying to get back to half guard.
Metlock moves into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shebu is working to get back to half guard.
Metlock looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Metlock trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shebu tries to hold on but Metlock pushes him away.
Metlock dominating with strikes here.
Metlock lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Shebu hang on?
Metlock in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Metlock punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shebu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Metlock scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Metlock trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shebu holds on for dear life, controlling Metlock's posture momentarily.
Shebu regains half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shebu wants to improve his position but Metlock is controlling well.
Shebu on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Shebu tries to get out of the position.
Shebu is refusing to be controlled, as Metlock sits in half guard.
Shebu is trying to stand back up but Metlock is controlling him
Shebu wants to control but Metlock is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Shebu is pressing down on Metlock's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Shebu is trying to control the position but Metlock postures up.
Shebu keeping moving, preventing Metlock from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metlock is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Shebu pulls Metlock in close to his closed guard and prevents Metlock from doing any damage or advancing position.
Metlock lands a couple of elbows.
Metlock trying to control the position from guard on top but Shebu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shebu working a defensive guard here.
Shebu 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.
Metlock throws a big elbow that misses.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Shebu looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Metlock puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Metlock is thwarting Shebu's attempts to control the position.

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.
Metlock is keen to just control but Shebu is a slippery customer.
Shebu is looking for a sweep. Metlock is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Metlock prevents Shebu from standing back up.
Metlock is trying to control the action in half guard but Shebu is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Metlock just misses with a punch to the body.
Shebu swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Metlock moves into the clinch successfully.
Metlock avoiding damage as Shebu throws knees to the body.
Shebu managing to block the knees to the body from Metlock.
Shebu can't break the clinch.
Metlock is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Shebu is keeping busy.
Metlock is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Metlock 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. This is the final round!

Metlock's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Shebu connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Metlock scrambles back to his feet.

Metlock gets tackled into the cage by Shebu. Shebu maintains the clinch.
Shebu creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Metlock tries to pull guard but Shebu won't allow it.

Shebu breaks the clinch.
Metlock swats away the attempt to clinch by Shebu.
Tavon Shebu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shebu takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shebu throws a head kick but Metlock moves out of range.
Shebu wants to clinch but Metlock slips to the side

and Metlock counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shebu!

Shebu sneaks out the side door and pushes Metlock away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tavon Shebu is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Shebu misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shebu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Shebu just misses with a punch to the body.
Shebu doesn't manage to clinch there - Metlock circles away.
And Metlock tries to counter it with a takedown but Shebu pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Shebu throws a sloppy head kick and Metlock moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sloppy strikes from Metlock. Those never looked like landing.
Tavon Shebu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Metlock lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Shebu circles away quickly and effectively.
Metlock scores with a hook to the body. Shebu takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Metlock throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shebu stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A head kick misses from Shebu.
Metlock swats away the attempt to clinch by Shebu.
Metlock tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Shebu wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Metlock keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tavon Shebu has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Metlock is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shebu trying to control the position but instead, Metlock has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shebu into the cage.
Shebu has a couple of punches blocked by Metlock.
Shebu wants to get back to striking at distance but Metlock won't allow it.
Shebu with a knee to the head.
Shebu managing to block the knees to the body from Metlock.
Shebu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Metlock backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu taking a breather.
Shebu lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Metlock.
Shebu wants to get back to striking at distance but Metlock won't allow it.
Shebu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Metlock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shebu's efforts to push away.
Shebu struggles to land a body shot inside as Metlock controls his hands.
Metlock drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shebu gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tavon Shebu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Metlock.
Metlock keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Shebu's efforts to push away.

Shebu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shebu tries to clinch there but Metlock circles away.

Shebu has closed the distance and engaged Metlock in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shebu breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shebu tries to close the distance and clinch up but Metlock swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Metlock with the counter takedown but Shebu avoids it easily.

Metlock tries to keep at a distance but Shebu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shebu throws a knee to the head but misses.
Metlock drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shebu pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shebu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Metlock tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Metlock steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Shebu. That one must have hurt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Metlock.
Shebu throwing a counter right hand but Metlock manages to avoid it.
Shebu tries to clinch

and Metlock counters with a shoot takedown. Shebu fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Shebu pulls Metlock in close to his closed guard and prevents Metlock from doing any damage or advancing position.
George Metlock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Metlock has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Metlock won't allow Shebu to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tavon Shebu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shebu 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Tavon Shebu!
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight for Tavon Shebu!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Tavon Shebu!

Tavon Shebu wins by unanimous decision!