PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Farl Tas (ranked 4718 p4p, 497 weight class) and Tavon Shebu (ranked 4227 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tas
vs
Shebu

190 cm
22
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Farl Tas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tavon Shebu!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shebu forces Tas back against the cage and clinches.
Tas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shebu.
Shebu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tas avoids it.
Tas has had enough of the clinch but Shebu keeps him there for the moment.
Tas avoiding damage as Shebu throws knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Shebu.
Shebu trying to land knees to the body.
Shebu can't find room to land a body shot as Tas controls the action.
A short body shot lands from Shebu as the two fighters clinch.
Tas blocks an uppercut.
Shebu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Shebu missing with knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Shebu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Tas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shebu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shebu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Shebu trying to land knees to the body.
Shebu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shebu lands a left hand.
Tas landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tas ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tas no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Tas is trying to control the position but Shebu postures up.
Tas tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tas is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shebu throws a big right hand that misses.
Tas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shebu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Shebu lands a couple of elbows.
Tas working a defensive guard here.
Shebu landing some decent shots from guard.
Shebu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Shebu throwing strikes but missing.
Shebu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tas's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shebu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tas's head.
Shebu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shebu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Shebu drives through and clinches with Tas against the cage.
Shebu swings wildly with an uppercut but Tas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shebu misses with a short punch on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Shebu.
Tas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shebu gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Tas works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Tas won't allow Shebu to sweep him here.
Shebu wants to get back to his feet but Tas passes into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shebu wants to improve his position but Tas is controlling well.
Tas wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu is concentrating on defense, preventing Tas from advancing position.
Shebu's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Let's hope that Shebu 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.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tas working the head and body with strikes.
Shebu is trying is best to control the position here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shebu can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tas is trying to control. Shebu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Shebu makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Shebu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tas paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tas tries to keep at a distance but Shebu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shebu lands with a short shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Tas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tavon Shebu dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shebu gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Shebu missing with knees to the body.
Tas is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shebu has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Good body shot from Shebu.
Shebu misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tas is trying to pull guard but Shebu turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Tas jumps guard.

Tas is looking for a triangle but Shebu pushes his legs off easily.
Shebu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Shebu chips away with some ground and pound.
Shebu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shebu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shebu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tas swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Shebu connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shebu looking to pass the guard.
Shebu is working Tas over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Shebu scoring with some ground and pound.
Shebu lands a couple of digs.
Shebu lands a couple of elbows.
Shebu is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tas wants to sweep but no luck.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tas is trying to control the position but Shebu postures up.
Tas preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shebu lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Tas is controlling Shebu's posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Shebu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tas is looking to control Shebu's arms but Shebu gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tas has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shebu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Shebu stalling the fight.
Shebu will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Tas up against the cage.
Shebu is pressed up against the cage. Tas 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.
Shebu slaps away a takedown attempt from Tas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Farl Tas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Shebu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shebu displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tas up against the cage.
Shebu lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tas misses with a short punch on the inside.
Shebu tries to throw a body punch but Tas avoids it by throwing Shebu back against the cage.
Tas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Tas looking for a takedown.
Shebu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tas tries to pull guard but Shebu holds him up against the cage and eventually Tas drops back down to his feet.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shebu.
Shebu scores with a nice hook to the head.
Shebu throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Shebu is pressed up against the cage. Tas 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.
Shebu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tas.

Shebu takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Shebu to keep the fight standing.
Shebu slows down the pace here.
The referee calls for Shebu to work.
Tas blocks an uppercut.
Shebu unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Shebu lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tas or not.
Shebu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shebu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tas is defending well for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Shebu slowing the pace effectively.
Shebu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tas backwards.
Tas avoiding damage as Shebu throws knees to the body.
Tas blocking some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tavon Shebu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Shebu has Tas up against the cage in a clinch.
Tas is trying to force a seperation but Shebu has the dominant position.
Shebu gets underhooks to prevent Tas's takedown attempt.
Tas wants to stall.
Tas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shebu just leaning against Tas, taking a breather.
Shebu lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tas slowing the pace effectively.
Tas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Shebu just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Shebu.
Shebu working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tas putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Shebu in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

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

Shebu moves into the clinch.
Shebu scores with a shot to the side of Tas's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shebu holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shebu tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Shebu.
The referee calls for Shebu to work.
Shebu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Shebu is struggling to control the position.
Shebu trying to land knees to the body.
Tavon Shebu seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Shebu taking a breather.
Shebu tries to land knees in the clinch but Tas avoids the damage to the body.
Shebu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shebu missing with knees to the body.

Tas manages to break the clinch.
Tavon Shebu is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Shebu closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shebu is leaning against Tas and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A shot in the inside from Shebu.
A right handed body shot lands from Shebu.
Tas blocks a body shot from Shebu.
Tas looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Farl Tas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shebu has Tas pushed against the cage.
Tas blocking some punches.
Tas with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shebu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Shebu misses with a punch on the inside.
Shebu tries to land knees in the clinch but Tas avoids the damage to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tas wants a takedown.
Shebu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu misses with a punch on the inside.
Shebu throws a punch but it's blocked by Tas.
Shebu fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tas fails to pull guard.
Tas wants to take the fight to the mat but Shebu manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Shebu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tas lands an elbow inside.
Good body shot from Shebu.
A short body shot lands from Shebu as the two fighters clinch.
A short right from Shebu on the inside.
Shebu lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shebu pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short uppercut from Shebu.
Shebu lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Tas backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tas drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shebu lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shebu content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Shebu's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shebu receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Shebu lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Still in the clinch, Shebu scores with a nice short uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Shebu fails to land.
Tas avoiding damage as Shebu throws knees to the body.
Farl Tas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tas missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tavon Shebu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Shebu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight for Tavon Shebu!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Tavon Shebu!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Tavon Shebu!

Tavon Shebu wins by unanimous decision!