PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 4290 p4p, 4351 weight class) and Tavon Shebu (ranked 522 p4p, 528 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Smith
vs
Shebu

185 cm
27
177
6 - 6 - 0

180 cm
27
180
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary

Vanguard Athletics and Laundry

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Smith !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tavon Shebu!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Leandro Rodrigues and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shebu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Shebu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A counter left hand to the body from Smith misses its target.
Smith throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Shebu steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Shebu has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Smith is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Shebu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith .
Smith just misses with a punch to the body.

Shebu drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shebu is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Shebu throwing strikes from guard but Smith blocks nicely.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shebu is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shebu postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Shebu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smith tries to get out of the position.
Shebu scoring with punches to the head and body.
Shebu working some strikes from top position.
Shebu is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shebu missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shebu tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Shebu postures up and lands a big shot to Smith 's brow.
Shebu in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Shebu makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shebu postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Shebu loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Shebu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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

Shebu changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Smith looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Shebu in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Shebu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Shebu working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Shebu has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smith parries the strikes from Shebu easily there. Shebu is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smith to escape.
Shebu lands a few punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shebu lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Shebu working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Smith takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Shebu lands a few punches from side control.
Shebu tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Shebu in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
An elbow from Shebu crashes against the mat.
Smith taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shebu working the head with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shebu creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Shebu throws an elbow but Smith slips to the side and avoids it well.
Shebu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shebu cracks Smith with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Shebu is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Shebu.
Shebu throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith 's head but Smith avoids it well.
The strikes coming from Shebu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Shebu landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Shebu lands a few punches from side control.
Shebu works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Shebu lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Shebu is putting a hurting on Smith here, landing some big shots from side control.
Shebu grinds an elbow into Smith 's temple.
Shebu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.
Smith taking punishment in the form of punches.
Shebu landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Smith is rocked!
Shebu lands an elbow.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Shebu misses with the ground and pound.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shebu working the ground and pound.
Shebu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.
Shebu cracks Smith with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Smith takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shebu cracks Smith with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Shebu cracks Smith with a big elbow.
Shebu scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Smith to see if he's OK.
Shebu working the head with strikes.
Shebu connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Smith some visible discomfort.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shebu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tavon Shebu dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shebu shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Shebu thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Shebu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shebu.
Shebu tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Shebu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Smith defending well though.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Shebu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shebu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Shebu lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shebu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shebu is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Shebu.
Shebu throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shebu takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shebu landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Shebu has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Smith takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Shebu scoring with strikes but Smith is staying in there.
Shebu landing shots from mount.
Shebu landing strikes from the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shebu is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Shebu punishing his opponent with strikes.
Smith is bucking up trying to escape but Shebu cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smith takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Shebu's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tavon Shebu!
Tavon Shebu made sure to mention his sponsor, Vanguard Athletics and Laundry in his post fight interview.