PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Brand (ranked 2249 p4p, 4186 weight class) and Tavon Shebu (ranked 73 p4p, 81 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brand
vs
Shebu

198 cm
34
270
20 - 16 - 2

180 cm
33
180
12 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 16 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Daniel Brand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tavon Shebu!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brand waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Shebu.
Brand jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Tavon Shebu has been cut.

Brand drops Shebu with a left and a right! Oh, Shebu is hurt - Brand dives into side control looking to finish!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Brand stands up and beckons Shebu to his feet.
Shebu wants to clinch up but Brand keeps it at a distance.

Brand gets tackled into the cage by Shebu. Shebu maintains the clinch.
Shebu is struggling to control the position.
Brand wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Brand's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shebu misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brand.
Shebu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Shebu is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Brand is defending well.
Brand is trying to break free.
Brand on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shebu misses with a punch on the inside.
Brand on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shebu misses with a punch on the inside.
Brand prevents a takedown attempt there.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Shebu has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brand wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shebu keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Brand's efforts to push away.
Shebu prevents Brand from breaking the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Shebu keeps control of Brand as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A bit of stalling here from Shebu.
Shebu lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Shebu lands a shoulder strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shebu misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Brand.
Shebu lands with a short shot to the head.
Shebu has Brand pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brand manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Daniel Brand has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tavon Shebu.
Brand gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shebu.
Shebu has a couple of punches blocked by Brand.
A frustrated look appears on Brand's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Shebu landing knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brand prevents a takedown attempt there.
Brand is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brand has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shebu drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Brand gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Brand tries to break free but Shebu pushes him back against the cage.
Brand is trying to push Shebu away but Shebu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shebu misses with a hook to the ribs.
A frustrated look appears on Brand's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Brand avoiding damage as Shebu throws knees to the body.
Shebu lands a hook to the side of the head.
Brand is trying to push Shebu away but Shebu has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Shebu unloads a knee to the mid-section. Brand lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Brand can't break the clinch.
Brand blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Shebu tries to throw a body punch but Brand avoids it by throwing Shebu back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Shebu is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Brand is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Good body shot from Shebu.
Shebu avoiding damage.
Shebu scores with a shot to the side of Brand's head.
Shebu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Brand avoids it.
Shebu lands a hook that snaps the head of Brand backwards.
Shebu is looking to take this one to the mat.
Shebu tries a body shot but Brand blocks it.
Shebu goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Brand breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tavon Shebu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shebu clinches.
Shebu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Shebu wants a takedown but no success here.
Shebu missing with knees to the body.
Shebu misses with a body punch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Shebu - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shebu lands a nice uppercut.
Shebu has Brand pressed against the cage, preventing Brand from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shebu trying to land knees to the body.
Brand wants to get back to striking at distance but Shebu won't allow it.
Shebu tries for a takedown. No joy.

Shebu has hold of one of Brand's legs. Brand is fighting the takedown attempt but Shebu gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Brand has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Shebu is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short body shot lands from Shebu as the two fighters clinch.
Shebu can't get the takedown.

Brand breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shebu darts in trying to clinch
and Brand counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Brand scores with a jab. Shebu acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shebu is defended easily by Brand.
Brand is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Brand throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Daniel Brand will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tavon Shebu's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Brand tries to keep at a distance but Shebu has taken the fight into the clinch.
Shebu has Brand pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brand manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shebu tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Brand wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Brand's face as he tries to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brand.
Nice body punch from Shebu - that landed with a thud.

Shebu turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Brand wants to get back to his feet but Shebu drags him back down.
The strikes coming from Shebu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Brand is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Shebu scoring with punches and elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shebu is putting a hurting on Brand here, landing some big shots from side control.
Shebu sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Brand is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Brand is working to avoid the ground and pound but Shebu connects with a decent elbow.
Brand is trying to get back to his feet.
Shebu cracks Brand with a big elbow.
Brand tries to escape but Shebu is in control.
Shebu misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brand bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Shebu shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brand counters with a stiff right hand.
Shebu shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Brand defends it nicely.
Brand seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Daniel Brand has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tavon Shebu.

Shebu has taken the fight to the clinch.
Brand wants to break the clinch but can't.
Brand blocking some punches.
Shebu struggles to land a body shot inside as Brand controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Brand.
A nice left hand lands by Shebu.
Shebu landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Brand tries to break the clinch but Shebu is controlling the position.
Brand is trying to force a seperation but Shebu has the dominant position.
Brand wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brand on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Brand takes a shot to the head.

Brand breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Shebu gets the takedown into side control.

Brand throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shebu darts in looking for a takedown but Brand gets double underhooks and turns Shebu into the cage.

Brand gets tackled into the cage by Shebu. Shebu maintains the clinch.
Shebu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Brand pulls his leg out and moves away.
Daniel Brand is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Brand lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Shebu moves into range and clinches up with Brand.
Brand looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Brand wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Shebu looking to slow down the pace here.
Shebu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The referee calls for Shebu to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shebu tries to land knees in the clinch but Brand avoids the damage to the body.
Shebu leaning against his opponent.
Brand has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shebu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Brand has had enough of the clinch but Shebu keeps him there for the moment.
Shebu is leaning against Brand and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Brand wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shebu lands with a short shot to the head.
Brand is looking to break free of the clinch but Shebu has double underhooks.
Shebu working aggressively here.
Shebu is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Brand is defending well for now.
Brand is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Shebu struggles to land a body shot inside as Brand controls his hands.
Shebu manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Brand is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Shebu looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brand breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brand throws a right hand that Shebu ducks under and follows up with a left that Shebu also avoids with ease.
Brand ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Shebu wants to clinch.
Brand misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Shebu.

Shebu has taken the fight to the clinch.

Brand breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Brand checks the leg kick nicely there.
Shebu tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Brand paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Brand misses the target.
Shebu with a poor takedown

and Brand counters with a right hand that sends Shebu tumbling to the canvas! Can Brand finish him? He dives into Shebu's guard looking to do just that!

Shebu is rocked!

That has opened up Tavon Shebu's cut even more.
Brand will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
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!

Brand stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Shebu is still on wobbly legs! Can Brand finish him?
Brand lands an uppercut, right on the button! Shebu tumbles backwards into the cage, staring vacantly into space! He's got no idea where he is, who he is or what day it is... Poor guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Daniel Brand!