PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Devin Hill (ranked 1695 p4p, 2337 weight class) and Roman Ship (ranked 75 p4p, 103 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hill
vs
Ship

195 cm
29
270
12 - 11 - 1

195 cm
28
283
13 - 20 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 12 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 20 - 0, fighting out of London, Roman Ship!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ship jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ship throws a hook but Hill blocks it.
A slow jab from Hill misses its intended target.
And Ship tries to counter it with a takedown but Hill pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Hill fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hill lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ship circles away quickly and effectively.
Hill defending well as Ship loads up on a big left hand.
Ship slips a straight right by Hill.
Ship tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ship scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ship jabs at Hill's body.
Hill uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ship.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ship lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ship steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hill.
Hill has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ship uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hill.
A jab from Ship misses.
Ship ducks under a wild hook from Hill.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Hill. Those never looked like landing.
Ship cracks Hill with a right hand to the side of the head.
Ship slips a jab from Hill.
Hill throws a big shot that misses.
Ship with the counter takedown but Hill avoids it easily.
Hill blocks a jab.
Ship slips under a jab from Hill.
Hill walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ship checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hill tries to bum rush Ship with a series of wild strikes but Ship uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ship changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Ship comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ship thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ship gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Nice uppercut lands for Hill. That snapped Ship's head back.

Hill dives in and scores a takedown into Ship's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hill wants to control from the top but Ship keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ship looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hill trying to control but Ship is working from the bottom.
Ship is pulling down on Hill's head to control his posture.
Ship is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Ship is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hill defends well.

Ship has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hill can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill tries to free his leg and advance position but Ship is retaining full guard.
Ship is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hill trying to control but Ship is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ship has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hill has passed into side control.
Ship is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hill off and has taken his back!
Hill trying to control the hands but Ship breaks the grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ship doesn't have the hooks in and Hill manages to turn into his guard.

Ship looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hill passes Ship's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ship wants to improve his position but Hill is controlling well.
Ship is concentrating on defense, preventing Hill from advancing position.
Hill looks to land a strike but Ship avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hill trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ship is trying to control the position but Hill postures up.
Hill slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hill wants to control but Ship is keeping him busy.
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 Devin Hill will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hill has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hill there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ship misses with an uppercut. Hill saw that one coming.
Ship's coach down at Deathsquad was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Ship's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Hill fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ship feints the counter takedown.
Ship takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Ship dodges the punch combination from Hill.
Ship changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
The fighters circling - Hill throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ship feints the counter takedown.
Hill connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Hill lands a nice looking body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ship is able to avoid easily.
Hill takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Nice defenses there by Ship.
Hill throws a jab but it's blocked by Ship.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ship avoids the body shot from Hill.
Devin Hill seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hill bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Ship tries to bench press Hill off him but Hill keeps the position.
Hill scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ship to see if he's OK.
Ship sneaks back into half guard.
Ship gets full guard.

Ship working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hill doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hill manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hill trying to control but Ship is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ship is keeping the position for now.
Hill sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ship's guard.
Devin Hill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ship trying to control here.
Hill is trying to control. Ship wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ship manages to get to full guard.
Hill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ship is keeping the position for now.
Hill trying to control the position from guard on top but Ship is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hill avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hill stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ship swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hill wants to control from the top but Ship keeps moving.

Hill got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ship has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hill has managed to get both his arms back between Ship's legs - danger averted.
Hill is pushing down on Ship's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ship is fighting to maintain full guard but Hill has managed to sneak the leg through.

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.
Hill trying to control from Ship's half guard. Ship has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Ship is looking for a triangle but Hill pushes his legs off easily.

Ship has his foot on Hill's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hill works his way back into a safe position though.
Hill postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hill scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hill throws an elbow that misses. Ship uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hill's guard. Nice move by Ship!

Ship stopping the sweep attempt from Hill.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hill keeping full guard, as Ship tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Devin Hill dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hill jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ship might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hill bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hill throws a sloppy head kick and Ship moves out of range easily.
Hill fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ship manages to avoid it.
Ship avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hill thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hill misses with a looping right.
Hill uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ship.
Hill throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ship is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hill misses with an uppercut. Ship saw that one coming.
A nice combination there by Hill.

It looks like Roman Ship has been cut.
A punch combination from Hill misses.
Ship loads up on a big right hand but Hill slips the punch.

Ship gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hill throws a strike but Ship rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hill is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hill can't keep his opponent in guard - Ship advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Ship is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hill has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ship wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hill keeps working.
Hill is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ship's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ship's back!
Hill wants to control but Ship manages to buck him off and is now in Hill's guard! Nice work there by Ship!
Hill 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.
Ship engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hill bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ship's guard.

Hill throws a strike but Ship rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hill wants to stand and escape but Ship is having none of it.
Ship stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hill swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ship trying to control but Hill is working from the bottom.
Ship preventing the sweep.
Hill working a defensive guard here.

Ship is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hill wants to sweep here but Ship controlling him for the moment.
Ship trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hill tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hill is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hill trying to pass the guard but Ship defending well.
Ship trying to control from the bottom.

Ship is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hill pulls his head out easily.
Hill controlling the pace.
Ship avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hill.
Roman Ship has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Devin Hill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hill frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devin Hill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hill 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devin Hill!
Our winner, Devin Hill, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.