PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between steven maxwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Regis Willbanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Regis Willbanks will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

maxwell
vs
Willbanks

187 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

175 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, steven maxwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Regis Willbanks!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
maxwell looks for a takedown but Willbanks sprawls well.
Willbanks throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by maxwell.

It looks like steven maxwell has been cut.
Willbanks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and maxwell counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Willbanks looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
maxwell thows a huge punch but Willbanks dodges it nicely.
maxwell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Willbanks defending well though.
maxwell winds up and cracks Willbanks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
maxwell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
maxwell is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Willbanks is looking to escape.
Willbanks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Willbanks looks like he's trying to stand up.
Willbanks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maxwell prevents Willbanks from standing back up.
maxwell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Willbanks throws a quick head kick that skims the top of maxwell's head.
Willbanks misses with a takedown attempt

and maxwell counters with a shoot takedown. Willbanks fights it but they end up in guard.
maxwell is breathing heavily.
maxwell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Willbanks is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
maxwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
maxwell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Willbanks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst maxwell is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
maxwell throwing strikes but missing.
Willbanks working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from maxwell.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Willbanks fails with the takedown

and maxwell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Willbanks's guard now.
steven maxwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Regis Willbanks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
maxwell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Willbanks is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst maxwell is controlling him.
maxwell working some strikes from top position.
maxwell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
maxwell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
maxwell postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maxwell throwing strikes from guard but Willbanks blocks nicely.
maxwell trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Willbanks wants to stand and escape but maxwell is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Willbanks misses with a takedown attempt

and maxwell counters with a takedown into side control.
maxwell cracks Willbanks with a big right hand but Willbanks just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
maxwell scores with punches from side control.
Willbanks is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Willbanks dodges the ground and pound from maxwell.
Sloppy strikes there by maxwell.
maxwell working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
maxwell sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Willbanks is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willbanks is trying to buck maxwell off.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Willbanks throws a right hand that maxwell ducks under and follows up with a left that maxwell also avoids with ease.
Willbanks tries to clinch up.
Willbanks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? maxwell is fending him off so far but Willbanks persists. Nope, maxwell circles away and we're back to standing.
Willbanks tries for a takedown but maxwell circles away easily

and maxwell counters with a shoot takedown. Willbanks 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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
maxwell lands a couple of digs.
Willbanks wants to stand but maxwell is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

steven maxwell dominated that round.
The cut man is working on steven maxwell's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Willbanks cracks maxwell with an open hand slap.
Willbanks tries to clinch up.
maxwell throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Willbanks's waist but Willbanks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing maxwell off to one side.
Willbanks moves in looking to clinch but maxwell pushes him off.
Willbanks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Regis Willbanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willbanks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed maxwell momentarily.
Willbanks with a lazy takedown attempt

and maxwell counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Willbanks is trying to stand up here but maxwell is controlling him well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maxwell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Willbanks defending well though.
maxwell will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
maxwell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
maxwell throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Willbanks wants to get back to his feet.
maxwell scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
maxwell sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Willbanks defending well though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Willbanks moves in looking to clinch but maxwell pushes him off.
maxwell is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Regis Willbanks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Willbanks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Willbanks lands with a straight right. maxwell didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Willbanks moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Willbanks throws a nice head kick!
maxwell keeps the fight on the outside.
Willbanks misses with a takedown

and maxwell counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Willbanks's guard now.
maxwell prevents Willbanks from getting back to his feet.
steven maxwell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
maxwell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
maxwell postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
maxwell throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as maxwell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
maxwell won't allow Willbanks to get back to his feet.
maxwell lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
maxwell content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Willbanks tries to close the distance and clinch but maxwell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Willbanks misses with a head kick.
Willbanks goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Willbanks misses with the combination.

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.
Willbanks tries to clinch there but maxwell circles away.
A left and a right from Willbanks both land. Nice combination.
maxwell stuffs the takedown attempt from Willbanks. Willbanks gets slowly back to his feet.
steven maxwell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Regis Willbanks.
Willbanks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Willbanks wants to clinch.
maxwell circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

steven maxwell dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on steven maxwell's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Willbanks tries to close the distance and clinch up but maxwell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Willbanks is looking to clinch but maxwell is avoiding it.
Willbanks shoots and misses

and maxwell counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Willbanks!
Willbanks's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
A nice elbow there by maxwell.
maxwell looking to ground and pound but Willbanks is blocking nicely.
maxwell lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Willbanks is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Willbanks is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
A nice elbow there by maxwell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
maxwell lands a nice shot to the head.
maxwell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Willbanks really wants to buck maxwell off and get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by maxwell.
maxwell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
maxwell looking to finish Willbanks with some ground and pound. This is bad for Willbanks!
maxwell with shots to the head and body - Willbanks looks very uncomfortable down there.
Willbanks really wants to buck maxwell off and get back to his feet.
maxwell breaks from Willbanks's wrist control and lands an elbow.
maxwell fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
maxwell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Willbanks is bucking up trying to escape but maxwell cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
maxwell lands a big shot there that rocks Willbanks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
maxwell unloading with bombs!
maxwell with a couple of short strikes.
maxwell dominating with strikes here.
maxwell looking to finish Willbanks with some ground and pound. This is bad for Willbanks!
maxwell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
maxwell in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
maxwell working Willbanks over with strikes here.
Willbanks's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
maxwell landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willbanks really wants to buck maxwell off and get back to his feet.
maxwell with the ground and pound from mount.
Willbanks wants to try and get back to his feet.
maxwell landing strikes, looking to finish!
maxwell lands a nice shot to the head.
Willbanks wants to try and get back to his feet.
maxwell is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Willbanks can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
maxwell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Willbanks tries to buck maxwell off but he can't manage it.
maxwell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Willbanks in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, maxwell cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Willbanks is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
maxwell lands a big shot there that rocks Willbanks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
maxwell is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Willbanks can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Willbanks taking shots to the head.
maxwell lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
You get the feeling that Willbanks really doesn't like being in this position too much.
maxwell putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
maxwell scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Willbanks?
Willbanks tries to buck maxwell off but he can't manage it.
maxwell is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Regis Willbanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
maxwell landing strikes from the mount and Willbanks is in trouble!

And that's the end of the fight!
steven maxwell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for maxwell, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... steven maxwell!