PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eikichi Onizuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasheed Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Willis has chosen Kendrick Lamar - HiiiPower as his entrance music. The key to victory for Eikichi Onizuka has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Onizuka
vs
Willis

183 cm
31
190 lbs
11 - 16 - 0

187 cm
28
200 lbs
10 - 7 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eikichi Onizuka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 1, fighting out of New York, Rasheed Willis!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Onizuka with a poor takedown

and Willis counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Willis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Onizuka has managed to free his arm - good work.
Willis is looking to stall here but Onizuka recovers full guard.

Willis drops back, looking for a kneebar! Onizuka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Onizuka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Onizuka!
Onizuka postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Onizuka scores with a couple of short elbows.
Onizuka is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
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!
Willis manages to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onizuka winds up and cracks Willis with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Onizuka is looking to advance position but Willis won't allow it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Willis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Onizuka is trying to control. Willis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Willis tries to get to full guard but Onizuka has control of the leg.
Onizuka drops an elbow to the side of Willis's head.

Willis looking for submissions off his back.
Onizuka working the head and body with strikes.
Willis tries to roll over but Onizuka keeps him under control.
Onizuka drops an elbow to the side of Willis's head.
Willis is not content to let Onizuka control the position.
Onizuka throwing shots but Willis is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willis tries to roll over but Onizuka keeps him under control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Willis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Onizuka.
Willis gets full guard.
Willis has momentary wrist control but Onizuka slips an elbow through the middle.
Onizuka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Willis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Willis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Onizuka is aware though and is defending well.
Onizuka throws a big right hand that misses.
Onizuka throwing strikes from guard but Willis blocks nicely.
Onizuka works over Willis with some ground and pound from guard.

Willis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Onizuka is aware though and is defending well.
Onizuka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Willis is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Onizuka distracts Willis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Willis has momentary wrist control but Onizuka slips an elbow through the middle.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka wants to control from the top but Willis keeps moving.

Willis has his foot on Onizuka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Onizuka works his way back into a safe position though.
Onizuka trying to control but Willis is working from the bottom.

Willis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Willis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Willis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Onizuka looking to pass the guard.
Willis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Onizuka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Onizuka got a little sloppy there for a moment and Willis has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Onizuka has managed to get both his arms back between Willis's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Willis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Onizuka lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Onizuka postures up and lands a big shot to Willis's brow.

Willis is looking for a triangle but Onizuka pushes his legs off easily.
Onizuka lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Onizuka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Onizuka preventing the sweep.
Willis working a defensive guard here.
Onizuka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Onizuka working some strikes from top position.
Onizuka is pushing down on Willis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Willis is fighting to maintain full guard but Onizuka has managed to sneak the leg through.
Onizuka slips a nice elbow through Willis's hands, connecting with Willis's forehead.
Onizuka lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Willis is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eikichi Onizuka will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Onizuka closes the distance and clinches up with Willis, looking for a takedown. Onizuka pushes Willis against the cage but Willis circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Onizuka misses with a takedown attempt

and Willis counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Willis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Willis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Willis wants to control from the top but Onizuka keeps moving.
Onizuka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Willis throws a big elbow that misses.
Rasheed Willis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Willis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Onizuka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Willis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onizuka is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Onizuka thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Willis's head.
Willis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Willis gets back to full guard.
Willis keeping moving, preventing Onizuka from controlling successfully.
Onizuka controlling from the top position.
Willis is adopting a defensive guard.
Willis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Onizuka manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Willis trying to control but Onizuka is working from the bottom.
Onizuka is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Onizuka fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eikichi Onizuka. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Onizuka shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Willis as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willis tries to clinch there but Onizuka circles away.
Onizuka shoots and misses

and Willis counters with a nice double leg into side control. Onizuka won't be happy with that.
Willis wants to control but Onizuka is keeping him busy.

Willis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Onizuka is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Willis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Onizuka keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Willis.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Willis wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Onizuka, who protects the arm well.
Willis lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willis throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rasheed Willis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Onizuka's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Willis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Onizuka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Willis somewhat.
Onizuka shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Willis as he avoids it easily.

Onizuka darts in and clinches Willis up against the cage.

Willis lands a takedown into guard.
Onizuka is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Willis is controlling him.
Willis trying to control the position from guard on top but Onizuka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Willis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Onizuka manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Willis has Onizuka in his guard.
Onizuka connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Onizuka wants to pass the guard but Willis is keeping the position.

Willis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Onizuka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Onizuka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Onizuka working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Willis's head.
Onizuka throwing strikes from guard but Willis blocks nicely.
Onizuka is working Willis over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Willis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Onizuka defends it easily.

Willis has his foot on Onizuka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Onizuka works his way back into a safe position though.
Onizuka scoring with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Willis avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Onizuka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Onizuka stays in close to Willis's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Onizuka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Onizuka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willis is keeping the position for now.
Onizuka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Willis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Onizuka with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Willis looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Onizuka is defending well. Willis quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Onizuka has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Willis celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rasheed Willis!
An out of breath Rasheed Willis thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.