PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jens Witjes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob Shawn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rob Shawn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Witjes
vs
Shawn

185 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jens Witjes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rob Shawn!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Albert Achterberg and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Witjes tries for a takedown but Shawn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Shawn closes the distance and pushes Witjes back into the cage.
Shawn has Witjes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Witjes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Witjes is working for takedown but Shawn is calmly controlling the position for now.

Shawn drags the fight down to the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Witjes wants to stand and escape but instead Shawn has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Shawn throws a big elbow that misses.
Shawn lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Witjes has Shawn pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shawn trying to control but Witjes is working from the bottom.

Witjes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shawn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Witjes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shawn trying to control but Witjes is working from the bottom.
Witjes has his hands on Shawn's head, controlling the position.
Witjes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rob Shawn.
Witjes moves out of range of the body kick from Shawn.
Witjes leaves Shawn with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shawn throws a head kick but Witjes moves out of range.
Shawn throws a leg kick but Witjes checks it.
Shawn misses with an uppercut.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Shawn.
Jens Witjes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rob Shawn.
Witjes shoots and misses

and Shawn counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Witjes wants to sweep but no luck.
Witjes is breathing heavily.
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!
Shawn trying to control the position from guard on top but Witjes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Witjes keeping full guard, as Shawn tries to pass.
Shawn is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witjes keeping moving, preventing Shawn from controlling successfully.
Witjes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Witjes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shawn's head.
Shawn manages to get to full guard.
Witjes trying to control the position from guard on top but Shawn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Witjes sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witjes throws a big elbow that misses.
Witjes landing some decent shots from guard.
Witjes trying to control the position from guard on top but Shawn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shawn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Witjes is aware though and is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Witjes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Shawn looking for a guillotine here but Witjes defends easily.
Witjes trying to control but Shawn is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob Shawn dominated that round.
That's time! Witjes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Shawn fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jens Witjes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Witjes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shawn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Shawn clinches.
Shawn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Witjes prevents Shawn from breaking the clinch.

Witjes is trying to trip Shawn. He has hold of a leg but Shawn is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Witjes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Shawn is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Witjes trying to control the position from guard on top but Shawn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shawn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Witjes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Witjes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Shawn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shawn keeping moving, preventing Witjes from controlling successfully.
Witjes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Witjes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Shawn's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witjes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Witjes landing with the ground and pound.
Witjes stopping the sweep attempt from Shawn.

Witjes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Witjes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Witjes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Shawn's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shawn working for a triangle but Witjes defends it easily.
Witjes throws a big elbow that misses.
Witjes working some strikes from top position.
Shawn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Witjes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Jens Witjes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Witjes lands a couple of digs.
Witjes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witjes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Shawn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Witjes lands a couple of digs.

Shawn looking for a guillotine here but Witjes defends easily.
Shawn is breathing heavily.
Witjes wants to control from the top but Shawn keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Witjes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Witjes has gone for a leg lock! Shawn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Witjes's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jens Witjes dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Witjes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Witjes lands in his opponent's guard.
Witjes 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.
Shawn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shawn keeping moving, preventing Witjes from controlling successfully.
Shawn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Witjes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shawn has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Witjes has managed to get both his arms back between Shawn's legs - danger averted.
Shawn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witjes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Witjes trying to control but Shawn is working from the bottom.
Witjes is in close to Shawn's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shawn trying to control the position.
Witjes wanted to stand there but Shawn had control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shawn controls Witjes momentarily but Witjes frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witjes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Witjes trying to control but Shawn is working from the bottom.
Witjes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Witjes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Witjes won't allow Shawn to sweep him here.
Shawn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shawn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Shawn is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shawn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Witjes is looking to work some ground and pound but Shawn has wrist control.
Witjes lands a couple of digs.
Witjes trying to control the position from guard on top but Shawn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Witjes lands a couple of elbows.

Witjes postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shawn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Witjes, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shawn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Witjes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Witjes keeping moving, preventing Shawn from controlling successfully.
Shawn is fighting to break Witjes's control of his arms but Witjes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jens Witjes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Witjes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jens Witjes!