PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between JJ Kavanagh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hertz Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kavanagh
vs
Willis

186 cm
22
164 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, JJ Kavanagh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hertz Willis!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kavanagh tries to clinch but Willis is having none of it.
Kavanagh cracks Willis with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kavanagh throws a right hand that Willis ducks under and follows up with a left that Willis also avoids with ease.
A good leg kick by Kavanagh.
Kavanagh rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Willis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Kavanagh misses.
Kavanagh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Willis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kavanagh manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Willis blocks the strikes from Kavanagh.
Kavanagh works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kavanagh is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kavanagh wants to improve his position but instead Willis has moved into half guard.

Willis is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kavanagh manages to get to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavanagh looking to hit a scissor sweep but Willis is one step ahead there.
Willis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kavanagh swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Willis looks gassed!
Kavanagh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Willis is controlling him.
Kavanagh throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kavanagh looking for a sweep. Not yet Kavanagh, not yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Willis has a takedown stuffed.
Kavanagh connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Willis's hands.
Kavanagh moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Hertz Willis has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Willis is rocked!
Kavanagh ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Willis is still on wobbly legs! Can Kavanagh finish him?
Kavanagh moves away from the strike by Willis.
Willis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kavanagh counters with a nice low kick that buckles Willis's knee momentarily.
Willis seems to have recovered his senses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Willis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kavanagh counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Willis takes a swing at Kavanagh's ribcage but misses.
Kavanagh lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kavanagh lands a nice looking body shot.
Kavanagh displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Willis throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kavanagh counters with a nice low kick that buckles Willis's knee momentarily.
Kavanagh tries to clinch but Willis is having none of it.
JJ Kavanagh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Willis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kavanagh fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kavanagh throws a right and a left that both miss.
Willis takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kavanagh fails to land with a series of punches.
Kavanagh misses with the combination.
Willis works Kavanagh's body with a nice hook.
Kavanagh works Willis's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Willis misses.
Willis swings for the body but Kavanagh moves out of range.
Kavanagh throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kavanagh misses with a two punch combination.
Kavanagh is looking to slow Willis down with leg kicks.
Kavanagh avoids a punch combination nicely.

Kavanagh moves into range and clinches up with Willis.

Kavanagh breaks from the clinch.
Kavanagh scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Willis misses with a straight right.
Hertz Willis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kavanagh looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Willis takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Willis throws a combination that misses
and Kavanagh counters with a one-two to the body.

Kavanagh closes the distance and clinches.
Kavanagh is trying to break free.
Kavanagh gets underhooks to prevent Willis's takedown attempt.

Kavanagh manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kavanagh counters with a leg kick.
Willis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kavanagh.
Willis misses with a hook.

Willis shoots in and bounces Kavanagh off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Willis works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kavanagh tries to get to full guard but Willis has control of the leg.

Willis is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Willis is looking for a kimura but Kavanagh is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Willis to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kavanagh manages to get to full guard.
Willis slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Willis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kavanagh knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

JJ Kavanagh dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Hertz Willis's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kavanagh throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kavanagh misses with a combination
and Willis counters with a stiff right hand.

Kavanagh is rocked!
Kavanagh throws out a powerful jab.
Oh Kavanagh is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A combination from Willis does no damage.
Willis misses with a takedown
and Kavanagh counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kavanagh seems to have got his legs back now.
Kavanagh just misses with a punch to the body.
Kavanagh misses with a combination
and Willis counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kavanagh steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Willis.
Kavanagh tries to clinch but Willis is having none of it.
Willis slips a straight right by Kavanagh.
Willis takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Willis just misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Willis swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kavanagh counters with a nice body shot.

Kavanagh rushes Willis and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kavanagh pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kavanagh is trying to break free.
Kavanagh wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kavanagh wants to break the clinch but can't.

Kavanagh breaks from the clinch.
Willis lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Willis.
A jab from Kavanagh misses.
Willis throws a nice looking combination but Kavanagh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kavanagh falls off balance throwing a combination

and Willis counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kavanagh's guard now.
Willis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kavanagh is keeping the position for now.

Willis drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kavanagh dives on top into guard.
Kavanagh keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Willis's head.
Kavanagh won't allow Willis to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh cracks Willis with a solid left hand.
Willis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kavanagh manages to get himself to full guard.
Willis pushing down on Kavanagh's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Willis works his foot free and advances to mount.

Willis is working for a guillotine from mount but Kavanagh frees his head quite easily.
Kavanagh swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Willis working for a guillotine from mount but Kavanagh is in no mood to give up.
Kavanagh wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Kavanagh manages to reverse the position and now he's in Willis's guard. Nice work there by Kavanagh.
Willis tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh forces his way into half guard.
Willis wants to get back to full guard.
Nice strikes from Kavanagh there.
Willis is pressing down on Kavanagh's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Willis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Willis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kavanagh's guard.

Willis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Willis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Kavanagh working for submissions but it's allowed Willis to get to half guard.
Willis works his way into side control.
Willis tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kavanagh's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kavanagh trying to control but Willis postures up.

Willis looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Willis moves into full mount! Kavanagh won't be happy about that!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kavanagh is in all sorts of trouble here.

Kavanagh defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Willis.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hertz Willis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Hertz Willis's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back 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.

Left hook, right uppercut from Willis.
Willis throws a nice looking combination but Kavanagh bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Kavanagh has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kavanagh escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kavanagh scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Kavanagh pushes Willis up against the cage in a clinch.

Kavanagh breaks the clinch.
Willis throws out a powerful jab.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Willis crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kavanagh - the referee stops the clock and Willis gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kavanagh. Willis manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kavanagh throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Willis counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Kavanagh!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Willis wants to finish this one by submission but Kavanagh is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Willis.
Willis moves to the back position.
Kavanagh turns into Willis and is now in his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kavanagh stopping the sweep attempt from Willis.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Willis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kavanagh preventing the sweep.
Kavanagh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kavanagh controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Willis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kavanagh.

That's two 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.
Willis misses with a double jab
and Kavanagh counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That has opened up Hertz Willis's cut even more.

Kavanagh rushes Willis and presses him up against the cage.

Kavanagh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kavanagh tries to bum rush Willis with a series of wild strikes but Willis uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Willis slips a jab and a cross from Kavanagh.
A cross from Kavanagh lands.
Willis swinging wilding here.
Willis will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kavanagh swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Willis throws a left and a right that both miss
and Kavanagh counters with a thumping low kick.
Kavanagh blocks a jab.
Kavanagh throws a right and a left that both miss.
Willis's corner calls for a 1-2. Willis obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kavanagh scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kavanagh throws a one two combo.
Kavanagh scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
JJ Kavanagh is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Willis wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kavanagh ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Willis moves away.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Willis!
Kavanagh misses with a combination
and Willis counters with a stiff right hand.

Willis scores a takedown into full mount!

Willis moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Kavanagh has worked his arm free - good work by Kavanagh!
Kavanagh is looking to regain half guard here but Willis keeps moving and retains side control.

Willis is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kavanagh knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kavanagh manages to get back to half guard.

Willis is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kavanagh doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Willis.
Kavanagh is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis blocks the strikes from Kavanagh.
Kavanagh wants to improve his position but Willis is controlling well.
Willis is pressing down on Kavanagh's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kavanagh is holding on for now.

Kavanagh is defending against the submission attempts here by Willis.
Kavanagh is looking for a sweep. Willis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Willis blocks the strikes from Kavanagh.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kavanagh moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
JJ Kavanagh is winning the standup battle so far.
Kavanagh rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Willis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Hertz Willis.
I think Willis has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hertz Willis!