PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Wills (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Tran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wills comes to the cage accompanied by Enter Sandman . Tran has chosen Blockbuster Night Part 1 as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Joe Wills could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Andrew Tran's chin.

Wills
vs
Tran

205 cm
22
198 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

205 cm
22
198 lbs
0 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Wills!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrew Tran!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Ben Watson and Topper Green.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tran closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tran wants to stall.
Wills trying to land knees to the body.

Wills tightens his grip and picks Tran up, before dumping him to the ground. Tran manages to land in guard.
Wills is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tran looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wills is one step ahead there.
Tran is still trying to improve position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wills throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Wills stands and steps away. Tran gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Wills throws a head kick but Tran moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wills closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wills working away.

Wills decides to stand back up.
Tran misses with a wild body shot.

Wills tries to keep at a distance but Tran has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tran stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Tran effectively controlling the action here.
The crowd are getting on Tran's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Wills as Tran tries to tie him up.

Wills pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tran decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Wills, up you get!

Wills closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wills lands in his opponent's guard.
Wills postures up.

Wills decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Tran, up you get!

Wills scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Wills thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Wills fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wills looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tran is avoiding damage well.
Wills trying to control the action but Tran is working from the bottom.
Tran tries to escape but Wills is in control.
Tran sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Tran is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Wills decides to return to a standing position.

Tran pushes Wills up against the cage in a clinch.
Wills tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tran's elbow.

Wills breaks from the clinch.
Wills throws a combination that misses
and Tran counters with a series of strikes. Wills will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tran pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Wills throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tran tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wills is in Tran's guard.

Tran has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Wills off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Wills gets a clinch.

Wills turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Wills manages to end up in side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Wills dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tran shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Wills napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Tran stands up.
Andrew Tran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tran has taken the fight to the clinch.

Wills turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Wills manages to end up in side control.
Tran is pushing Wills's head away, looking to escape. Wills manages to hold on to the position though.
Tran avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Wills.
Wills throws an elbow but Tran slips to the side and avoids it well.
Wills is looking to take a break and control but Tran is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Wills decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tran fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wills, pushing him back against the cage.

Tran ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Tran no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Joe Wills overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tran looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wills throws an elbow that misses. Tran uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wills's guard. Nice move by Tran!

Wills keeping moving, preventing Tran from controlling successfully.
Tran throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran trying to control but Wills is working from the bottom.
Tran is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Tran drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Wills dives on top into guard.

Tran looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Wills passes into side control.
Wills is looking to take a break and control but Tran is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran dodges the ground and pound from Wills.
Wills really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Tran is trying to improve his position.
Tran is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Wills's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wills not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

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.
Wills trying to control from half guard but Tran is working away.
Tran is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wills's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wills's back!

Tran is looking for a rear naked choke here but Wills reverses the position brilliantly into Tran's guard!

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

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tran looking to sit in guard and control but Wills gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andrew Tran will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Wills looking to score a takedown here. Tran is defending well but Wills drives through and ends up in Tran's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wills missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tran keeping moving, preventing Wills from controlling successfully.
Wills throws a strike but Tran rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Tran wants to control from the top but Wills keeps moving.

Tran has gone for a leg lock! Wills slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tran's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wills trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wills.
Tran looking for a sweep. Not yet Tran, not yet.

Tran has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Wills has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Tran breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Wills throws a push kick but Tran slaps the foot to one side.
Tran scores with a crisp jab that stopped Wills in his tracks.

Wills changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Tran looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tran tries to bench press Wills off him but Wills keeps the position.
Wills tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Wills slows the pace down.
Tran is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran is not content to let Wills control the position.
Tran regains half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wills with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wills throws a strike but Tran avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wills throws a big right hand that misses.
Tran is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Wills is controlling him.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Tran wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tran misses with a head kick.
Tran blocks a head kick by Wills.

Wills looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tran looking for submissions off his back.
Tran takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tran is pressing down on Wills's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wills stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tran swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wills looking to sit in guard and control but Tran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wills holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Wills manages to escape and get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Wills showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wills 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Wills!
A determined Joe Wills didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
Andrew Tran spoke after the fight, saying 'Well It Wasn't My Best Fight, But I Will Train Hard To Get Back In The Game And Win My Next Fight.'.