PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shelby Cabrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joshua Spaulding (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cabrera
vs
Spaulding

168 cm
18
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Shelby Cabrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joshua Spaulding!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Damien Edna and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spaulding fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joshua Spaulding seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spaulding throws a sloppy head kick

and Cabrera counters with a takedown into side control.

Cabrera decides to stand back up.
Cabrera stuffs the takedown.

Cabrera moves into the clinch.
Spaulding tries to break the clinch but Cabrera is controlling the position.
Spaulding is trying to pull guard but Cabrera has him pressed against the cage.
Shelby Cabrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Spaulding.
Spaulding tries to pull guard but Cabrera won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabrera gets underhooks to prevent Spaulding's takedown attempt.
Spaulding wants a takedown.
Cabrera stalling in the clinch.
Cabrera tries for a takedown but Spaulding manages to get underhooks.
Spaulding can't get the takedown.
Cabrera looking to throw knees to the head but Spaulding is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera tries to stall but Spaulding uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Cabrera manages to break the clinch.
Spaulding shoots in and drives through. Cabrera sprawls well.
Cabrera attempts a counter takedown but Spaulding avoids it well and moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Spaulding or perhaps it was just good defense by Cabrera, which made it look bad.
Spaulding looks winded!

Cabrera pushes Spaulding up against the cage in a clinch.
Cabrera stalls.

Cabrera decides to pull guard.
Spaulding wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cabrera escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spaulding gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Cabrera working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Spaulding doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Spaulding manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Cabrera is controlling Spaulding's posture.
Spaulding in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Cabrera really is a fat lump.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spaulding throwing strikes but missing.
Spaulding wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.
Cabrera has a closed guard, preventing Spaulding from standing up.
Cabrera has control of Spaulding's left arm, preventing Spaulding from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spaulding throws a chopping leg kick but Cabrera manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cabrera pressing his opponent against the cage.

Cabrera breaks the clinch.
Cabrera wants to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Spaulding drives through and clinches with Cabrera against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shelby Cabrera dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Spaulding closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Cabrera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Spaulding throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Cabrera tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Spaulding is in Cabrera's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spaulding accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spaulding controls from within his opponent's guard.
Spaulding trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cabrera's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cabrera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cabrera keeping moving, preventing Spaulding from controlling successfully.
Spaulding must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabrera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spaulding stays in close to Cabrera's body and controls the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Spaulding moves out of range of the body kick from Cabrera.
Spaulding dives in for a single leg takedown but Cabrera sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Spaulding shoots in but Cabrera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shelby Cabrera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Cabrera gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spaulding is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Cabrera is defending well.
Shelby Cabrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joshua Spaulding.
Spaulding looking for a takedown.
Cabrera is struggling to control the position.
Cabrera is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Spaulding pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Cabrera.
Spaulding blocking some punches.

Cabrera gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Spaulding is breathing heavily.
Spaulding is looking to get back to full guard here but Cabrera has managed to pass to side control instead.

Cabrera stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Spaulding dives in and scores a takedown into Cabrera's guard.
Joshua Spaulding has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabrera controls Spaulding momentarily but Spaulding frees himself.
Spaulding trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spaulding trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabrera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cabrera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Spaulding throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cabrera works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Spaulding slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Spaulding wants to control from the top but Cabrera keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Cabrera fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Spaulding moves into the clinch.
Spaulding is trying to break the clinch but Cabrera is controlling him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spaulding stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A frustrated look appears on Spaulding's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Spaulding is working for takedown but Cabrera is calmly controlling the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joshua Spaulding will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Cabrera clinches up with Spaulding and pushes him back against the cage.
Cabrera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cabrera changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spaulding fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Spaulding throws a sloppy head kick and Cabrera moves out of range easily.
Spaulding lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Shelby Cabrera has been cut.

Spaulding clinches.
Cabrera controlling the action here for a moment.
Spaulding is pressed up against the cage. Cabrera has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spaulding down to the mat. Spaulding avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spaulding misses with a takedown attempt - Cabrera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cabrera attempts a counter takedown but Spaulding avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cabrera gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cabrera is trying to stall.

Cabrera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Spaulding moves into range and clinches up with Cabrera.
Cabrera is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Spaulding gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Cabrera.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shelby Cabrera. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spaulding wants to break free but Cabrera has control.
Spaulding gets through Cabrera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Cabrera breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spaulding gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Spaulding has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Cabrera is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Cabrera is trying to break free.
Spaulding tries to pull guard but Cabrera won't allow it.
Cabrera tries to pull guard but Spaulding won't allow it.
Spaulding has Cabrera pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Cabrera manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Spaulding gets control of Cabrera's arms and successfully pulls guard. Spaulding will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Spaulding trying to keep a closed guard but Cabrera is proving a slippery customer.

Spaulding has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cabrera can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spaulding is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cabrera avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Cabrera controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Cabrera chips away with some ground and pound.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Spaulding gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cabrera is trying to pull guard but Spaulding has him pressed against the cage.

Cabrera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cabrera gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Spaulding successfully pulls guard.
Spaulding working a defensive guard but Cabrera manages to pass into side control anyway.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joshua Spaulding comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spaulding 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joshua Spaulding!