Jaleel Willis has a strong wrestling background from youth that he has managed to turn into a well-developed and well-rounded skill set. Willis makes his PFL debut tonight after winning a noteworthy regional MMA title at welterweight and an eight-fight stint in Bellator, where he went 4-4. Though the Kill Cliff FC product comes in with a 16-6 pro record, it has been a rough patch for him thus far with four losses in his last five fights. Willis most recently fought at the Bellator event in Paris in May, getting stopped quickly by Cedric Doumbe.

 

Anthony Ivy is all-too familiar with rough stretches, having gone on a five-fight losing skid between 2020 and 2022. Ivy, however, has pulled off an amazing run stretch since with six straight victories, which includes a first-round submission of Carson Hardman in his PFL debut one year ago. Ivy most recently fought in February, scoring a third-round TKO of Don Doyle.

 

Which of these two will stand out in this welterweight battle?

 

 

Round 1

 

Low kick from Ivy to start. Front kick by Ivy. Low kick from Willis. Low kick again from Ivy. Ivy circling on the outside. Heavy low kick from Willis. Willis catches a high kick from Ivy and the two clinch up. Willis presses Ivy to the fence, only for Ivy to do the same on the other side of the SmartCage. Willis with a knee catch, but Ivy scores a takedown and gets into Willis’s guard. Ivy tries to work, but Willis keeps a strong guard. Ivy postures up and starts to land, but Willis gets out the back door, gets back to his feet, and gets an underhook on Ivy’s back. Ivy reverses and we go chest-to-chest against the fence.

 

Ivy scores a body lock takedown, gets back into the half-guard. Ivy with a right hand. Ivy lands some hard shots and takes Willis’s back. Ivy gets on top and gets a hook in. Ivy with a grounded three-punch combination. Ivy tries to get an arm around the chin of Willis, looking for a short choke. Willis reverses and ends up on top in Ivy’s guard! Willis looks to get into side control. Ivy looks to use a butterfly guard and get a guillotine. Willis traps him, however. Ivy gets back to his feet. Willis with a high kick attempt before the round ends.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Front kick from Willis. Small exchange. Willis misses a low kick. Ivy swings but misses, and Willis counters. Willis throwing while moving away. Ivy misses a front kick. Low kick and a three-punch combination by Willis. Willis just misses an uppercut. Ivy misses with another wide shot. Front kick from Ivy is blocked. Willis drops Ivy with a hook! Willis drops down and looks to crank on Ivy’s neck! Ivy is trying to drive through it. Willis tries to create space and looks for a guillotine! Willis transitions it into an arm-triangle choke. Ivy creating a little bit of space, and he is able to turn out of it!

 

 

Ivy gets back to the feet and presses Willis again. Willis isn’t letting go of the attempt on Ivy’s neck, however. Ivy gets his head out of Willis’s arm. Ivy drags Willis away from the fence and is on top once again. Willis stops Ivy’s attempt from getting into mount. Ivy lands a few left hands. Ivy with a small combination on the ground. Willis sits up against the SmartCage. Ivy circles around to the back of Willis. Ivy rolls through and locks in a tight rear-naked choke! And Ivy gets the submission with 12 seconds left in the second round!

 

 

Anthony Ivy with an impressive showing! A comeback after getting dropped earlier in the round!

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Anthony Ivy defeats Jaleel Willis by 2nd round submission (4:49, rear-naked choke) in a PFL Showcase Bout

  • Ivy gets his 7th straight win and his 8th career submission
  • Ivy moves his career record to 15-7