PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Octavio Paixao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luke Withers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paixao's entrance music is "Death by Blonde" by Devotchka. A fine choice. Withers has chosen Snap your fingers snap your neck as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Paixao
vs
Withers

177 cm
23
180 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

184 cm
22
185 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Octavio Paixao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luke Withers!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Dillan Fox and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paixao connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Withers's hands.
Withers tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Withers looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Withers trying to control the position from guard on top but Paixao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Withers makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Paixao manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Withers holds on for dear life, controlling Paixao's posture momentarily.
Withers is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Paixao tries to control but Withers wriggling away.
Withers is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paixao tries to control but Withers wriggling away.
Withers is desperately trying to improve his position but Paixao has a good base and remains in mount.
Paixao wants to stand but Withers is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Paixao looking to control but Withers is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Withers is working to get back to half guard.
Paixao tries to control but Withers wriggling away.

Paixao stands up from mount. Strange move.
Paixao tries to clinch up

so Withers counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Withers drops back, looking for a kneebar! Paixao looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Paixao looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Paixao!
Withers is not content to let Paixao control the position.
Paixao wants to stand but Withers has his arm trapped.
Withers struggling a bit here.
Withers is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Paixao stands up and beckons Withers to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paixao darts in and clinches Withers up against the cage.
Paixao pushes off an throws an elbow but Withers leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Withers avoids a wild elbow strike from Paixao.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Paixao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Withers's brow.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Paixao stops a takedown attempt from Withers.
Paixao connects with a knee to the head.
Paixao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Withers blocks an elbow strike from Paixao.
Withers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paixao is defending well for now.
Paixao misses with a knee to the head.
Paixao is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Paixao just misses with a elbow thrown towards Withers's brow.
Paixao is trying to maintain a safe position but Withers gets an underhook and turns Paixao into the cage.
Withers takes an elbow to the temple.
Paixao throws an elbow but it misses.
Paixao misses with a body punch.
Paixao managing to block the knees to the body from Withers.
Paixao misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
With the fighters up against the cage, Paixao throws an elbow but misses.
Paixao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Paixao.
Paixao lands a body shot in the clinch.
Paixao lands an elbow inside that Withers shrugs off.
Paixao lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Paixao tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Paixao lands an elbow inside that Withers shrugs off.
Paixao prevents the takedown attempt.
Withers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Paixao misses with a knee strike.
Paixao is breathing heavily.
Paixao pushes off an throws an elbow but Withers leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Withers blocks an uppercut.
Paixao creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Paixao working Withers over with knees to the body.
Paixao landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Withers blocks an elbow strike.
Paixao throws an elbow but it misses.
Paixao pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luke Withers will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Withers takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Paixao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Withers swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Octavio Paixao seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Paixao gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Withers postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Withers looking to pass the guard.
Paixao preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Withers throws a big right hand that misses.
Withers trying to control but Paixao is working from the bottom.
Paixao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Withers.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paixao working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Withers.
Paixao is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Withers landing some decent shots from guard.
Withers landing some decent shots from guard.
Withers looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Withers throws a strike but Paixao rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Paixao wanted to stand there but Withers had control of the position.
Paixao wants to control from the top but Withers keeps moving.
Paixao is looking to stand up but Withers won't let him.

Withers is looking for a triangle but Paixao pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paixao passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Paixao thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Paixao is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Withers will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Withers wants to control but Paixao postures up.
Withers manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Withers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Paixao's head.
Withers looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Paixao with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Paixao is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Withers sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Paixao defending well though.
Paixao trying to control but Withers postures up.
Withers trying to control the action but Paixao is working from the bottom.
Withers is just content to waste time from the top position. Paixao takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Withers throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paixao works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Withers showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Paixao pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Withers tries to score with a low kick but Paixao moves his leg out of the way.

Withers darts in and clinches Paixao up against the cage.
Paixao tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Paixao lands a shoulder strike.
Paixao pushes off an throws an elbow but Withers leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Paixao avoiding damage as Withers throws knees to the body.
Withers throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Paixao blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Paixao throws an elbow but misses.
Paixao managing to block the knees to the body from Withers.
Paixao looks to throw an elbow but misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Withers.
Withers drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paixao scores with a knee to the head.
Withers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paixao is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Withers.
Withers takes a knee right on the jaw!
With the fighters up against the cage, Paixao throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paixao creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Withers is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Paixao pulls him back up using the underhooks.
With the fighters up against the cage, Paixao throws an elbow but misses.
Paixao gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Withers blocks the elbow strike.
Withers with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Withers takes an elbow to the forehead.
Paixao managing to block the knees to the body from Withers.
Paixao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Paixao comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Paixao lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Withers blocks an elbow strike.
Withers managing to block the knees to the body from Paixao.
Paixao lands an elbow that stopped Withers in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Luke Withers has been cut.
Paixao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Paixao creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Withers's defenses.
Withers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Paixao in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Paixao putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Withers in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Withers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Withers avoids the elbow strike from Paixao, against the cage.
Withers goes for a takedown in the clinch but Paixao prevents it.
Octavio Paixao has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luke Withers.
Paixao working Withers over with knees to the body.
Paixao gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Withers dodges an elbow strike from Paixao.
Withers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paixao avoids it.
Paixao lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Withers looking to throw knees to the head but Paixao is blocking nicely.
Paixao pushes off an throws an elbow but Withers leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Paixao scores a nice knee to the body.
Paixao landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Paixao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paixao lands a nice elbow.
Paixao lands an elbow that stopped Withers in his tracks for a moment.
With the fighters up against the cage, Paixao throws an elbow but misses.
Paixao misses with an elbow strike.
Paixao misses with a hook from the clinch.
Paixao throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Withers blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paixao throws a punch but it's blocked by Withers.
Paixao with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Withers blocks the elbow strike.
Withers blocks an elbow strike.
Withers trying to land knees to the body.
Withers misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Paixao.
Withers trying to land knees to the body.
Withers tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Paixao avoids it.
Withers is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Paixao is defending well for now.

Withers has Paixao pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Withers pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Paixao tumbling to the mat - Withers dives into Paixao's guard.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Withers manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paixao manages to get himself to full guard.
Paixao bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Withers's guard.
Paixao trying to control but Withers is working from the bottom.
Octavio Paixao has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Withers has Paixao pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Octavio Paixao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Withers 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Withers!