PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Apachai Hopachai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Apachai Hopachai could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Ben Williams's chin.

Hopachai
vs
Williams

170 cm
21
155 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

185 cm
24
165 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Apachai Hopachai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Williams!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hopachai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Williams swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hopachai looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Williams fails with a takedown attempt.
Williams throws a sloppy head kick and Hopachai moves out of range easily.
Hopachai tries to close the distance and clinch up but Williams swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Williams fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Williams bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams misses with a series of wild punches.
Hopachai dodges the punch combination from Williams.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Apachai Hopachai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Williams.
Hopachai stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hopachai wants it to stay on the feet.
Williams misses with a jab, cross combination.
Williams is looking to land body kicks.
Williams takes a swing at Hopachai's ribcage but misses.
Hopachai is looking to clinch but Williams is avoiding it.
Hopachai checks a low kick from Williams.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hopachai tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Williams paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Williams clinches with his opponent.
Williams throws an elbow that misses.
Williams throws an elbow that misses.
Hopachai avoids the elbow strike from Williams, against the cage.
Williams throws a knee to the head but misses.
Williams looking to throw knees to the head but Hopachai is blocking nicely.
Knees to the body from Williams.
Knees in the clinch landing for Williams.
Williams tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Williams tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hopachai utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Williams wants to break free but Hopachai has control.
Hopachai blocks the elbow strike.
Hopachai is pressed up against the cage. Williams has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hopachai down to the mat. Hopachai avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hopachai misses with a leg kick
and Williams counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hopachai's knee momentarily.
Hopachai blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams throws a leg kick
and Hopachai counters with a solid body kick.
Hopachai showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Williams.
Williams throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Williams misses with a double jab.
Williams is looking to land body kicks.
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Williams throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hopachai darts in trying to clinch
and Williams counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Williams looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hopachai is fending him off so far but Williams persists. Nope, Hopachai circles away and we're back to standing.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hopachai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Williams counters with a left and a right that stings Hopachai.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Williams dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hopachai keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Williams scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Williams changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hopachai tries to avoid it but Williams manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hopachai to the ground. Hopachai escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hopachai throws a leg kick that is checked
and Williams makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hopachai really felt that one!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams looks for a takedown but Hopachai sprawls well.
Williams misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams closes the distance and clinches.
Nice elbow from Williams.
Hopachai creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Williams misses with a knee to the head.
Hopachai tries to land a knee to the head but Williams blocks with his arms.
Williams lands an elbow inside.
Williams misses with a knee to the head.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Williams tries a knee to the head but Hopachai blocks it.
Williams with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Williams wants a takedown.
Apachai Hopachai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Williams.
Williams with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hopachai creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Williams's defenses.
Williams looking to throw knees to the head but Hopachai is blocking nicely.
Hopachai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hopachai blocks an elbow strike from Williams.
Nice elbow from Hopachai.
Williams tries to land knees in the clinch but Hopachai avoids the damage to the body.
Hopachai connects with a knee to the head.
Williams leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hopachai misses with a knee to the head.

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.
Hopachai tries a knee to the head but Williams blocks it.
Williams with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hopachai looking to throw knees to the head but Williams is blocking nicely.
Williams dodges an elbow strike from Hopachai.
Williams tries to pull guard but Hopachai won't allow it.
Williams just leaning against Hopachai, taking a breather.
Williams throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hopachai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Williams dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hopachai lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hopachai using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Williams has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Williams with a knee to the head.
Hopachai blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Williams is trying to break free.
Hopachai looking to throw knees to the head but Williams is blocking nicely.
Williams jumps guard but Hopachai stands there with Williams around his waist. Williams gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hopachai lands an elbow inside.
Williams lands an elbow that stopped Hopachai in his tracks for a moment.
Hopachai takes an elbow to the temple.
Hopachai throws an elbow but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hopachai tries to land a knee to the head but Williams blocks with his arms.
Williams tries to break free but Hopachai pushes him back against the cage.
Hopachai throws a knee to the head but misses.
Williams misses with a knee strike.
Williams misses with an elbow over the top.
Williams with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hopachai dodges an elbow strike from Williams.
Hopachai with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hopachai connects with a knee to the head.
Williams pushes off an throws an elbow but Hopachai leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Williams tries a body shot but Hopachai blocks it.
Williams tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Williams wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Williams drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hopachai pulls his leg out and moves away.
Williams throws a leg kick
and Hopachai counters with a nice leg kick.
Hopachai closes the distance looking to clinch
and Williams counters with a three punch combo that has Hopachai backing up. Hopachai nods at Williams to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Williams has a takedown stuffed.
Hopachai connects with a solid leg kick.
Ben Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hopachai circles away quickly and effectively.
Hopachai throws a head kick that Williams semi-blocks.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopachai as he avoids it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams closes the distance and clinches up with Hopachai, looking for a takedown. Williams pushes Hopachai against the cage but Hopachai circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Apachai Hopachai is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Williams takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Apachai Hopachai will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hopachai throws a leg kick that misses.
Hopachai avoids the head kick by Williams.
An inside leg kick from Williams misses.
No joy there for Williams, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Williams is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hopachai sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hopachai darts in trying to clinch

and Williams counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
Williams shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hopachai but Hopachai pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopachai darts in trying to clinch
and Williams counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hopachai is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Williams keeps the fight on the outside.
Hopachai fails in his attempt to clinch.
Williams scores with a spinning back kick!
Williams goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hopachai looks to clinch
and Williams counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two 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.
Hopachai clinches but Williams breaks the clinch
and Williams counters with a two punch combo.
Williams has a takedown stuffed.
Apachai Hopachai has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Williams.

Williams rushes Hopachai and presses him up against the cage.
Williams with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hopachai lands an elbow inside.
Hopachai connects with a nasty looking knee right to Williams's face.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hopachai as Williams tries to tie him up.
Hopachai tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Williams throws a knee to the head but misses.

Williams breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams checks the leg kick.
Williams misses with a leg kick
and Hopachai counters with a good low kick that Williams was not able to check.
Hopachai wants to clinch
and Williams counters with a series of strikes. Hopachai will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hopachai looks to clinch
and Williams counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hopachai's knee momentarily.
Williams tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Williams closes the distance but Hopachai moves to the side
and Hopachai counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four 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.
Williams rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hopachai moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Williams throws a head kick that misses
and Hopachai counters with a low kick, right behind Williams 's knee.
Williams lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hopachai takes a step back to recover.
Ben Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Williams doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Williams misses with a combination
and Hopachai counters with a leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hopachai is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Williams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Williams has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Williams!