PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafa Soares (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Williams
vs
Soares

188 cm
22
220 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
24
205 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rafa Soares!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams misses with a wild combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Williams misses with a takedown attempt - Soares sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Soares takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Soares dodges the punch combination from Williams.
Williams tries for a takedown but Soares sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Soares tries to clinch up.
Williams shoots in and drives through. Soares sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams shoots in but no luck this time.
Soares wants to clinch.
Soares tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Williams is defended easily by Soares.
Soares takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Soares moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Williams has a takedown stuffed.
Williams is breathing heavily.
Williams throws a chopping leg kick but Soares manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Williams misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams drives through and clinches with Soares against the cage.

Williams pulls Soares into guard.
Soares is looking to stand up but Williams won't let him.
Williams is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Williams working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soares.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Soares wants to get up but he can't break Williams's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Williams pushes Soares off and gets back to his feet.
Soares looks to clinch
and Williams counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Williams closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Williams lands in his opponent's guard.
Williams controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Williams advances position into side control!

Williams is trying to get an arm triangle but Soares is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams looks up at the clock and then as Soares takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Williams smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Williams decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Williams lands a nice hook to Soares's body. Soares takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Williams lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Rafa Soares has been cut.

Williams scores with a takedown into Soares's guard.

Williams drops back looking for a leg! Soares is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Soares manages to kick Williams off! Williams jumps back into Soares's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Williams stands up from Soares's guard - Williams perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares closes the distance looking to clinch

and Williams counters by moving into the clinch.
Soares wants to break the clinch but can't.
Williams goes for a takedown attempt but Soares pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Williams misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Williams gets the takedown into side control.
Williams controlling the position.

Williams stands up.
Williams uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Williams throws a head kick that misses.
Williams lands with a nice body punch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Williams.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Williams looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Williams has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Williams is defended easily by Soares.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Soares fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Williams, pushing him back against the cage.
Soares wants to break the clinch but can't.
Williams changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Soares fights it off and pushes away nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Williams dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafa Soares's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Williams shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Soares pinned against the cage. Soares gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
No luck for Williams with that takedown attempt.
Soares wants to clinch but Williams slips to the side
and Williams counters with a right hand to the body.
Williams shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Soares defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carl Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Williams shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Williams showed some decent athleticism there.

Williams is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Soares trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares is in trouble now - Williams has advanced to mount!
Williams controlling from mount.

Williams looking to secure an arm triangle but Soares defends it well.
Williams is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Soares can do to turn this around?
Williams scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Soares?
Soares is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Williams wants to control the pace but Soares is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Williams get's back to his feet.
Williams takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Williams looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Williams uses his free foot to push down on Soares's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Soares.
Williams content just to control the position here.

Williams gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams looks for a takedown but Soares sprawls well.
Williams throws a head kick but Soares moves out of range.

Williams looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Williams stands up and waves to Soares to follow him.
Williams misses with a two punch combination.
Horrible takedown by Williams or perhaps it was just good defense by Soares which made him look bad.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Soares sprawls well. Soares wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Williams gets slowly back to his feet.
Soares darts in trying to clinch
and Williams counters with a series of strikes. Soares will be more careful next time no doubt.
Carl Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Soares displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Williams.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soares slaps away a takedown attempt from Williams, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Soares is looking to clinch.
Soares wants to clinch but Williams slips to the side
and Williams counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Williams drives through with a takedown into guard.

Williams drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Soares dives on top into guard.
Williams throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Williams tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Soares avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soares won't allow Williams to sweep him here.

Williams has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Soares can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Williams dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafa Soares's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Williams shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Soares as he jumps to the side.
Soares wants to clinch
and Williams cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Soares avoids a punch combination nicely.
Soares tries to clinch up
and Williams counters with a straight right hand.
Soares tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Williams counters with a three punch combo that has Soares backing up. Soares nods at Williams to acknowledge the strikes.
Soares tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Williams counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Soares's guard now.
Williams chips away with some ground and pound.

Williams drops back looking for a leg! Soares is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Soares manages to kick Williams off! Williams jumps back into Soares's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Williams pushing down on Soares's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soares is trying to maintain the position but Williams is very close to passing his half guard.

Williams is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Soares doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Williams.

Williams is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Williams postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Soares to stand up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soares avoids a punch combination nicely.
Soares displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Williams.
Williams throws a right and a left that both miss.
Soares closes the distance looking to clinch

and Williams counters by clinching up.
Soares tries to break free but Williams pushes him back against the cage.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Williams feints and as Soares raises his hands in defense, Williams changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Williams cracks Soares with a solid left hand.

Williams drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Williams jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Williams controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Soares is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soares working a defensive guard but Williams passes into half guard.

Williams is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Soares doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Williams.
Williams uses his free foot to push down on Soares's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Soares.

Williams wants to finish this one by submission but Soares is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Williams.
Carl Williams is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Williams has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Soares's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soares defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Williams.
Williams with shots to the head and body - Soares looks very uncomfortable down there.
Williams takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Carl Williams overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Williams looking to secure an arm triangle but Soares defends it well.
Rafa Soares has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Williams stands up from mount. Strange move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Williams has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:26

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