PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mirzai Navozov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walt William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). William has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Mirzai Navozov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Walt William's chin.

Navozov
vs
William

180 cm
19
145 lbs
0 - 18 - 0

160 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Big right hand

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 0 - 18 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mirzai Navozov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Walt William!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Navozov misses with a low kick as William jumps back.
Navozov lands a slapping body shot.
William throws a sloppy head kick and Navozov moves out of range easily.
Jab from Navozov.
Nice straight punches there by Navozov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Navozov.
William gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Navozov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Navozov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
William looks to land a body kick but Navozov moved away.
Navozov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Navozov throws a head kick that misses.
A left and a right from Navozov both land. Nice combination.
Navozov is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Navozov throws a shot from downtown. William moves away and avoids it.

William clinches with his opponent.
A frustrated look appears on Navozov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from William.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William prevents Navozov from breaking the clinch.
William working aggressively here.
William misses with a knee strike.
Navozov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
William creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Navozov is trying to break the clinch but William is controlling him.
William stalling in the clinch.
William misses with the head strike.
Navozov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
William missing with knees to the body.
William stalling in the clinch.
Navozov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
William tries to work over Navozov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
William keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Navozov's efforts to push away.
William tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
William working aggressively here.
Navozov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Navozov being controlled against the cage.
A hook to the body from William.
Navozov is trying to maintain a safe position but William gets an underhook and turns Navozov into the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Navozov tries to break the clinch but William is controlling the position.
William has Navozov pressed against the cage, preventing Navozov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
William's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
William is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Navozov is defending well for now.
William misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
William stalling the fight.
The crowd are getting on William's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
William tries to land knees in the clinch but Navozov avoids the damage to the body.
William pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Navozov tries to break the clinch but William is controlling the position.
William misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Navozov.
William keeps control of Navozov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Navozov is trying to force a seperation but William has the dominant position.
Navozov is looking to break free of the clinch but William has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
William misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Navozov is defending well for now.
William misses with an elbow over the top.
William with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
William looks gassed!
William effectively controlling the action here.
William tries to work over Navozov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
William misses with a hook to the ribs.
Navozov blocking some punches.
Navozov blocking some punches.
Navozov avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for William.
William tries a knee to the head but Navozov blocks it.
Navozov avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walt William dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Navozov misses with a body kick.
Navozov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Navozov gets tackled into the cage by William. William maintains the clinch.
William struggles to land a body shot inside as Navozov controls his hands.
Navozov tries to throw a body punch but William avoids it by throwing Navozov back against the cage.
Navozov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Walt William seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Navozov avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.
William is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Navozov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
William throws a punch but it's blocked by Navozov.
Navozov dodges an elbow strike from William.
Navozov blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William tries to work over Navozov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A frustrated look appears on Navozov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Navozov looking to stall.
William misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Navozov.
Navozov dodges an elbow strike from William.
Navozov trying to stall but William improves his position.
William slowing the pace effectively.
William misses with a hook to the ribs.
William is breathing heavily.
Navozov avoids a wild elbow strike from William.
Navozov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
William misses with a short punch on the inside.
William stalling in the clinch.
William tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Navozov's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
William content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Navozov looking to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Navozov.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Navozov wants to break free but William has control.
William tries to throw a body punch but Navozov avoids it by throwing William back against the cage.
Navozov avoids a wild elbow strike from William.
William doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
William displaying some good clinch control by pressing Navozov up against the cage.
Navozov tries to land knees in the clinch but William avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navozov throws a knee to the head but misses.
Navozov stalling in the clinch but William improves position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for William.
Navozov tries to stall but William uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Navozov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
William utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Navozov blocks a body shot from William.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from William in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
William misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Navozov.
William stalling the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William prevents Navozov from breaking the clinch.
Navozov tries to land knees in the clinch but William avoids the damage to the body.
Navozov avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.
William misses with a body punch.
William trying to land knees to the body.
William's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Navozov misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for William.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Navozov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
William lands a hook that snaps the head of Navozov backwards.
Navozov tries to break free but William pushes him back against the cage.
Navozov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walt William showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Navozov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
William swings widly with a right hand
and Navozov counters with a lovely straight right hand!

William gets a clinch.
Navozov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
William misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Navozov wants to break free but William has control.
William misses with a hook from the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A frustrated look appears on Navozov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
William misses with a body punch.
William takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
William tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Navozov avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William misses with a knee to the head.
William throws an elbow that misses.
William goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
William displaying some good clinch control by pressing Navozov up against the cage.
Navozov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Navozov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Navozov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Navozov tries to stall but William uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Navozov is trying to break the clinch but William is controlling him.
Navozov is trying to break free.
William misses with a hook from the clinch.
William lands a body shot in the clinch.
William struggles to land a body shot inside as Navozov controls his hands.
Walt William is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
William prevents Navozov from breaking the clinch.
William with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Navozov wants to break free but William has control.
Navozov wants to get back to striking at distance but William won't allow it.
Navozov wants to break the clinch but can't.
William throws a punch but it's blocked by Navozov.
William throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Navozov blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navozov is trying to stall.
Navozov throws an elbow but it misses.
William lands a nice uppercut.

It looks like Mirzai Navozov has been cut.
Navozov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from William.
William swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Navozov wants to get back to striking at distance but William won't allow it.
William with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William missing with knees to the body.
Navozov taking a breather.
William misses with a body punch.
William misses with a short punch on the inside.
William missing with knees to the body.
Navozov tries to land knees in the clinch but William avoids the damage to the body.
Mirzai Navozov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
William manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walt William comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got William winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Walt William!
An out of breath Walt William thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.