PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Gregory (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joaquim Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gregory comes to the cage accompanied by Chumbawamba - English Rebel Songs. 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.

Gregory
vs
Williams

192 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

195 cm
24
222 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Gregory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joaquim Williams!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gregory avoids a kick to the body.
Gregory fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Williams tries to work over Gregory's front leg with a kick but Gregory checks it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gregory.

Williams clinches up with Gregory and pushes him back against the cage.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
Gregory swats away the attempt to clinch by Williams.

Williams moves into the clinch.
Williams tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Gregory breaks the clinch.
Williams throws a leg kick

and Gregory counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Williams!
This has been an exciting period of action!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Gregory lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Gregory can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Williams is looking to escape.
Williams tries to hold on but Gregory pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory misses with a head shot.
Williams holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Gregory tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Williams prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Gregory unloads with some shots from mount but Williams bucks and avoids them well.
Gregory is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Williams can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Gregory looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Gregory throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Gregory wants to control the pace but Williams is squirming around nicely.
Williams avoids a strike by Gregory and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Gregory's guard! Fantastic escape!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams controls from within his opponent's guard.
Gregory wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Paul Gregory has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gregory keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Williams.
Gregory fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Williams avoids it really well and circles away.
Gregory fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Gregory. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gregory feints and then cracks Williams's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Williams down.
Williams swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gregory throws a chopping leg kick but Williams manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gregory moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Joaquim Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gregory misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gregory takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Williams scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Gregory swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gregory is looking to score with low kicks.
Williams tries to clinch but Gregory is having none of it.
Gregory walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Williams throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams looks to throw the jab but Gregory is out of range.
Gregory shoots in looking for a takedown. Williams tries to sprawl out of it but Gregory keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Williams manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gregory misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Gregory dominated that round.
That's time! Gregory's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Gregory shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Williams sprawls well. Williams wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gregory gets slowly back to his feet.
Williams lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Gregory avoids the head kick by Williams.
Gregory swats away the attempt to clinch by Williams.
Gregory on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Williams. Williams obviously looking to wear him down.
Gregory takes one to the side of the head.
Gregory fails with a takedown attempt.
Williams pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gregory has closed the distance and engaged Williams in a clinch.
Williams missing with knees to the body.
Gregory wants to get back to striking at distance but Williams won't allow it.
Williams tries to land knees in the clinch but Gregory avoids the damage to the body.
Gregory looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Gregory. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gregory is defending well for now.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
Gregory blocks a head kick by Williams.
Williams tries to clinch up.
Williams throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Gregory scores with a leg kick.
Williams thows a body shot but no joy.
Williams throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gregory walks into a jab.
Williams throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Williams lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gregory shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Williams defends it nicely.
Williams looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Horrible takedown by Gregory or perhaps it was just good defense by Williams which made him look bad.
Williams lands a nice leg kick that just misses Gregory's sensitive parts.
Williams misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gregory circles away from the clinch attempt.
A left lands for Williams.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory fails with a takedown attempt.
Gregory on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Williams. Williams obviously looking to wear him down.
Williams paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Williams connects with a single shot there.
Williams just misses with a punch to the body.
Gregory shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Williams defends it nicely.
Gregory checks a leg kick.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gregory moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Paul Gregory is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams stuffs the takedown attempt from Gregory. Gregory gets slowly back to his feet.
Gregory takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gregory shoots in for a takedown but Williams shows good takedown defense.
Williams misses with a body shot.
Williams closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gregory fails with a takedown attempt.
Williams misses with a straight left.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gregory shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Williams pinned against the cage. Williams gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gregory shoots in but Williams avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joaquim Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Williams scores with a hook.
The crowd cheers as Williams lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gregory doesn't seem phased though.
Gregory shoots in looking for a takedown but Williams manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gregory's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Williams stuffs the takedown.
Williams connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Gregory bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Williams bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Gregory's head backwards.
Williams fails to land with a series of punches.
Gregory shoots in and drives through. Williams sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Gregory. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gregory shoots for a double leg takedown but Williams sprawls well. He's pushed Gregory's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Williams throws a shot from downtown. Gregory moves away and avoids it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Williams has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Gregory is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Williams misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gregory.
Williams lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Williams tries to land a front kick but Gregory steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gregory has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Williams finds it's way round the side to connect with Gregory's head.
Williams connects with a high kick.
Williams lands with a kick to the temple. Gregory shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Williams is looking to slow Gregory down with leg kicks.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gregory sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Williams throws a right hand that misses

and Gregory counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gregory wants to pass to mount but Williams is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gregory thows a huge punch but Williams dodges it nicely.
Gregory is keen to just control but Williams is a slippery customer.
Gregory with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Gregory seems to be looking for submissions.

Williams is defending against the submission attempts here by Gregory.
Williams blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gregory.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory prevents Williams from improving his position.
Gregory with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams trying to control here.
Gregory sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Gregory prevents Williams from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory throwing shots but Williams is blocking nicely.

Gregory is working for a submission of some sort.

Gregory is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams is holding on to half guard well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joaquim Williams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Williams 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

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