PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dom Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mahavir Ramanujam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ramanujam has chosen Shiva in Exile - Ha'nadi as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Williams
vs
Ramanujam

180 cm
20
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dom Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mahavir Ramanujam!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ramanujam misses with a series of wild punches.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ramanujam as he avoids it easily.
Williams throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ramanujam stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Ramanujam shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ramanujam showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Williams trying to control but Ramanujam postures up.
Williams manages to get to full guard.
Williams controls Ramanujam momentarily but Ramanujam frees himself.
Ramanujam tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.
Ramanujam must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams working a defensive guard here.
Williams is looking to sweep but instead, Ramanujam has passed into half guard.
Williams is looking to improve his position.
Williams trying to control here.
Williams is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramanujam is taking a breather. Williams says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ramanujam is pressing down on Williams's thigh, looking to free his foot. Williams is holding on for now.
Williams gets back to full guard.
Williams pulls Ramanujam in to control the position.
Ramanujam content to stall in guard here.
Ramanujam really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Williams. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ramanujam tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Williams is able to avoid easily.
A big left from Ramanujam misses.
Williams moves out of range as Ramanujam strikes.
Ramanujam tries to score with a low kick but Williams moves his leg out of the way.
Ramanujam's corner calls for a 1-2. Ramanujam obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ramanujam misses with a low kick.
Ramanujam misses with a straight left.

Ramanujam scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Ramanujam tries to move into full mount but can't pass Williams's legs.
The referee asks Ramanujam politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ramanujam prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Ramanujam might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
You can see the frustration on Williams's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ramanujam controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahavir Ramanujam dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Williams closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ramanujam circles away.
Williams tries to clinch there but Ramanujam circles away.
Williams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ramanujam.
Williams throws a head kick that misses.
Williams defending well as Ramanujam loads up on a big left hand.
Ramanujam looks to land a right hand but Williams moved out of range.
Ramanujam blocks a head kick by Williams.
Ramanujam attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Ramanujam looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Williams!
Williams manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Williams trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramanujam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ramanujam's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Williams can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to hold on but Ramanujam pushes him away.
Ramanujam looking to control and managing it successfully.

Ramanujam with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Williams is looking to improve his position but Ramanujam isn't that keen on the idea.
Ramanujam controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ramanujam throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Ramanujam thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ramanujam takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramanujam avoids the attempt from Williams to control.
Ramanujam sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mahavir Ramanujam 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. This is the final round!

Williams ducks under a wild hook from Ramanujam.
A slow jab from Ramanujam misses its intended target.
Williams blocks a jab.
Ramanujam throws a right hand that misses

so Williams counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ramanujam tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ramanujam keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ramanujam is on top in guard.
Ramanujam controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ramanujam tries to free his leg and advance position but Williams is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ramanujam is pushing down on Williams's leg trying to pass to half guard. Williams is fighting to maintain full guard but Ramanujam has managed to sneak the leg through.
Williams wants to get back to full guard.
Ramanujam trying to control the pace.
Williams is looking to control Ramanujam's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Williams avoid being mounted?
Williams is looking to get back to full guard here but Ramanujam has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ramanujam is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Williams will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Let's hope that Ramanujam has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Mahavir Ramanujam has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Williams uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ramanujam.
Ramanujam throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Williams counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Williams.
Williams won't allow Ramanujam to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ramanujam keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Mahavir Ramanujam is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ramanujam wants to sweep here but Williams controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ramanujam seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Williams trying to control but Ramanujam is working from the bottom.

Dom Williams has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Williams slips a jab and a cross from Ramanujam.
Ramanujam connects with a leg kick. Williams looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ramanujam scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Williams tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ramanujam wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams prevents Ramanujam from moving into mount.
Dom Williams has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ramanujam remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mahavir Ramanujam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ramanujam 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mahavir Ramanujam!
Our winner, Mahavir Ramanujam, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.