PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ezra Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walt William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ray
vs
William

192 cm
35
181 lbs
26 - 11 - 1

160 cm
24
180 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

XTREME PWNAGE: Down Under!

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 26 - 11 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ezra Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Walt William!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
William misses with a head kick.
The crowd cheers as Ray lands an impressive looking overhand right. William doesn't seem phased though.
Walt William seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ray throws a sloppy head kick and William moves out of range easily.
William misses with a leg kick
and Ray counters with a flying knee. Nice.
William throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
William throws a sloppy head kick and Ray moves out of range easily.
William tries to clinch up.
Ray scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
William tries to clinch up.
Ray slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William lands a body shot.
Ray moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
William throws a body punch but Ray moves out of range.

William instigates a clinch.
Ray tries a knee to the head but William blocks it.
William misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ray blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ray scores with a shot to the side of William's head.
Ray using the Thai plumb to throw knees but William has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
William stalls.
Ray tries a knee to the head but William blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray misses with some punches.
Ray lands a hook that snaps the head of William backwards.
Ray blocks a body shot from William.
Ray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A knee to the head by Ray.
Ray misses with a knee to the head.
William is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ray is defending well for now.
William lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ray is looking to take this one to the mat.
William's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ray lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of William backwards.
William tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ray working aggressively here.
Ray with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ray connects with a nasty looking knee right to William's face.
Ray throws a punch but it's blocked by William.
William misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ray prevents a body shot from William.
Ray tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray throws a head punch that misses.
William stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ray tries to land a knee to the head but William blocks with his arms.
Ray tries a knee to the head but William blocks it.
William stalls.
William struggles to land a body shot inside as Ray controls his hands.
William works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ray misses with a knee to the head.
William just leaning against Ray, taking a breather.
William scores with a nice hook to the head.
William is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ray is defending well for now.
William tries to land knees in the clinch but Ray avoids the damage to the body.
A short left from William.
Ray pushes William back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
William trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William pushes Ray back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
William stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
William's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ray misses with a knee strike.
Ray lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of William backwards.
William tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
William using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ray has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A short left from Ray.
Ray throws a head punch that misses.
William throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Rays head.
A short left from Ray.
Ray throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but William blocks it with crossed arms.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ray.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ray connects with a knee to the head.
Ray misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ray with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
William misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ezra Ray will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

William tries to clinch but Ray moves out of range.
Ray keeps the fight on the outside.
Ray throws a body kick that misses.
William throws a looping overhand right but Ray ducks down to avoid it.
William takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Ray swats away the attempt to clinch by William.
A telegraphed right hand from William misses the target.
Ray is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray moves out of range of the body kick from William.
A head kick misses from Ray.
William throws a looping overhand right but Ray ducks down to avoid it.
Ray avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ray lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Ray swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A jab from Ray misses.
William blocks the body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray lands with a hook. William tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
William throws a head kick but Ray moves out of range.

Ray tries to keep at a distance but William has taken the fight into the clinch.
A knee to the head by Ray.

It looks like Walt William has been cut.
William trying to land knees to the body.
Ray lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ray connects with a nasty looking knee right to William's face.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ray as William tries to tie him up.
William with an attempt at a knee that misses.
William holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray lands a nice uppercut.
Ray connects with a nasty looking knee right to William's face.
Ray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
William gets through Ray's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
William throws an elbow but it's blocked.
William throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
William effectively controlling the action here.
William is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
William is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ray is defending well for now.
William scores with a shot to the side of Ray's head.
Ray lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ray blocks a body shot from William.
William tries to throw a body punch but Ray avoids it by throwing William back against the cage.
Ray lands with a short punch from the clinch.
William misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
William is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
William can't find room to land a body shot as Ray controls the action.
A short right from Ray on the inside.
Ray with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
William content to slow the pace in the clinch.
William lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ray throws a knee to the head but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ray creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ray tries a knee to the head but William blocks it.
Ray misses with a punch on the inside.
Ray using the Thai plumb to throw knees but William has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ray fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ray scores with a knee to the head.
Ray with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ray on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
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 Ezra Ray will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Walt William's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ray keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - William looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
William is looking to clinch.
Ray swings for the body but William moves out of range.
Ray swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

William clinches.
Ray lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
William tries a knee to the head but Ray blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Ezra Ray has scored more points in the clinch so far.
William is looking to control Ray's arms but Ray gets an underhook and turns him. Now William has his back to the cage.
Ray lands a right hand.
Ray misses with some punches.
William creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
William blocks an uppercut.
William using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ray has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ray tries to land a knee to the head but William blocks with his arms.
Ray lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of William backwards.
Ray blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ray with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ray lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ray tries a knee to the head but William blocks it.
Ray lands a left hand.
William blocks an uppercut.
Ray landing knees to the head.
Ray putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has William in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ray misses with a punch to the body.
Walt William has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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. Ray is defending well for now.
Ray misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A shot in the inside from Ray.
William blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ray throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ray with an attempt at a knee that misses.
William tries to stall but Ray uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ray avoids a wild elbow strike from William.
Ray tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
William looking to stall.
Ray throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ray working aggressively here.
Ray lands with a light punch inside.
The referee is keeping an eye on William - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Ray working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray misses with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for William.
William using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ray has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice left hand lands by Ray.
Ray lands a right hand that snaps the head of William backwards.
Ray with an attempt at a knee that misses.
William lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ray with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ray with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
William lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
William swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A knee to the head by Ray.
William content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Ray.
William slows down the pace here.
William is trying to maintain a safe position but Ray gets an underhook and turns William into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray misses with some punches.
William can't find room to land a body shot as Ray controls the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ray misses with a knee to the head.
Ray misses with the head strike.
William lands a body shot.
Ray blocks a body shot from William.
Ezra Ray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
William lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ray backwards.
William tries to land knees in the clinch but Ray avoids the damage to the body.
William throws an elbow but it misses.
William looking to throw knees to the head but Ray is blocking nicely.
William misses with a body punch.
William can't find room to land a body shot as Ray controls the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
William pushes Ray back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ray misses with the head strike.
Still in the clinch, Ray scores with a nice short uppercut.
William throws a knee to the head but misses.
William is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ray is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ezra Ray.
Well Ray 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ezra Ray!
During a confident post fight interview, Ezra Ray thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.