PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Freitas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Freitas

170 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 Tokyo, Derrick Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joao Freitas!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freitas throws a nice head kick!
Freitas will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Freitas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Williams tries to avoid it but Freitas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Williams to the ground. Williams escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Williams tries to bum rush Freitas with a series of wild strikes but Freitas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Joao Freitas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Williams closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Freitas to the mat! Freitas manages to get full guard.
Williams throws a big elbow that misses.
Williams working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Williams wants to pass the guard but Freitas is keeping the position.
Freitas is trying to keep Williams in close.
Williams throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Freitas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Williams postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Joao Freitas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Freitas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Freitas wants to clinch up but Williams keeps it at a distance.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Freitas.

Freitas shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Williams manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Freitas stands and throws Williams's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Williams parries the strikes from Freitas easily there. Freitas is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Williams to escape.
Freitas is looking to take a break and control but Williams is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Freitas asserts his dominance and retains side control.
An elbow from Freitas crashes against the mat.
Freitas wants to control but Williams is keeping him busy.
Freitas taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams prevents Freitas from moving into mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Freitas works to advance to full mount. Williams defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Williams is breathing heavily.
Williams wants to control but Freitas is having none of it.
Freitas tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.

Freitas is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Williams can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freitas tries to control but Williams wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freitas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Williams kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Williams is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freitas putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Freitas landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Freitas dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Freitas does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Freitas shoots in and drives through. Williams sprawls well.
Freitas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Williams sprawls well. Williams wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Freitas gets slowly back to his feet.
Freitas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Derrick Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Freitas.
A punch combination from Freitas misses.
Williams tries to land a front kick but Freitas steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Freitas moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Williams fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams closes the distance and clinches up with Freitas, looking for a takedown. Williams pushes Freitas against the cage but Freitas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Freitas is looking to clinch.

Freitas bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The referee asks Freitas politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Freitas prefers to stall for the moment though.
Freitas working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Freitas fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Freitas is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Williams is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Freitas decides to stand up, so the ref orders Williams to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freitas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freitas tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Williams has a takedown stuffed.
Freitas misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Freitas fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Freitas is fending him off so far but Williams persists. Nope, Freitas circles away and we're back to standing.
Freitas wants to clinch.
Freitas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Williams sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Freitas somewhat.
Derrick Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williams looks for a takedown but Freitas sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Williams wants it to stay on the feet.
Freitas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Williams fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Williams takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freitas throws a leg kick but Williams moved away.
Freitas goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Freitas 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!

Freitas throws a head kick that misses.
Freitas closes the distance but Williams moves to the side
and Williams counters with a series of strikes. Freitas will be more careful next time no doubt.

Williams tries to keep at a distance but Freitas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Williams keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Freitas's efforts to push away.
Freitas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Williams prevents it.

Freitas pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams wants to control from the top but Freitas keeps moving.
Williams looking to sit in guard and control but Freitas gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Freitas trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.
Freitas takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Williams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Freitas is one step ahead there.
Freitas trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Joao Freitas has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Freitas shoots in and drives through. Williams sprawls well.
Freitas tries for a takedown but Williams circles away easily

and Williams counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Derrick Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joao Freitas.
Williams trying to control but Freitas is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams throwing strikes from guard but Freitas blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Williams looking to pass the guard.
Freitas looking to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Freitas throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Williams stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freitas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Freitas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Williams's waist but Williams gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Freitas off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams slaps away a takedown attempt from Freitas, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Freitas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Williams is fending him off so far but Freitas persists. Nope, Williams circles away and we're back to standing.
Williams circles away from the clinch attempt.
Freitas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Freitas leaves Williams with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freitas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Williams counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Freitas thinking.

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 Derrick Williams.
Well Freitas 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Joao Freitas!
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight for Joao Freitas!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Joao Freitas!

Joao Freitas wins by unanimous decision!