PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zack Ertz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joseph has chosen TEARS FOR FEARS - SHOUT as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Ertz
vs
Joseph

172 cm
31
170 lbs
13 - 9 - 0

175 cm
36
169 lbs
26 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zack Ertz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, William Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph misses with a double jab
and Ertz counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ertz throws a body punch but Joseph moves out of range.
Joseph displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ertz throws out the jab.
Ertz swats away the attempt to clinch by Joseph.
Ertz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've been informed that Joseph has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ertz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Joseph feints a jab promting Ertz to slip. Joseph then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Ertz slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Zack Ertz has been cut.

Joseph lands a left and a right that send Ertz crashing to the mat, dazed. Joseph thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Ertz is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joseph needs to keep his hands up - Ertz had a free shot at his head there.
Joseph is looking to clinch but Ertz is avoiding it.
We've been hearing reports that Ertz has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Joseph feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ertz tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ertz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Joseph landing with the ground and pound.
Ertz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Joseph trying to control but Ertz is working from the bottom.
Joseph throwing strikes but missing.
Joseph trying to control but Ertz is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Joseph lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt.
Joseph misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph swinging wildly here.
Joseph tries to clinch
and Ertz counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Joseph misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ertz counters with a straight right hand.
Ertz 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.
Joseph shoots in for a double leg but Ertz sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Joseph swinging wildly here.
Ertz throws a hook but Joseph avoids it easily.
Ertz stuffs the takedown attempt from Joseph. Joseph gets slowly back to his feet.
Zack Ertz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of William Joseph.
Joseph shoots in for a takedown but Ertz shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Ertz.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt.
Joseph fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joseph with a poor takedown
enabling Ertz to counter with a crisp jab.
Joseph throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Joseph throws a combination that misses
and Ertz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Joseph thinking.
Joseph looks winded!
Ertz lands a jab.
Ertz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ertz avoids the body shot from Joseph.
Joseph misses with a double jab.
Joseph misses with a two punch combination.
A left lands for Ertz.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ertz misses with a series of wild punches.
Joseph fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Ertz is out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ertz cracks the inside of Joseph's front leg.
Joseph takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ertz dodges the punch combination from Joseph.
Joseph scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Joseph throws a series of punches but Ertz moves out of range.
Joseph walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ertz checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Ertz is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph throws a nice looking combination but Ertz bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ertz lands a glancing blow to the side of Joseph's head.
Joseph misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Joseph.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Joseph dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zack Ertz's cut.
That's time! Ertz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ertz scoring well with a low kick there.
Danga de danga de dang - Joseph scores with a four punch combination!
Ertz lands a body shot.
Ertz dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Joseph will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joseph throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Joseph swings away with a body shot that misses
and Ertz counters with a left and a right that stings Joseph.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ertz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
William Joseph seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A swing and a miss from Ertz.
Joseph throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ertz throws a jab when Joseph was well out of range.
Ertz swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Joseph.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph tries to clinch there but Ertz circles away.
Joseph misses with a few strikes there.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Joseph lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ertz has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ertz and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Joseph moves into the clinch successfully.
Ertz tries a body shot but Joseph blocks it.
Joseph is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ertz lands a hook that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
Ertz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Joseph blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Joseph fails to land.
Ertz misses with a punch to the body.
Ertz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ertz has a couple of punches blocked by Joseph.
A head punch on the inside from Ertz fails to land.
Ertz misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph can't find room to land a body shot as Ertz controls the action.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ertz prevents a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ertz avoiding damage as Joseph throws knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Ertz.
Ertz blocks an elbow strike from Joseph.
Ertz blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Ertz on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Joseph works on Ertz's body with a couple of short punches.
Ertz tries a body shot but Joseph blocks it.
Ertz blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Ertz throws a punch but it's blocked by Joseph.
Ertz managing to block the knees to the body from Joseph.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Joseph.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ertz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ertz misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph working aggressively here.
Ertz misses with a short punch on the inside.
Joseph taking a breather.
Ertz throws a head punch that misses.
Ertz makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ertz lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ertz scores with a shot to the side of Joseph's head.
Ertz tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Joseph blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ertz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ertz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Joseph working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Joseph stalls.
Joseph lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ertz.
Ertz pushes Joseph back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ertz misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ertz swings wildly with an uppercut but Joseph uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ertz swings wildly with an uppercut but Joseph uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joseph lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Joseph is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ertz is defending well for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ertz lands a shoulder strike.
Joseph tries to throw a body punch but Ertz avoids it by throwing Joseph back against the cage.
Joseph scores a nice knee to the body.
Joseph struggles to land a body shot inside as Ertz controls his hands.
Ertz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ertz.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ertz throws a head punch that misses.
Joseph looking to slow down the pace here.
Joseph with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
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 Zack Ertz will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Zack Ertz's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Joseph moves in looking to clinch but Ertz pushes him off.
Joseph tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ertz was well out of range. Poor timing from Joseph.
William Joseph is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Joseph takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Joseph wants to clinch up but Ertz keeps it at a distance.
Ertz connects with a single shot there.
Joseph misses with a combination
and Ertz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Joseph moves into range and clinches up with Ertz.
Ertz lands a body shot in the clinch.
Ertz tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ertz lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Ertz fails to land.
Joseph utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ertz misses with a body punch.
Zack Ertz has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Joseph tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ertz's elbow.
Joseph goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ertz lands a right hand that snaps the head of Joseph backwards.
A short right from Joseph.
A short body shot lands from Joseph as the two fighters clinch.
Ertz throws a head punch that misses.
Joseph fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ertz blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ertz throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Joseph takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Joseph blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ertz works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Joseph is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ertz is defending well for now.
Ertz presses Joseph against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ertz.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ertz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ertz gets through Joseph's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Joseph wants to stall.
Joseph misses with some punches.
Ertz lands with a light punch inside.
Ertz tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Ertz back against the cage.
A short right from Ertz.
A short uppercut from Ertz.
Ertz scores with a shoulder strike.
Ertz tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Joseph blocking some punches.
Joseph lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Joseph tries a body shot but Ertz blocks it.
Ertz can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ertz swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joseph trying to stall but Ertz improves his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Ertz.
Ertz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ertz working aggressively here.
Ertz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ertz can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Ertz lands a right hand.
Joseph misses with a punch to the body.
Ertz pushes Joseph back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ertz tries a body shot but Joseph blocks it.
A right hook to the body lands for Joseph.
A body shot lands from Joseph.
Joseph tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ertz's elbow.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joseph misses with a punch on the inside.
Ertz blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Ertz misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ertz misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to stall.
Ertz goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ertz misses with a hook from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ertz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ertz pushes Joseph back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Joseph misses with a body punch.
Joseph misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ertz.
Joseph misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Joseph lands a nice shot to the body.
Ertz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Joseph struggles to land a body shot inside as Ertz controls his hands.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Joseph tries to work over Ertz's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Joseph can't find room to land a body shot as Ertz controls the action.
Joseph leaning against his opponent.
Joseph misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zack Ertz showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ertz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zack Ertz!
After winning the bout, Zack Ertz thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.