PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chaz Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Topias Raja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Raja's choice of entrance music: Sail by Armin Van Buuren. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Williams
vs
Raja

170 cm
18
138 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
137 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Blitzkrieg Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Chaz Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Topias Raja!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Raja is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Raja holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Williams tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Williams looking to finish with strikes here!
Williams with good strikes from the mount here!

Williams goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Raja turns into him and now he's in Williams's guard.
Williams wants to sweep but no luck.

Williams looking for a guillotine here but Raja defends easily.
Williams trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams tries to land a sweep but no joy.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Williams is on top in guard.
Raja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Williams throwing strikes from guard but Raja blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Williams drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Raja manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Williams has Raja in his guard.
Williams is breathing heavily.
Williams has a closed guard, preventing Raja from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Williams throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Raja avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Williams has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Raja can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Raja decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Williams will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raja is looking to clinch but Williams is avoiding it.

Raja darts in and clinches Williams up against the cage.
A short right from Raja on the inside.
A shot in the inside from Raja.
Raja lands an uppercut.
Raja controlling the action here for a moment.
Raja lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Raja lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Raja wants a takedown but no success here.
Williams taking a breather.
Maybe Williams would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Williams tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Raja wants a takedown.
Raja lands a right hand.
Williams lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Williams tries to pull guard but Raja holds him up against the cage and eventually Williams drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raja prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chaz Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
A nice right hand lands inside from Raja.
Raja wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Raja breaks from the clinch.
Raja shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Williams pinned against the cage. Williams gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Raja tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Raja fails in his attempt to clinch.
Raja is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Raja with a poor takedown

and Williams decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Raja's guard.
Williams slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Williams working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chaz Williams dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight stays on the outside here - Raja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Raja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raja as he avoids it easily.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Raja as he avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Raja or perhaps it was just good defense by Williams which made him look bad.
Williams rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Raja moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Raja tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Williams moves into the clinch.
Raja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams is working for takedown but Raja is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chaz Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams tries to score a body lock takedown but Raja shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A short right from Raja.
Raja lands a hook that snaps the head of Williams backwards.
Williams has had enough of the clinch but Raja keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raja misses with an elbow strike.
Williams takes a shot to the head.
Raja can't get the takedown.
Raja is looking to control Williams's arms but Williams gets an underhook and turns him. Now Raja has his back to the cage.
Raja pushes Williams back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Williams slowing the pace effectively.
Williams is trying to drag Raja to the mat but Raja just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Raja lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Williams tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Raja is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raja working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Raja is working Williams over against the cage.
Williams wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raja has him pressed against the cage.
Williams goes for a takedown in the clinch but Raja prevents it.

Raja manages to break the clinch.
Raja closes the distance looking to clinch
and Williams counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Topias Raja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raja is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Raja doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
Raja tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
Raja moves out of range as Williams throws a body kick.
Raja's corner calls for a 1-2. Raja obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Raja gets a clinch.
Williams is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Raja working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Raja.
Williams fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Raja swings wildly with an uppercut but Williams uses good head movement to avoid it.
Williams is trying to drag Raja to the mat but Raja just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Raja lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Raja stalling in the clinch.
Williams prevents a takedown attempt there.
Williams fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Raja.
Williams effectively controlling the action here.

Williams is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Raja can't fight it off and eventually Williams manages to take the fight to the floor. Raja looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Williams wants to stand but Raja is controlling his posture from full guard.
Williams tries to free his leg and advance position but Raja is retaining full guard.
Raja preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Williams throwing strikes from guard but Raja blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Williams drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Raja dives on top into guard.
Williams wants to sweep here but Raja controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raja sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Raja avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Williams throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Raja escapes and throws Williams's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Topias Raja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Raja moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Raja tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Williams paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Williams shoots in looking for a takedown. Raja tries to sprawl out of it but Williams keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Raja manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Williams scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Williams tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Williams misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Raja explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Raja wants to clinch.
Williams avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams swats away the attempt to clinch by Raja.

Williams closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Williams lands in his opponent's guard.
Williams tries to free his leg and advance position but Raja is retaining full guard.
Williams stopping the sweep attempt from Raja.

Williams drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Raja manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Williams has Raja in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raja wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Williams is looking to sweep but instead, Raja has passed into half guard.

Williams looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to get back to full guard.

Williams is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Raja pulls his head out easily.
Raja tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Williams.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Raja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raja fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Raja looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Raja tries to clinch up but Williams circles away and keeps his distance.
Raja doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
Williams circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raja catches Williams with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Raja keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Williams shoots in but Raja avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chaz Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raja fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Raja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Williams keeps the fight on the outside.
Raja moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Raja connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

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 Chaz Williams.
I think Williams 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Chaz Williams!