PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Willian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phil Willian told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Weidman
vs
Willian

192 cm
20
300 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

225 cm
28
300 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Weidman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Phil Willian!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Paulo Santos and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Weidman drives through with a takedown into Willian's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Willian thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Weidman wants to stand but Willian has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Weidman trying to control but Willian is working from the bottom.
Willian working a defensive guard here.
Weidman throws a big elbow that misses.

Willian escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Weidman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Willian can do anything to dispel that myth.
Weidman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Willian is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Willian is trying to control the position but Weidman postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willian looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Weidman wants to stand but Willian is controlling his posture from full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Willian scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Willian working away.
Weidman tries to improve position but can't.
Weidman struggling a bit here.
Weidman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willian trying to control the position but Weidman is working away.
Check out the look on Willian's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Willian controlling the position from side mount.
Weidman is trying to control Willian's posture but Willian avoids it.
Weidman is looking to regain half guard here but Willian keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willian decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Willian shoots in for a takedown but Weidman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Weidman or perhaps it was just good defense by Willian, which made it look bad.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Willian enables Weidman to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Willian manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Willian avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weidman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Willian is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Weidman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Weidman tries to stand but Willian is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willian wants to stand but Weidman is controlling the position.

Weidman gets to his feet - Willian follows without any prompting.

Willian manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Weidman on his heels. He'll look to pass Weidman's guard now, I'm sure.
Weidman wants to get back to his feet but Willian is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Willian scoring with some ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Willian has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Weidman is proving hard to escape from.
Weidman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Weidman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phil Willian will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Weidman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Willian pinned against the cage. Willian gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Weidman tries for a takedown but Willian circles away easily

and Willian counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Willian throws a big right hand that misses.
Weidman is trying to keep Willian in close.

Weidman manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Weidman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Willian fails with a takedown attempt.

Willian gets caught napping as Weidman dives in and scores a takedown. Willian manages to retain guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Willian trying to keep a closed guard but Weidman is proving a slippery customer.
Weidman trying to control the position from guard on top but Willian is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Willian looking for a guillotine here but Weidman defends easily.

Weidman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Weidman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Weidman throws a big right hand that misses.
Willian looking to hit a scissor sweep but Weidman is one step ahead there.

Weidman stands and steps away. Willian gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Weidman changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Willian tries to avoid it but Weidman manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Willian to the ground. Willian escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Willian has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Weidman is landing a low percentage of strikes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Weidman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Willian 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.
Weidman working a defensive guard here.
Willian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Weidman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Willian manages to get himself to full guard.

Willian wants to sweep here but Weidman controlling him for the moment.
Willian is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman stays in close to Willian's body and controls the position.
Weidman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Weidman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Willian looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Weidman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Weidman slows the pace down in half guard.
Weidman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Willian does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Weidman prevents Willian from improving his position.
Weidman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
We've been hearing good reports from Weidman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Weidman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Willian defending well though.

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

Weidman escapes and gets back to his feet.
Willian shoots in for a takedown but Weidman shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Willian gets a takedown into half guard.
Weidman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Weidman wants to sweep here but Willian controlling him for the moment.
Weidman keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Weidman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Weidman is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Weidman dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Weidman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Willian's half guard.
Willian tries to roll over but Weidman keeps him under control.
Willian has his hands clasped together around Weidman's back. He's all about the action.

Weidman postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Willian to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weidman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Weidman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Willian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Weidman is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weidman working a defensive guard here.
Willian trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Willian is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Willian trying to control the position from guard on top but Weidman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weidman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Willian postures up in Weidman's guard and throws a big left but Weidman blocks it.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Weidman throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Weidman gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Willian gets to his feet - Weidman follows without any prompting.
Willian looks for a takedown but Weidman sprawls well.
Weidman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Willian avoids it really well and circles away.
Willian misses with a takedown attempt - Weidman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Willian gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Weidman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Chris Weidman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Willian.
Willian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Weidman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Weidman gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Willian fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Weidman avoids it really well and circles away.
Weidman shoots for a takedown but Willian saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Willian closes this distance looking for a takedown but Weidman circles away.
Willian looks for a takedown but Weidman sprawls well.
Weidman goes for a double leg but Willian avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Willian continues to drive forward.

Weidman gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Willian regains guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weidman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Weidman trying to stand up but can't free himself from Willian's guard.
Weidman working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Willian's head.
Weidman trying to control but Willian is working from the bottom.
Weidman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Weidman passes Willian's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Weidman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Willian moves into full guard.
Weidman throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Weidman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Weidman 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Weidman!