PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vernell Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zimowit Pokora (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zimowit Pokora is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Williams
vs
Pokora

179 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vernell Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Zimowit Pokora!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Phil Schofield and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pokora sprawls well. Pokora wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Williams gets slowly back to his feet.
Pokora is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
A head kick misses from Williams.
Pokora throws a series of punches but Williams moves out of range.
Williams dives in for a single leg takedown but Pokora sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pokora pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pokora swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pokora fails with the takedown.
Pokora has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Pokora shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Williams as he jumps to the side.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pokora swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Williams clinches.
Williams can't break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams misses with the head strike.
Pokora tries to break the clinch but Williams is controlling the position.
Pokora is working for takedown but Williams is calmly controlling the position for now.
Vernell Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zimowit Pokora.
Pokora misses with an elbow over the top.
Pokora tries to pull guard but Williams holds him up against the cage and eventually Pokora drops back down to his feet.
Williams is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams prevents a takedown attempt there.

Pokora gets control of Williams's arms and successfully pulls guard. Pokora will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Williams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pokora is keeping the position for now.
Williams is fighting to break Pokora's control of his arms but Pokora is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Pokora not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pokora looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Williams with a flurry of punches that miss.
Williams trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pokora's guard.
Pokora trying to strike off his back.

Pokora is working an open guard so Williams takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Williams fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pokora, pushing him back against the cage.
Williams connects with a knee to the head.
Pokora working hard to break the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Williams has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Williams misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Williams.
Pokora is looking for a takedown.
Williams misses with a hook from the clinch.
Williams is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pokora is defending well for now.
Williams tries to land a knee to the head but Pokora blocks with his arms.
Pokora jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Williams walks away with a smile on his face. Pokora gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Pokora shoots in and bounces Williams off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Williams keeping moving, preventing Pokora from controlling successfully.
Pokora is looking to work some ground and pound but Williams has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokora postures up and lands a big shot to Williams's brow.
Pokora wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Pokora looking to sit in guard and control but Williams gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Williams throws a big elbow that misses.

Williams avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Pokora escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Williams gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to stand but Pokora is controlling from the bottom.
Williams controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Williams trying to control but Pokora is working from the bottom.
Pokora is trying to control the position but Williams postures up.

Williams gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Zimowit Pokora seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams tries to clinch but Pokora is having none of it.
Williams wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vernell Williams dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Pokora.
Williams seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Williams stuffs the takedown.
Pokora looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Williams is fending him off so far but Pokora persists. Nope, Williams circles away and we're back to standing.
Williams throws a head kick that Pokora semi-blocks.
Williams tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Pokora defends well and Williams ends up having to push Pokora into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Williams misses with a head kick.

Pokora changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Williams looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Pokora working the head with strikes.
Pokora wants to lay and pray for a moment but Williams keeps working.
Pokora wants to take a breather but Williams manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Pokora.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pokora stands and steps away. Williams gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Williams looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pokora is looking for the big counter here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vernell Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pokora shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Williams as he avoids it easily.
Pokora fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Williams moves in looking to clinch but Pokora pushes him off.
Pokora throws a series of punches but Williams moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Pokora. No joy for Williams on that attempt.
Pokora tries for a takedown but Williams sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pokora is breathing heavily.
Pokora fails with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Williams shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokora tries to score a power double leg takedown but Williams sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Pokora somewhat.

Williams manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Pokora on his heels. He'll look to pass Pokora's guard now, I'm sure.
Williams wants to stand but Pokora has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Williams sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pokora's guard.

Williams is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Williams is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pokora wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokora blocking the ground and pound attempt from Williams.

Williams looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Williams sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pokora defending well though.
Pokora tries to kick Williams off but Williams keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Williams is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Williams is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pokora sees it coming and defends easily.
Pokora has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Williams is working away from the top position though.
Pokora is looking for a sweep. Williams is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Pokora on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams prevents Pokora from improving his position.
Williams seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pokora does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Williams is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pokora doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Williams.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vernell Williams dominated that second round.
That's time! Williams's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Williams shoots in looking for a takedown but Pokora manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Williams's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pokora closes the distance and clinches up with Williams, looking for a takedown. Pokora pushes Williams against the cage but Williams circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Williams tries for a takedown but Pokora sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Williams gets caught napping as Pokora dives in and scores a takedown. Williams manages to retain guard.
Pokora is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pokora is continuing to stall.
Williams working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pokora.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pokora distracts Williams with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pokora wants to get up but he can't break Williams's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams keeping moving, preventing Pokora from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pokora tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Williams defends well and Pokora ends up having to push Williams into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Pokora throws a series of punches but Williams moves out of range.
Zimowit Pokora seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pokora takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Pokora shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Williams as he avoids it easily.
Vernell Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zimowit Pokora.
Pokora doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Williams makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Pokora tries to keep at a distance but Williams has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pokora's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Williams jumps into guard, dragging Pokora to the mat.
Pokora has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Williams is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokora trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokora trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Pokora trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokora postures up in Williams's guard and throws a big left but Williams blocks it.
Pokora trying to control but Williams is working from the bottom.
Williams is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pokora has Williams up against the cage in a clinch.
Williams avoiding damage.
A right hand to the body from Williams.
Pokora jumps guard but Williams turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Pokora wants the takedown. Williams is fighting it off but Pokora persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Williams's guard against the cage.
Pokora throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Williams works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Pokora drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Williams dives on top into guard.

Zimowit Pokora has got the better of the ground game so far.

Williams drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pokora looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pokora looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pokora!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokora moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Pokora looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zimowit Pokora has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Pokora swings around for an armbar but Williams sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Pokora's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zimowit Pokora.
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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vernell Williams!
Vernell Williams decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.