PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Xavier White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Carter Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williams is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by FREE THE MADNESS. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

White
vs
Carter Williams

190 cm
28
199 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

182 cm
27
200 lbs
12 - 5 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Xavier White!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Michael Carter Williams !
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams misses with a straight right.
Williams catches White with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
White moves forwards but Williams connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Xavier White has been cut.
Williams wants to clinch up but White keeps it at a distance.
Williams rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but White moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Williams scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
White throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Williams counters with a left to the body.
Williams wants to clinch up but White keeps it at a distance.
White scores with a hook.
Williams scores with a punch to the head.

White closes the distance and clinches.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
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!
White has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Williams finds it's way round the side to connect with White's head.
Williams needs to keep his hands up - White had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Michael Carter Williams has been cut.
Williams stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Williams clinches up with White and pushes him back against the cage.

White manages to break the clinch.
Williams has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
White getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams checks a leg kick.
White defending well as Williams loads up on a big left hand.
Williams throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.
Williams throws a right hand that White ducks under and follows up with a left that White also avoids with ease.
It looked like White was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Williams scores with a nice head shot.

White closes the distance and pushes Williams back into the cage.

Williams 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Williams misses with a looping left.

White pushes Williams up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Williams .
Williams lands a nice shot to the body.

White breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
White moves out of range as Williams strikes.
Williams throws a shot from downtown. White moves away and avoids it.
White looks to score with a jab to the body but Williams is just out of range.
White takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
White keeps the fight on the outside.
White looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

White gets a clinch.
White lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Williams breaks from the clinch.
Williams missing with a left hand there. White was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Williams lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Michael Carter Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Williams throws a leg kick but White sees it coming and checks it nicely.
White tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
White takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Williams thows a left - swing and a miss!
White throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
An inside leg kick lands from Williams .
White throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Williams counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
White is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White tries to close the distance and clinch up but Williams swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Williams throws the left hand but White avoids the punch easily.

White gets in close and instigates a clinch.
White is trying to force a seperation but Williams has the dominant position.
White tries a body shot but Williams blocks it.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Williams is trying to force a seperation but White has the dominant position.

Williams breaks the clinch.

White gets tackled into the cage by Williams . Williams maintains the clinch.
White lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Williams backwards.
A frustrated look appears on White's face as he tries to break the clinch.
White misses with a punch to the body.
White blocking some punches.
A short right from White on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Williams blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White just leaning against Williams , taking a breather.
White misses with the head strike.
Williams landing knees to the head.
Williams blocks a body shot from White.
White misses with a shot to the kidneys.
White lands with a right to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White misses with a body punch.
A hook to the body from Williams .
A body shot lands from Williams .

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Williams swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Williams has taken the fight to the clinch.
Williams lands an elbow inside that White shrugs off.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
White wants to break the clinch but can't.
Williams lands a body punch.
Williams tries a knee to the head but White blocks it.
Williams fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Carter Williams dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Williams with a nice cross.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
White tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

White moves into the clinch successfully.
Williams tries to throw a body punch but White avoids it by throwing Williams back against the cage.
White is trying to break the clinch but Williams has him pressed against the cage.
White is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Williams tries a body shot but White blocks it.

White breaks from the clinch.
Williams misses the shot to the body.

White has closed the distance and engaged Williams in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

White manages to break the clinch.
Williams throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent White stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Williams will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Williams throws an overhand right that lands on White's shoulder, as White tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

White closes the distance and clinches.
White tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Williams avoids it.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Williams has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
White tries to throw a body punch but Williams avoids it by throwing White back against the cage.

Williams breaks the clinch.

White gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

White breaks the clinch.
Williams lands a head shot.
Williams avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Williams lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

White tries to keep at a distance but Williams has taken the fight into the clinch.

White manages to break the clinch.
Williams throws an overhand right that lands on White's shoulder, as White tries to avoid the shot.

White closes the distance and clinches.
Williams wants to break free but White has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams tried to land a shot to the body but connects with White's elbow.
Williams lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Williams is trying to force a seperation but White has the dominant position.
A short right from White.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Williams blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

White pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
White tries to clinch but Williams is having none of it.
Williams lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
White tries to clinch up
and Williams counters with a lovely straight right hand!
White closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Williams jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Michael Carter Williams seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slapping leg kick lands for Williams .
Williams lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Williams misses with a looping right.
White is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
White avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
White fails with an attempt to clinch.
White tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Williams manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Williams misses with a wild body shot.
White bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
White wants to clinch.
White tries to close the distance and clinch but Williams swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Williams swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
White tries to clinch up but Williams circles away and keeps his distance.
White tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and White takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Williams clinches up against the cage.
Williams scores with an uppercut up the middle.
White misses with a hook from the clinch.
Williams tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White stalling the fight.
A short left from White.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Williams lands an elbow just above White 's eye.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Williams lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Williams takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Williams throws a jab but it's blocked by White.
White throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
White moves to clinch but Williams breaks away
and Williams counters with a good low kick that White was not able to check.
Williams throws a leg kick but White sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Williams avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Good standup being displayed there by Williams as he connects with a hook.
Williams throws a leg kick which misses White's front leg but catches the back leg as White tries to avoid it.
White moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Carter Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Williams waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract White.
Williams dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
White looks to score with a jab to the body but Williams is just out of range.
Williams looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Williams throws an uppercut from half a mile away. White sees it coming and avoids it easily.
White circles away from the clinch attempt.
White tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Williams looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Williams works the jab nicely.
White ducks under a wild hook from Williams .
White throws a big counter combination but Williams scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
White wants to clinch.
Williams works White's body with a nice hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams looks for the body kick but White saw that one coming.
White seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
The fighters circle momentarily. White darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The fight stays on the outside here - White looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams connects with a right hand. White shakes it off.
Williams throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
White is looking for a counter combo.
White looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Williams looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Williams stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
White is looking to clinch but Williams is avoiding it.
Williams misses with a straight left.
Williams dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on White. That did some damage!
Nice defenses there by White.
White appears to be looking for a big counter.
Williams scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Williams throws a hook to the side of White's head but White sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
White checks a low kick from Williams .
Williams cracks White with a right hand to the side of the head.
White slips a straight right by Williams .
Williams tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and White is able to avoid easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

White rushes Williams and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Xavier White has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Williams has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch blocked on the inside by White.
White tries to land knees in the clinch but Williams avoids the damage to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Williams .

White manages to break the clinch.
Williams blocks a head kick by White.
A big left from Williams misses.
Williams jabs White to the body, keeping him at a distance.
White tries to clinch but Williams moves out of range.
White moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Williams just misses with a punch to the body.
White is looking to clinch.
White wants to clinch up but Williams keeps it at a distance.
White on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams swats away the attempt to clinch by White.
Williams lands a head shot.
White is looking to clinch.
White slips under a jab from Williams .
White scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Good exchange - Williams coming out on top.
White is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
White checks the leg kick nicely there.
Williams throws a series of punches but White avoids them all with ease.
White keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Williams .
Williams tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but White was well out of range. Poor timing from Williams .
White moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
It seemed like Williams was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
White wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by White.
Williams ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Williams swats away the attempt to clinch by White.
Williams avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
White tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Williams counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice cross by Williams .
Williams thuds his right hand into White's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Williams smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Xavier White's cut is getting worse.
White tries to clinch there but Williams circles away.
Williams feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to White's calf.
Xavier White is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
White moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Xavier White has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
White swinging wildly here.
White slips a jab from Williams .

White has closed the distance and engaged Williams in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Carter Williams comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Williams winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Carter Williams !
During a confident post fight interview, Michael Carter Williams thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.