PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chance Birmbaum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simon Williamson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williamson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Iggy Pop - Lust For Life . 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.

Birmbaum
vs
Williamson

175 cm
21
176 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

170 cm
46
185 lbs
31 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Chance Birmbaum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Simon Williamson!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Francis DeMontford and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Birmbaum lands with a hook. Williamson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Birmbaum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Williamson was covering up waiting for the punch and Birmbaum finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Birmbaum working some strikes from top position.
Birmbaum in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Williamson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Birmbaum controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Williamson keeping moving, preventing Birmbaum from controlling successfully.
Williamson wants to sweep here but Birmbaum controlling him for the moment.
Birmbaum is pushing down on Williamson's leg trying to pass to half guard. Williamson is fighting to maintain full guard but Birmbaum has managed to sneak the leg through.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Birmbaum trying to mount his opponent but Williamson defends it.
Birmbaum wants to take a breather but Williamson is having none of it.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Birmbaum connects with a nice short shot to Williamson's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williamson wants to get back to full guard.
Birmbaum trying to control from half guard but Williamson is working away.
Birmbaum scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Birmbaum seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Birmbaum scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Birmbaum has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Birmbaum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Williamson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Birmbaum.
Birmbaum throwing shots but Williamson is blocking nicely.
Williamson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Birmbaum.
Williamson trying to control here.
Williamson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Williamson is trying to control but Birmbaum passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum is looking to take a break and control but Williamson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Williamson is looking to regain half guard here but Birmbaum keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Williamson wants to control but Birmbaum postures up.
Birmbaum is looking to take a break and control but Williamson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Williamson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Birmbaum wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Birmbaum laying and praying for a moment but Williamson takes advantage and regains half guard.
Birmbaum looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Williamson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Williamson can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williamson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Birmbaum throwing shots but Williamson is blocking nicely.
Williamson is pressing down on Birmbaum's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Williamson is trying to control the position but Birmbaum postures up.
Birmbaum is fighting to break Williamson's control of his arms but Williamson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williamson wants to sweep here but Birmbaum controlling him for the moment.
Birmbaum trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Birmbaum chips away with some ground and pound.
Birmbaum trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Williamson controls Birmbaum momentarily but Birmbaum frees himself.

Williamson looking for subs off his back but Birmbaum has passed one foot through into half guard.
Williamson wants to improve his position but Birmbaum is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Birmbaum.
Nice strikes from Birmbaum there.
Williamson wants to control but Birmbaum passes into side.
Williamson is looking for a sweep.
Birmbaum working the head and body with strikes.
Williamson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Williamson wants to control but Birmbaum postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Birmbaum is putting a hurting on Williamson here, landing some big shots from side control.

Birmbaum is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Williamson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Birmbaum working the ground and pound but Williamson is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chance Birmbaum dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Birmbaum fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Williamson misses.
Birmbaum throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Birmbaum takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Birmbaum dodges the punch combination from Williamson.

Birmbaum pushes Williamson up against the cage in a clinch.
Birmbaum wants a takedown.
Williamson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Birmbaum has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williamson misses with a body punch.
Birmbaum is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Williamson is defending well for now.
Our sources have told us that Birmbaum has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.
Williamson blocks an elbow strike.
Birmbaum blocks a body shot from Williamson.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Birmbaum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Williamson closes the distance and clinches.
Williamson managing to block the knees to the body from Birmbaum.
Williamson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Birmbaum has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Williamson after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chance Birmbaum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Birmbaum using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Williamson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Birmbaum is looking to take this one to the mat.
Birmbaum tries to pull guard but Williamson holds him up against the cage and eventually Birmbaum drops back down to his feet.
Birmbaum is trying to break the clinch but Williamson has him pressed against the cage.
Birmbaum swings away with an uppercut that misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Birmbaum just misses with a elbow thrown towards Williamson's brow.
Birmbaum has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Williamson after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson tries a body shot but Birmbaum blocks it.
Birmbaum tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Birmbaum struggles to land a body shot inside as Williamson controls his hands.
Birmbaum tries for a takedown. No joy.
Williamson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Birmbaum missing with knees to the body.
Birmbaum looking to throw knees to the head but Williamson is blocking nicely.
Williamson can't find room to land a body shot as Birmbaum controls the action.
Williamson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Birmbaum manages to break the clinch.
Williamson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Birmbaum looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
A big right from Birmbaum misses.
Williamson let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Birmbaum, right into the meat.
Williamson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Williamson scores with a jab. Birmbaum acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Williamson swivels and escapes.
Williamson throws the left hand but Birmbaum avoids the punch easily.
Birmbaum throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Williamson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Birmbaum instigates a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Williamson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Birmbaum's brow.
Birmbaum tries for a takedown but Williamson manages to get underhooks.
Williamson dodges an elbow strike from Birmbaum.
Williamson is pressed up against the cage. Birmbaum has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Williamson down to the mat. Williamson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Williamson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Birmbaum takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Birmbaum moves into the clinch.
Birmbaum misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Williamson.
Birmbaum is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Williamson is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum is trying to break the clinch but Williamson is controlling him.
Birmbaum tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Williamson avoids it.

Birmbaum breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Birmbaum misses with a takedown attempt - Williamson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Birmbaum doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Chance Birmbaum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williamson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Birmbaum in his tracks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Williamson punishes Birmbaum's body with a nice straight punch.
Birmbaum tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Williamson was well out of range. Poor timing from Birmbaum.
Williamson throws a lazy right hand but Birmbaum sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Birmbaum shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Chance Birmbaum overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Williamson trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simon Williamson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Williamson lands with a nice combination. Birmbaum backs away looking to recover.
Birmbaum goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Williamson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A combination from Birmbaum does no damage.
Williamson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Birmbaum thows a leg kick but Williamson checks it
and Williamson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Williamson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Williamson throws a right and a left that Birmbaum avoids nicely.
Birmbaum jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Birmbaum stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Birmbaum wants it to stay on the feet.
Birmbaum is looking for a counter combo.
Chance Birmbaum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Birmbaum gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Birmbaum content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Williamson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Birmbaum tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Birmbaum is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williamson lands a left hand.
Birmbaum scores with a shot to the side of Williamson's head.
Williamson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Williamson misses with the head strike.
Birmbaum digs a right hand into Williamson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Williamson's gas tank.
Birmbaum lands a left hand.
Williamson struggles to land a body shot inside as Birmbaum controls his hands.
Birmbaum is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Williamson can do to turn this around?
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Birmbaum.
Williamson tries a knee to the head but Birmbaum blocks it.
Nice elbow from Birmbaum.
Chance Birmbaum has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Williamson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Birmbaum lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Williamson backwards.
Williamson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Williamson breaks from the clinch.
Birmbaum swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A low kick from Birmbaum is predictable there
and Williamson counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Williamson!
Birmbaum takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Birmbaum forces Williamson back against the cage and clinches.
Williamson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Williamson lands a body shot in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Birmbaum.
Williamson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chance Birmbaum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Williamson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Birmbaum's brow.
Birmbaum wants a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Birmbaum throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birmbaum changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Williamson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Birmbaum drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Birmbaum ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Williamson lands with a short shot to the head.
Williamson is looking to break free of the clinch but Birmbaum has double underhooks.
Birmbaum changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Williamson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Williamson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Birmbaum is trying to defend but Williamson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Williamson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Williamson wants to pass to mount but Birmbaum is defending the position.
Williamson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Williamson is stalling here. Birmbaum is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Williamson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Birmbaum has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Birmbaum scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Williamson to see if he's OK.
Birmbaum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Williamson keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Williamson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Williamson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Williamson!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Simon Williamson made sure he mentioned Steel Penn's Laundry 93%, along with how happy he was to win his fight.