PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anderson Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williams's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, All the Above- Maino ft. T-Pain. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Williams
vs
Gracie

185 cm
52
140 lbs
52 - 36 - 5

170 cm
30
145 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 52 - 36 - 5, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Anderson Gracie!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie tries to move into range but Williams moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A nice combination there by Williams.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
As Gracie backs away, Williams returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Williams throws a push kick but Gracie slaps the foot to one side.
Paul Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Williams dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gracie throws a right hand that Williams ducks under and follows up with a left that Williams also avoids with ease.
Williams scores with a sloppy right hand. Gracie should have avoided that one.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Williams!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gracie gets a clinch.
Gracie is trying to drag Williams to the mat but Williams just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Gracie is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Williams can't fight it off and eventually Gracie manages to take the fight to the floor. Williams looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gracie throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Williams blocks nicely.
Williams will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Gracie throwing strikes but missing.
Gracie landing some decent shots from guard.
Williams looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gracie wants to control from the top but Williams keeps moving.
Gracie loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gracie stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Williams.
Gracie wants to land a leg kick but Williams is out of range.
Williams throws a quick counter head kick but Gracie was just out of range.
Williams lands a head shot.
Gracie misses with the combination.
Williams connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Gracie has time to react.
Good exchange - Williams coming out on top.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Paul Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Gracie.

Gracie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Williams looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Williams explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Paul Williams is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gracie moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Williams thuds his shin into the meat of Gracie's side.
Jab by Williams.
Gracie fails with a takedown attempt.
Williams connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Williams throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gracie stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Williams lands a nice shot to the body.
Williams scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Williams explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Williams scoring well with a low kick there.
Gracie on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Gracie fails to land the takedown.
Williams is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Williams feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Gracies jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gracie is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Williams dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Gracie moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gracie tries to score a power double leg takedown but Williams sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Gracie somewhat.
A little feinted left hand from Williams on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Williams scores with a nice head shot.
Gracie walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Williams lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Williams.
Gracie doesn't manage to clinch there - Williams circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Williams.
Gracie dives in and grabs Williams's left leg, looking for a takedown. Williams pushes down on Gracie's head and hops out.
Gracie tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Williams is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracie can do to turn this around?
Williams scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Gracie shoots in and bounces Williams off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Williams bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gracie's guard.

Williams wanted to stand there but Gracie had control of the position.
Gracie manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Williams manages to get himself to full guard.

Williams preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Williams utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Williams utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gracie being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Williams wants to stand but Gracie has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie working a defensive guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Williams's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams throws out a powerful jab.
Williams really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gracie takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Williams takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Gracie checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Williams dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie misses with a takedown attempt
and Williams counters with a straight right hand.
Paul Williams is winning the standup battle so far.

Gracie gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Gracie is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Williams pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Williams's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gracie blocks the body kick.
Williams connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Gracie momentarily.

Gracie pushes Williams up against the cage in a clinch.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Williams shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Paul Williams has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anderson Gracie.
Gracie goes for a takedown in the clinch but Williams prevents it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Williams to keep the fight standing.
Gracie tries to score a body lock takedown but Williams shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gracie takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Williams's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Williams digs a good body shot into Gracie's ribs.
Gracie dives in for a single leg takedown but Williams sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Williams's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gracie under the eye.
Williams scores with a nice body kick.
Gracie takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Williams is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Gracie takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Williams's corner calls for a 1-2. Williams obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Williams throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Gracie's head.
A cross from Williams lands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nice straight punches there by Williams. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Williams.
Williams looks to land a combination. Gracie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Williams stalks Gracie and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Gracie's face. Gracie staggers backwards, shaken.
Williams connects with a high kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams jabs Gracie to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gracie tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Williams lands a body shot.
Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt
and Williams connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gracie gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Williams.
Williams throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Gracie takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Williams scores with a jab.
Williams lands a nice looking body shot.
Williams lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gracie backs up against the cage.
Gracie has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Williams throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Williams clobbers Gracie with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Gracie bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie advances nicely into full mount.
Williams gets back to half guard.
Williams moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is looking to work some ground and pound but Williams has wrist control.
Gracie throwing strikes from guard but Williams blocks nicely.
Gracie working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Gracie stands up over Williams, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Williams wants to sweep here but Gracie controlling him for the moment.
Gracie trying to control the position from guard on top but Williams is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anderson Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gracie throws a strike but Williams rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Williams is one step ahead there.
Anderson Gracie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Gracie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Williams doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Williams manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Williams, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Williams!
An out of breath Paul Williams thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.