PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Monroe Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monroe Willis has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Willis
vs
Ali

187 cm
21
214 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

160 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Monroe Willis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Muhammad Ali!
The judges for this bout are Ben Hemmingworth, Topper Green and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ali forces Willis back against the cage and clinches.
Willis can't break the clinch.
Willis working hard to break the clinch.
Willis is looking to break free of the clinch but Ali has double underhooks.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Ali has eaten all the pies!
Willis can't break the clinch.
Willis wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ali tries to throw a body punch but Willis avoids it by throwing Ali back against the cage.
Ali keeps control of Willis as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Ali jumps guard and drags Willis to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ali seems keen to control Willis's posture.
Ali trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willis is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ali controls Willis momentarily but Willis frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis throwing strikes from guard but Ali blocks nicely.
Willis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ali throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

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

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Willis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Ali has Willis up against the cage in a clinch.

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.

Ali pulls guard.
Willis content to stall in guard here.
Ali wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ali is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Ali shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Willis's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Willis manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Willis wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ali has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Willis's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ali pulls Willis into guard.

Ali is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Willis is trying to force a seperation but Ali has the dominant position.
Willis can't break the clinch.

Ali has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Willis clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Willis tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Willis is desperately trying to improve his position but Ali has a good base and remains in mount.
Willis manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Ali trying to mount his opponent but Willis defends it.
Willis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ali is working away from the top position though.
Ali not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Willis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Willis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Willis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Willis lands a decent shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muhammad Ali dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Ali successfully pulls guard.
Ali wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ali is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Willis is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willis won't allow Ali to sweep him here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ali has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ali looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Ali tries a low kick but Willis avoids it.

Ali moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Willis breaks from the clinch.

Ali closes the distance and clinches.
Ali keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Willis's efforts to push away.

Willis breaks from the clinch.
Ali misses with an uppercut
and Willis counters with a two punch combo.

Ali looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Willis kicks off Ali and gets to his feet.
Monroe Willis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ali instigates a clinch.
Willis tries to break the clinch but Ali is controlling the position.
Willis is trying to break the clinch but Ali is controlling him.
Willis tries to break the clinch but Ali is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali jumps guard.
Willis preventing the sweep.
Ali is breathing heavily.
Willis not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Willis wants to get up but he can't break Ali's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Ali looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Willis has picked Ali up and slammed him! Ali can't keep hold of the triangle and Willis manages to pass to side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Willis'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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Willis has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Willis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ali sprawls well. Ali wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Willis gets slowly back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ali gets a takedown into half guard.
Willis tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ali manages to move to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Muhammad Ali will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Willis tries to bum rush Ali with a series of wild strikes but Ali uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ali gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Willis counters by clinching up.
Willis can't break the clinch.

Ali has clasped his hands together around Willis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Willis is trying to improve his position.
Ali tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Willis is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Willis is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ali has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Willis is trying to work for a sweep but Ali has mounted him!
Willis regains half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ali perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ali is working away from the top position though.
Willis is refusing to be controlled, as Ali sits in half guard.
Ali throwing shots but Willis is blocking nicely.
Ali takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ali seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Willis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Muhammad Ali has got the better of the ground game so far.
Willis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ali blocks the strikes from Willis.
Willis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ali.
Willis tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Ali manages to move to mount!
Willis bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ali takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Willis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willis sitting in guard here, content to control.
Ali is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Willis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ali trying to keep a closed guard but Willis is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ali working for a triangle but Willis defends it easily.

Willis stands and steps away. Ali gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ali is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Willis.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ali manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Willis on his heels. He'll look to pass Willis's guard now, I'm sure.
Ali wants to control from the top but Willis keeps moving.

Willis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ali is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Willis has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Ali is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Willis blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Willis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick misses from Ali.
Willis misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Monroe Willis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ali 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 Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Muhammad Ali!