PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between The Requis (ranked 4430 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zion Williamson (ranked 2714 p4p, 0 weight class). Zion Williamson acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Requis
vs
Williamson

190 cm
25
256 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
17
285 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, The Requis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zion Williamson!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Damien Edna and Darius Henderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williamson misses with a body shot.
Williamson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Requis changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Williamson tries to avoid it but Requis manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Williamson to the ground. Williamson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Williamson looks to score with a jab to the body but Requis is just out of range.
Requis tries to clinch but Williamson moves out of range.
Williamson lands a really nice looking cross but Requis seems unphased.
Requis shoots in and drives through. Williamson sprawls well.
Williamson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Requis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Requis throws the kick towards the body but Williamson avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williamson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Requis misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Requis shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Williamson defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Requis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Requis is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williamson misses with a hook.
Williamson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Williamson misses with an uppercut. Requis saw that one coming.
Requis closes this distance looking for a takedown but Williamson circles away.
Requis is looking to clinch but Williamson is avoiding it.
Requis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Williamson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Requis somewhat.
Requis looks to land a combination but Williamson avoids it well.
Williamson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Requis moves away.
Requis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Williamson pinned against the cage. Williamson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Williamson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Williamson clinches up against the cage.

Williamson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Williamson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Requis.
Requis closes the distance and clinches up with Williamson, looking for a takedown. Requis pushes Williamson against the cage but Williamson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Williamson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Requis moves away.
Williamson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Requis.
Requis swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requis misses the shot to the body.
Williamson with a nice cross.

It looks like The Requis has been cut.
Zion Williamson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Williamson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
No luck for Requis with that takedown attempt.
Requis shoots in but Williamson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
It seemed like Williamson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Requis tries to score a power double leg takedown but Williamson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Requis somewhat.
Williamson throws a series of punches but Requis avoids them all with ease.
Williamson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Requis manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Requis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Williamson.
Williamson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Requis was well out of range. Poor timing from Williamson.
Williamson throws a body shot but no joy.
Requis misses with a wild body shot.
Williamson throws out a loose jab but Requis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Requis dives in for a single leg takedown but Williamson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Requis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Williamson.

Williamson pushes Requis up against the cage in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Williamson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Requis blocking some punches.
Requis blocking some punches.
Williamson misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Williamson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on The Requis's cut.
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.

Williamson misses with an uppercut. Requis saw that one coming.
Requis shoots in and drives through. Williamson sprawls well.
It seemed like Williamson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Williamson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Williamson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Requis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Williamson jabs at Requis's body.
Williamson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williamson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
It looked like Requis was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Williamson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Requis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Williamson throws out a loose jab but Requis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zion Williamson seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Requis shoots in but Williamson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Requis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Requis blocks a jab.
Williamson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Requis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Williamson pinned against the cage. Williamson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Williamson misses the shot to the body.
Requis gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Williamson counter with a right hand.
Requis slips under a jab.
Williamson swings for the body but Requis moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Requis moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Requis slips a jab and a cross from Williamson.
Requis tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Williamson manages to circle out of the way.
Requis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Williamson.
No joy there for Williamson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The Requis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williamson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Requis manages to avoid it.
Williamson looks to land a left hand but Requis moved out of range nicely.
Williamson swings for the body but Requis moves out of range.
Requis slips under a jab.
Requis tries to counter with a takedown but Williamson is quick to defend against it.
Requis shoots for a double leg takedown but Williamson sprawls well. He's pushed Requis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Williamson throws out a loose jab but Requis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Williamson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Requis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Williamson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Williamson.
Williamson looks to land a combination but Requis avoids it well.
Williamson misses with a straight left.
Requis has his takedown stuffed
and Williamson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Williamson throws a lazy right hand but Requis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Williamson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Requis moves away.
Requis uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Williamson.
Williamson throws out a loose jab but Requis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Requis seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Williamson keeps the fight on the outside.
Williamson lunges at Requis with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Requis's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Requis sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Williamson leaves Requis with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Requis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Requis ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Requis slips a jab and a cross from Williamson.
Requis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Requis looks to land a combination but Williamson avoids it well.
Requis slips under a jab from Williamson.
It looked like Requis was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williamson thows a left - swing and a miss!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Requis avoids the body shot from Williamson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Williamson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on The Requis's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Williamson. Requis does a little dance to reset his feet.
Requis misses with a series of wild punches.
Williamson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Requis throws a right and a left that Williamson avoids nicely.
Williamson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Requis.
Williamson misses with a looping left.
Requis uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Williamson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williamson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Requis manages to avoid it.
Requis tries to counter by clinching up but Williamson breaks away and moves out of range.
Requis moves out of range of the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Requis throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Williamson.
Williamson misses with an uppercut. Requis saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williamson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Williamson swings for the body but Requis moves out of range.
Requis slips under a jab from Williamson.
Requis is looking to counter with head kicks.
Requis throws a leg kick that misses.
Williamson throws a hook but Requis blocks it.
Williamson looks to score with a jab to the body but Requis is just out of range.
Williamson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Williamson misses with a straight right.
Requis keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Williamson.
Requis takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Requis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The Requis seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson misses with a straight left.
Requis avoids the body shot from Williamson.
Requis defending well as Williamson loads up on a big left hand.
Requis shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Williamson sprawls well. Williamson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Requis gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for The Requis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williamson throws a lazy right hand but Requis sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
The fighters circling - Williamson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Requis defending well as Williamson loads up on a big left hand.
Requis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Requis steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Williamson.
Requis slips a straight right by Williamson.

Williamson clinches with his opponent.
Requis blocks a body shot from Williamson.
Williamson misses with a punch on the inside.
Zion Williamson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Requis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Williamson working aggressively here.
Williamson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Requis is defending well for now.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Requis. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Requis blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson tries a body shot but Requis blocks it.
Requis is trying to drag Williamson to the mat but Williamson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Requis fails to pull guard.
Williamson swings wildly with an uppercut but Requis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Requis looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zion Williamson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Williamson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 26:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight 26:30

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