PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rumple Williams (ranked 4256 p4p, 4286 weight class) and Israel Adesanya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Adesanya has chosen Israel Adesanya Entrance Music as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Williams
vs
Adesanya

180 cm
23
175
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
18
184
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rumple Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Israel Adesanya!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Williams moves into the clinch successfully.
Adesanya tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Adesanya is trying to push Williams away but Williams has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Williams misses with a knee to the head.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Williams struggles to land a body shot inside as Adesanya controls his hands.
Adesanya tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Williams takes the fight into the clinch.
Adesanya looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Adesanya tries a body shot but Williams blocks it.
Williams using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Adesanya has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Still in the clinch, Williams scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Williams breaks from the clinch.

Williams closes the distance and clinches.
Adesanya tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Williams's elbow.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Adesanya throws a front kick aimed at Williams's knee but Williams avoids it well.
Adesanya plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams scores with a shot to the body.
Good leg kick by Adesanya.

Williams rushes Adesanya and presses him up against the cage.
Williams is working Adesanya over against the cage.
Adesanya lands a body shot in the clinch.
Adesanya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Adesanya struggles to land a body shot inside as Williams controls his hands.

Williams breaks from the clinch.
Williams stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Adesanya.
A good leg kick by Adesanya.
Adesanya takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Williams moves into range and clinches up with Adesanya.
Williams throws a knee to the head but misses.
Adesanya wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Williams blocks a body shot from Adesanya.
Williams using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Adesanya has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Williams lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Adesanya backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Adesanya wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Adesanya can't find room to land a body shot as Williams controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams blocks a body shot from Adesanya.

Williams breaks the clinch.
An inside leg kick lands from Adesanya.
Adesanya tries to score with a low kick but Williams moves his leg out of the way.

Williams drives through and clinches with Adesanya against the cage.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Williams gets a clinch.
Adesanya working hard to break the clinch.
Adesanya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Williams prevents Adesanya from breaking the clinch.
Williams lands with a right to the head.
Williams blocks a body shot from Adesanya.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Williams lands a slapping body shot.
Williams blocks a head kick by Adesanya.
Adesanya swats away the attempt to clinch by Williams.
A slapping leg kick lands for Adesanya.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Adesanya fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Williams has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Williams fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Adesanya, pushing him back against the cage.
Adesanya is trying to push Williams away but Williams has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Williams prevents a body shot from Adesanya.
Adesanya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Williams is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Adesanya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Adesanya is looking to break free of the clinch but Williams has double underhooks.
Adesanya tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Williams's elbow.

Williams escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Williams misses with a wild combination.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A nice leg kick from Adesanya, right into the meat of the thigh.
Adesanya throws a front kick aimed at Williams's knee but Williams avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya lands a high kick!

Williams gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Adesanya tries to work over Williams's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Williams blocks a body shot from Adesanya.

Williams breaks the clinch.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Adesanya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Williams swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Williams is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Williams looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Adesanya counters with a body kick.
Adesanya throws a nice inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Williams steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Adesanya. That one must have hurt.
Williams has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Adesanya.
Williams is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Good work by Williams as he checks the leg kick.
Adesanya throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Williams wants to clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Adesanya ducks under a wild hook from Williams.

Williams has closed the distance and engaged Adesanya in a clinch.
Adesanya wants to get back to striking at distance but Williams won't allow it.
Adesanya lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Williams backwards.
Adesanya misses with a punch to the body.
Adesanya misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Williams slows down the pace here.
Adesanya tries to throw a body punch but Williams avoids it by throwing Adesanya back against the cage.
Adesanya tries to throw a body punch but Williams avoids it by throwing Adesanya back against the cage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Adesanya tries to break free but Williams pushes him back against the cage.

Williams pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A good leg kick by Adesanya.
Rumple Williams is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Adesanya is looking to slow Williams down with leg kicks.
Williams on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Adesanya. Adesanya obviously looking to wear him down.
Williams has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Adesanya throws a leg kick but Williams sees it coming and moves out of range.

Williams forces Adesanya back against the cage and clinches.
Adesanya goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya misses with a hook to the ribs.
Williams content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Williams prevents a body shot from Adesanya.

Williams breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Adesanya throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Adesanya tries to work over Williams's front leg with a kick but Williams checks it.
Adesanya tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Williams. Adesanya does a little dance to reset his feet.
Williams is looking to clinch.
Adesanya throws a fast counter high kick but Williams manages to duck under it in time.
Williams tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Adesanya manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Adesanya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Williams gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Adesanya wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Adesanya's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Adesanya breaks the clinch.
Adesanya buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Adesanya scores with a kick to the midsection.
Adesanya bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Adesanya.
Adesanya fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Williams has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Williams on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Adesanya. Adesanya obviously looking to wear him down.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Williams closes the distance and clinches.
Williams fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Adesanya misses with a hook to the ribs.
Adesanya has had enough of the clinch but Williams keeps him there for the moment.
Williams doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Williams pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Williams manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Williams tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Adesanya's elbow.
Adesanya tries to throw a body punch but Williams avoids it by throwing Adesanya back against the cage.
Williams lands a nice uppercut.
Williams wants to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya throws a quick inside leg kick.
Williams is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Williams blocks a head kick by Adesanya.
Williams 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.
Adesanya keeps the fight on the outside.
Adesanya lets loose with a powerful body kick. Williams will feel that in the morning.
Adesanya throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Adesanya throws the kick towards the body but Williams avoids it.
Adesanya thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Williams if he has to take too many more of those.
Williams fails to land with a series of punches.
Williams is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Adesanya lands a nice looking body kick.
Williams will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams tries to clinch but Adesanya moves out of range.
Adesanya is trying to counter with his kicks.
Adesanya scores with a head kick.
Adesanya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Williams is looking to clinch.
Williams tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Adesanya manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Israel Adesanya seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Adesanya.
Williams tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Adesanya manages to circle out of the way.
A nice inside leg kick there by Adesanya. That's going to slow Williams down.
Adesanya lands a leg kick that knocks Williams off balance momentarily.
Adesanya throws a head kick that misses.
Williams appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Adesanya lands a leg kick that knocks Williams off balance momentarily.
Adesanya throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Williams drives through and clinches with Adesanya against the cage.
Adesanya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Adesanya tries a body shot but Williams blocks it.
Williams has Adesanya pressed against the cage, preventing Adesanya from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Adesanya showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Adesanya blocks a head kick by Williams.
A punch combination from Williams misses.
Adesanya replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Williams blocks it well.
Adesanya scores with a head kick. Williams tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Williams fails with an attempt to clinch.
Adesanya lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Adesanya connects with a high kick.
Williams throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Williams tries to close the distance and clinch but Adesanya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Adesanya throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Williams tries to clinch up but Adesanya circles away and keeps his distance.
Adesanya avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Williams tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Adesanya was well out of range. Poor timing from Williams.
Adesanya throws a chopping leg kick but Williams manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Adesanya misses with a head kick.
Williams avoids the head kick by Adesanya.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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!
Adesanya misses with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adesanya tries a head kick but it misses.
Adesanya misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Williams looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Adesanya steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Williams tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Adesanya manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Adesanya tries a head kick but it misses.
Adesanya throws a head kick but Williams moves out of range.
Adesanya lands a high kick!
Williams thuds a left hand into Adesanya's body.
Williams wants to clinch.
Williams will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Adesanya tries a head kick but it misses.
Williams swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Williams fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Williams gets a clinch.
Adesanya wants to break free but Williams has control.
Williams is looking to break free of the clinch but Adesanya has double underhooks.
Adesanya has had enough of the clinch but Williams keeps him there for the moment.
Williams tries to work over Adesanya's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Adesanya lands a body punch.
Williams prevents a body shot from Adesanya.
Adesanya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Williams blocks a body shot from Adesanya.
Adesanya can't find room to land a body shot as Williams controls the action.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Adesanya.
Williams seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A nice leg kick from Adesanya, right into the meat of the thigh.
Adesanya with the inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Williams checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Adesanya scores with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Williams has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Adesanya.
Adesanya misses with a head kick.
Adesanya throws a nice outside leg kick.
Adesanya turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Adesanya. That's going to slow Williams down.
Adesanya throws a nice outside leg kick.
Williams moves in looking to clinch but Adesanya pushes him off.
Williams checks a leg kick.

Williams gets a clinch.
Adesanya has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Adesanya misses with a body punch.
Adesanya misses with a body punch.
Williams prevents Adesanya from breaking the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Williams has Adesanya pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Adesanya lands a body shot in the clinch.
Adesanya wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Williams breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Williams takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Williams has managed to clinch.
Adesanya misses with a hook to the ribs.
Williams blocks a body shot from Adesanya.
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!
Williams keeps control of Adesanya as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Adesanya is trying to break the clinch but Williams is controlling him.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
A thudding body kick lands there by Adesanya!
Adesanya fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Williams tries to clinch up but Adesanya circles away and keeps his distance.
Williams blocks a head kick by Adesanya.
Williams is looking to wear down Adesanya with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Adesanya throws a head kick that half lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Adesanya comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Adesanya 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Israel Adesanya!
Israel Adesanya tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.