PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Palli Naama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Owen William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owen William has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Naama
vs
William

184 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Palli Naama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Owen William!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

William tries to keep at a distance but Naama has taken the fight into the clinch.
Naama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. William smiles and moves away.
Naama throws a combination that misses

and William decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Naama's guard.

Naama working for a triangle but William defends it easily.

Naama is looking for a triangle but William pushes his legs off easily.

Naama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
William engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
William prevents Naama from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Naama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
William trying to control the position from guard on top but Naama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Owen William was stalling too much, according to the referee.
William shoots in for a double leg but Naama sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Naama tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
William tries to close the distance and clinch up but Naama swats him away and circles back towards the center.
William doesn't manage to clinch there - Naama circles away.
Naama lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Naama.
William fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Naama avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
William avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
William throws a half hearted mid kick.
William shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Naama sprawls well. Naama wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. William gets slowly back to his feet.
Palli Naama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen William.
William misses with a few strikes there.
William shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Naama slaps away a takedown attempt from William, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Naama forces William back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naama has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. William avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Naama tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. William smiles and moves away.
William throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
William ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
William fails in his attempt to clinch.
Naama uses good head movement to avoid the hook from William.
William thuds his right hand into Naama's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
William shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Naama tries to clinch there but William circles away.
William shoots in looking for a takedown but Naama manages to keep the fight standing, pushing William's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naama throws a jab when William was well out of range.
Palli Naama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Naama throws a right and a left that William avoids nicely.
William shoots in for a takedown but Naama shows good takedown defense.
William fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Naama rushes William and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Naama blocks a punch to the side of the head.

William breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Naama, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Naama tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but William was well out of range. Poor timing from Naama.
Naama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
William shoots in looking for a takedown but Naama manages to keep the fight standing, pushing William's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Palli Naama will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

William shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Naama napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Naama tries to get back to half guard but can't.
William is putting a hurting on Naama here, landing some big shots from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naama is looking to regain half guard here but William keeps moving and retains side control.
William gets to mount! Naama was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Naama tries to reverse the position but William maintains control.
Naama is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naama on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Naama tries to get out of the position.
William content just to control the position here.
Naama can't escape the position.
William controlling the position easily from mount.
Naama tries to hold on but William postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naama tries to reverse the position but William maintains control.
William controlling his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Naama is looking to improve his position but William isn't that keen on the idea.
Naama is in a horrible position here. William smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Naama is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
William controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naama tries to hold on but William postures up.
Naama is looking to improve his position but William isn't that keen on the idea.
Naama wants to hold on but William pushes him away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
William prevents Naama from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen William showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

William tries to clinch but Naama is having none of it.
Naama stalks William and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into William's face. William staggers backwards, shaken.
William misses with a hook.
William misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Palli Naama is winning the standup battle so far.
William shoots in looking for a takedown but Naama manages to keep the fight standing, pushing William's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

William throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Naama tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. William is in Naama's guard.
William content to stall in guard here.

Naama throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Naama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Owen William has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William stopping the sweep attempt from Naama.
William trying to control the position from guard on top but Naama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Naama looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Naama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
William content to stall in guard here.
William trying to control but Naama is working from the bottom.
William engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Owen William wasn't active enough on the ground.
William shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Naama as he avoids it easily.
Palli Naama has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Owen William.
William shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Naama works William's body with a nice hook.
William moves out of range as Naama strikes.
Naama throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Naama misses with a few strikes there.
William throws a push kick but Naama slaps the foot to one side.

Naama clinches with his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

William breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
William avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
William works over Naama's head and body with a nice combination.
William fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Naama avoids it really well and circles away.
No luck for William with that takedown attempt.
Naama misses with a combination

and William counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by William.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A shot in the inside from Naama.
William is pressed up against the cage. Naama has hold of a leg and is looking to drag William down to the mat. William avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Owen William.
I think William 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen William!