PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Luke Withers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wallid Ismail (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Withers's entrance music is War Is My Destiny. A fine choice. Luke Withers has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Withers
vs
Ismail

184 cm
28
179 lbs
11 - 10 - 1

170 cm
30
182 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

Great wrestler
Great low kicks
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Luke Withers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wallid Ismail!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Luis Engracia and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Withers forces Ismail back against the ropes and clinches.

Withers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ismail avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ismail is defended easily by Withers.
Withers tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ismail paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Withers darts in and clinches Ismail up against the ropes.
Withers lands a hook that snaps the head of Ismail backwards.
Withers makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Withers is pushing Ismail up against the ropes, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Withers scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ismail jumps guard but Withers stands there with Ismail around his waist. Ismail gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Withers escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ismail doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Withers counters with a nice low kick that buckles Ismail's knee momentarily.
Luke Withers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wallid Ismail.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ismail dives in and grabs Withers's left leg, looking for a takedown. Withers pushes down on Ismail's head and hops out.
The fight stays on the outside here - Withers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Withers stalling in the clinch.

Ismail is trying to trip Withers. He has hold of a leg but Withers is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ismail persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Ismail wanted to stand there but Withers had control of the position.
Withers pulls Ismail in close to prevent any damage.
Ismail wants to pass the guard but Withers is keeping the position.
Ismail pushing down on Withers's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Withers is trying to control but can't.
Ismail wants to pass the guard but Withers is defending well.

Ismail is looking for a kimura here.
Ismail wants to free his trapped foot but Withers is holding on for dear life with his legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ismail is working for a submission of some sort.
Ismail trying to mount his opponent but Withers defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ismail seems to be looking for submissions.

Ismail is looking for a kimura but Withers is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ismail to get the leverage.
Ismail working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Withers's thigh. Withers counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Ismail is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Withers lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ismail!
Withers lands a nice shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Withers lands a big elbow - Ismail is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Ismail is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Luke Withers!