PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Craft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Craft has chosen Cult of Personality - Living Colour as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Williams
vs
Craft

180 cm
28
190 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Williams!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Craft!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Craft counters with a body kick.
Craft throws out a leg kick but Williams moves out of range and Craft only half commits.
Craft fakes the leg kick and cracks Williams in the body.
Williams gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Craft counters with a body kick that stops Williams in his tracks momentarily.
Craft tries a low kick but Williams avoids it.
Williams misses with a takedown attempt - Craft sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Craft counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Williams moves out of range as Craft throws a body kick.
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 gets the takedown into side control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Craft is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams tries to move to mount but Craft blocks the move with his legs.
Williams throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Craft wants to control but Williams postures up.
Williams controlling the position.
Williams throws an elbow but Craft slips to the side and avoids it well.
Williams throws a strike aimed at the side of Craft's head but Craft avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Williams politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Williams prefers to stall for the moment though.
Williams has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Williams scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Craft to see if he's OK.
Williams fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Williams tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Williams.
The referee asks Williams politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Williams prefers to stall for the moment though.
Williams looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Craft is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Craft is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Williams has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Williams in side control, throwing shots but Craft defends.
Williams works to advance to full mount. Craft defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Williams working Craft over with strikes here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williams controlling the position easily from mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Williams there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Craft takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Williams tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Williams dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Williams fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Craft sprawls well initially but Williams persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Williams landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Craft is refusing to be controlled, as Williams sits in half guard.
Williams sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Craft really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Williams. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Craft avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Williams.
Williams keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craft wants to control but Williams is keeping busy.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Williams not doing much here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Joe Williams.

Williams looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Williams wants to control from the top but Craft keeps moving.
Williams working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams landing with the ground and pound.
Williams loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Williams controlling from the top position.
Williams trying to control but Craft is working from the bottom.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Williams's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Craft has momentary wrist control but Williams slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Williams content to stall in guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Williams wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Craft as he jumps to the side.
Craft will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Williams shoots for a double leg takedown but Craft sprawls well. He's pushed Williams's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Williams drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Craft trying to remain calm as Williams controls from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams throws a strike aimed at the side of Craft's head but Craft avoids it well.
Craft is trying to improve his position.
Williams happy to just control the position for now.
Williams seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Craft for as long as he can get away with.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Williams throws an elbow but Craft slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Williams dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Craft throws out a leg kick but Williams moves out of range and Craft only half commits.
Craft throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Williams has a takedown stuffed.

Craft gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Williams to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Craft can't keep his opponent in guard - Williams advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Williams wants to control but Craft is keeping him busy.
Williams is nestled in close to Craft, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Williams is keen to just control but Craft is a slippery customer.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Williams performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

We're going to have a standup here because Joe Williams wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Williams checks the leg kick.
Jason Craft has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Craft is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Williams changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Craft tries to avoid it but Williams manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Craft to the ground. Craft escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Williams drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Williams trying to control but Craft is working from the bottom.
Williams passes into half guard.
Williams trying to pass the guard but Craft defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Williams is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joe Williams wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Williams with a poor takedown
and Craft counters with a head kick. That will keep Williams thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Williams. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Craft stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

It looks like Joe Williams has been cut.
Craft throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Williams counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Williams.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Williams throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Williams is looking to pass into half guard but Craft pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Craft is in guard.

Williams kicks Craft off and gets to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Williams fails with a takedown attempt.

Williams drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Williams showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Williams, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 for Joe Williams!
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight for Joe Williams!
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight for Joe Williams!

Joe Williams wins by unanimous decision!