PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Villalba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Longwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Villalba
vs
Longwe

174 cm
25
133 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
135 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Leonardo Villalba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Will Longwe!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Paul Tew and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Longwe will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice sprawl there from Longwe as Villalba shoots in.
Villalba fails with a takedown attempt.
Villalba definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Longwe throws a looping overhand right but Villalba ducks down to avoid it.

Longwe takes the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Longwe.

Villalba pulls Longwe into guard.
Longwe pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Villalba is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Longwe looking to sit in guard and control but Villalba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Longwe keeping moving, preventing Villalba from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Villalba 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.

Villalba drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Longwe dives on top into guard.

Longwe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Villalba works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Longwe wants to control from the top but Villalba keeps moving.
Longwe is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Villalba working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Longwe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Villalba trying to keep a closed guard but Longwe is proving a slippery customer.
Longwe advances position into side control!
Longwe trying to control the action but Villalba is working from the bottom.
Villalba really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Longwe in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Villalba's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Longwe takes a little break here. Villalba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Longwe stands up and beckons Villalba to his feet.
Villalba shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Villalba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Longwe dives in and scores a takedown into Villalba's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Longwe stays in close to Villalba's body and controls the position.
Let's hope that Longwe has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Longwe stands up from Villalba's guard - Longwe perhaps looking for a knockout.
Villalba looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Longwe is fending him off so far but Villalba persists. Nope, Longwe circles away and we're back to standing.
Villalba gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Longwe counters with a three punch combo that has Villalba backing up. Villalba nods at Longwe to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Villalba.
Longwe throws out a counter right but Villalba avoids it with no problem.

Longwe clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Longwe dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Longwe stuffs the takedown attempt from Villalba. Villalba gets slowly back to his feet.
As Villalba backs off Longwe throws a huge counter combo but Villalba manages to avoid it all.
No luck for Villalba with that takedown attempt.
Leonardo Villalba is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Villalba with a lazy takedown attempt
and Longwe counters with a three punch combo that has Villalba backing up. Villalba nods at Longwe to acknowledge the strikes.

Villalba is rocked!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Villalba. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Longwe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Villalba looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Oh Villalba is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Longwe creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Longwe stands up and beckons Villalba to his feet.

Longwe rushes Villalba and presses him up against the cage.

Longwe jumps into guard, dragging Villalba to the mat.
Will Longwe has got the better of the ground game so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Villalba trying to control the position from guard on top but Longwe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Longwe is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Villalba defends well.

Longwe has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Villalba has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Longwe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Villalba is trying to pull guard but Longwe has him pressed against the cage.

Longwe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villalba moves out of range as Longwe strikes.
Villalba seems to have got his legs back now.
Villalba fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Longwe drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Villalba defends it well.

Longwe moves into the clinch.
Longwe working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Villalba being controlled against the cage.
Villalba jumps guard but Longwe stands there with Villalba around his waist. Villalba gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Villalba is trying to pull guard but Longwe turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Villalba fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Longwe has clasped his hands together around Villalba's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Longwe working away.
Longwe is staying tight to Villalba's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Villalba managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Longwe.
Longwe happy to just control the position for now.
Longwe works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Longwe misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Villalba is not content to let Longwe control the position.
Longwe tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Longwe tries to stand but Villalba controls the position and pulls Longwe into his guard.
Longwe must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Villalba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Longwe forces his way into half guard.
Longwe throws a strike but Villalba avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Longwe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Longwe trying to control but Villalba is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Will Longwe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Villalba gets caught flat footed, as Longwe shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Longwe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Villalba looking to control.
Villalba is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Longwe is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Longwe wants to control from the top but Villalba keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Longwe throwing strikes but missing.
Longwe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Villalba swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Longwe looking to sit in guard and control but Villalba gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Villalba drops back, looking for a kneebar! Longwe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Longwe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Longwe!

Longwe takes a little break here. Villalba wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Longwe stands up and beckons Villalba to his feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Villalba is defended easily by Longwe.
Villalba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Longwe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Villalba somewhat.
Longwe defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Villalba.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Villalba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Villalba shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Longwe pinned against the cage. Longwe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villalba dives in and grabs Longwe's left leg, looking for a takedown. Longwe pushes down on Villalba's head and hops out.
Villalba takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Villalba doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Longwe counters by clinching up.

Longwe manages to break the clinch.

Longwe looking to score a takedown here. Villalba is defending well but Longwe drives through and ends up in Villalba's guard.
Longwe sitting in guard here, content to control.
Longwe wants to control from the top but Villalba keeps moving.
Villalba is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villalba wants to control the position but Longwe says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Longwe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Villalba is looking to control Longwe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Villalba avoid being mounted?
Longwe takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Will Longwe seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Longwe feints and as Villalba raises his hands in defense, Longwe changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Longwe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Longwe's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Will Longwe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Longwe 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Will Longwe!