PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rhys Duch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Will (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rhys Duch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Duch
vs
Will

192 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

205 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rhys Duch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tony Will!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Chris Saunders and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Will tries a head kick but it misses.
Duch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Will's waist but Will gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Duch off to one side.
Duch blocks the body kick.
Duch is looking for a counter combo.
Duch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Will's waist but Will gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Duch off to one side.
Nice shot lands for Will.
Will throws a head kick that misses.
Duch swats away the attempt to clinch by Will.
Will misses with a takedown

and Duch counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Duch is trying to pull guard but Will has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rhys Duch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Will breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Will looks for a takedown but Duch sprawls well.
Will lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Rhys Duch has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Will fails with the takedown.

Duch looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Will wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Duch manages to pass to side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Will is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Will is trying to get back to full guard.
Duch controlling the pace.
Will really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Duch. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duch prevents Will from standing back up.
Will is looking to get back to full guard here but Duch has managed to pass to side control instead.
Duch lands a few punches from side control.
Will tries to control but Duch manages to take his back.

Duch looking for the choke but no joy.

Will showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Duch has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Will's body.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Duch.
You can see the frustration on Will's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Duch is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
I really don't envy Will right now.
Will breaks Duch's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Duch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Will stops Duch from standing up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Duch pulls Will in close to his closed guard and prevents Will from doing any damage or advancing position.
We've been informed that Will has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Duch keeping moving, preventing Will from controlling successfully.
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 Rhys Duch will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rhys Duch's cut.
That's time! Duch's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Duch forces Will back against the cage and clinches.

Duch manages to break the clinch.
Will shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Duch sprawls well. Duch wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Will gets slowly back to his feet.
Will throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Will clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short body shot lands from Duch as the two fighters clinch.

Duch breaks from the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Will is defended easily by Duch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Will throws a head kick that misses
and Duch counters with a stiff right hand.

It looks like Tony Will has been cut.
Duch closes this distance looking for a takedown but Will circles away.

Duch takes the fight into the clinch.
Duch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Will can do to turn this around?

Duch breaks the clinch.
Will tries to land a front kick but Duch steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Will throws a series of punches but Duch avoids them all with ease.
Will blocks a head kick by Duch.
Nice sprawl there from Duch as Will shoots in.
Rhys Duch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Will.
Duch is looking to clinch but Will is avoiding it.

Duch gets a takedown into half guard.

Will kicks Duch off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Will leaves Duch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Will goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Duch misses with the combination.

Duch moves into the clinch successfully.

Will manages to break the clinch.
Duch fails with the takedown
and Will counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Duch is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Will throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Will throws a head kick that half lands.
Duch throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Duch throws a leg kick which misses Will's front leg but catches the back leg as Will tries to avoid it.
A solid body kick from Duch.
Tony Will seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Will.
Will throws a head kick that Duch semi-blocks.
Will is breathing heavily.
Duch avoids the head kick by Will.
Duch lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Duch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Will looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Duch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Duch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Will looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Duch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Will throws a head kick but Duch moves out of range.
Will throws a body kick that misses.
Duch fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Will drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Duch defends it well.
Nice sprawl there from Will as Duch shoots in.
Will feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Duch's calf.

Will tries to keep at a distance but Duch has taken the fight into the clinch.

Will jumps guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony Will will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Will scores with a head kick.
Rhys Duch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Duch misses with the combination.
Duch is trying hard to land a takedown here. Will sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Will with the counter takedown but Duch avoids it easily.
Will tries to close the distance and clinch up but Duch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Will throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Will throws a sloppy head kick
and Duch counters with an inside leg kick.
Will feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Duch's calf.
Will misses the shot to the body.
Duch tries to counter by clinching up but Will breaks away and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Duch circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Will drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Duch follows Will to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rhys Duch!
After winning the bout, Rhys Duch thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.