PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Waters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Waters
vs
Williams

204 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mike Waters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Williams!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Waters keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Waters shoots in and gets a takedown into Williams's guard.
Williams is trying to keep Waters in close.
Waters is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Waters 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.

Waters avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Williams seems keen to control Waters's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Williams throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Waters throwing strikes but missing.

Williams is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Waters is aware though and is defending well.

Williams has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Waters is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Williams slows down the pace here.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Waters is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waters is trying to pull guard but Williams has him pressed against the cage.
Waters tries to pull guard but Williams forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Williams is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Waters is defending well for now.
Williams tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Waters avoids it.
Williams is trying to break the clinch but Waters has him pressed against the cage.
Williams is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Waters manages to break the clinch.
Waters misses with a takedown attempt
and Williams connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Waters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Waters takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Williams shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waters as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waters throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Williams's waist but Williams gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Waters off to one side.

Williams closes the distance and clinches.
Waters jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Williams walks away with a smile on his face. Waters gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
No luck for Waters with that takedown attempt.
Williams tries for a takedown but Waters circles away easily

and Waters counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Waters.
Williams stalling the fight.
Williams is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Waters pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Waters tries to pull guard but Williams forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is trying to force a seperation but Waters has the dominant position.
Williams tries to score a body lock takedown but Waters shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Waters prevents the takedown attempt.
Williams looks winded!

Waters ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Waters no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Williams wanted to stand there but Waters had control of the position.
Williams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Waters is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Williams content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Josh Williams will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from Williams. Waters does a little dance to reset his feet.
Williams is trying hard to land a takedown here. Waters sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Waters checks the leg kick nicely there.

Waters fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Williams, pushing him back against the cage.
Williams drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Waters jumps guard but Williams turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waters pressing his opponent against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Williams gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Waters jumps guard but Williams stands there with Waters around his waist. Waters gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Waters tries to pull guard but Williams forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Waters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williams tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Waters smiles and moves away.
Williams shoots for a takedown but Waters saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Williams rushes Waters and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Waters jumps guard.
Williams sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Waters's guard.
Waters is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Waters is defending against the submission attempts here by Williams.
Waters tries to get to full guard but Williams has control of the leg.
Williams is looking to take a break and control but Waters is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Williams seems content to control.
Mike Waters overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Waters misses with a takedown attempt - Williams sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Waters blocks a head kick by Williams.

Williams gets a clinch.

Williams jumps guard.
Waters has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Williams is proving hard to escape from.
Williams wants to improve his position but instead Waters has moved into half guard.
Williams is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williams is looking to control Waters's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Williams avoid being mounted?

Waters is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Waters throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Williams to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Waters stuffs the takedown.
Waters tries to counter with a takedown but Williams is quick to defend against it.
Williams changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Waters tries to avoid it but Williams manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Waters to the ground. Waters escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Waters appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Williams or perhaps it was just good defense by Waters, which made it look bad.
Waters appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Mike Waters has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Williams.
Waters throws a head kick that half lands.

Williams clinches.

Waters ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Waters no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Waters throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Waters is looking for a triangle but Williams pushes his legs off easily.
Williams is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waters working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Williams.
Williams looking to sit in guard and control but Waters gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Waters would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Williams doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Williams is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Williams working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Waters has passed into half guard!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Williams taking some punishment here, with Waters in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Waters connects with a nice short shot to Williams's temple.
Waters looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Williams with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Waters will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Williams looking for submissions off his back.
Williams wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to get back to full guard but Waters takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Waters is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Williams to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Williams shrugs it off.
Waters putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Waters landing punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waters scoring with strikes but Williams is staying in there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Waters cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Waters moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Williams has worked his arm free - good work by Williams!
Williams takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Williams is looking to regain half guard here but Waters keeps moving and retains side control.
Mike Waters has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Josh Williams is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Williams keeps Waters under control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Waters showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Williams 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Josh Williams!