PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Liu Williamson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erin Melcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Williamson comes to the cage accompanied by Kings and Queesn - Aerosmith. Liu Williamson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Williamson
vs
Melcher

170 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
23
162 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Liu Williamson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Erin Melcher!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Melcher displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Williamson.
Melcher defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Williamson.

Williamson clinches.
Melcher working Williamson over with knees to the body.

Melcher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Melcher shoots in and bounces Williamson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Williamson keeping full guard, as Melcher tries to pass.
Melcher controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Williamson tries to strike from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williamson pushes Melcher off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Williamson closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Williamson postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Williamson lands some shots froms side control.
Williamson throwing strikes but Melcher manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Melcher moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Melcher scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Williamson to see if he's OK.

Melcher decides to stand back up.

Williamson rushes Melcher and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Melcher is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Williamson is defending well for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson is looking to break free of the clinch but Melcher has double underhooks.

Melcher breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melcher misses with a low kick.
Williamson doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Melcher counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liu Williamson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Melcher darts in and clinches Williamson up against the cage.
Williamson wants a takedown but no success here.
Williamson can't break the clinch.
Williamson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Williamson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Melcher has hold of one of Williamson's legs. Williamson is fighting the takedown attempt but Melcher gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Williamson keeping moving, preventing Melcher from controlling successfully.
Williamson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Melcher controls the pace.

Williamson is working an open guard so Melcher takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williamson misses with a takedown
and Melcher counters with a nice body kick.
Williamson is breathing heavily.
Melcher throws a half hearted mid kick.

Williamson feints and as Melcher raises his hands in defense, Williamson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Melcher seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Melcher throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Melcher is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Melcher changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Williamson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Williamson wants the takedown. Melcher is fighting it off but Williamson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Melcher's guard against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Melcher is working an open guard so Williamson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Melcher misses with a takedown
and Williamson counters with a good low kick that Melcher was not able to check.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Melcher slaps away a takedown attempt from Williamson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Melcher throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Williamson was covering up waiting for the punch and Melcher finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Melcher trying to control but Williamson is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Melcher wants to stand and escape but instead Williamson has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Williamson gets to his feet. Melcher looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erin Melcher dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Williamson shoots and misses

and Melcher decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Williamson's guard.
Melcher trying to control but Williamson is working from the bottom.
Williamson 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.
Williamson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Melcher gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Melcher tries to clinch but Williamson is having none of it.
Williamson fails with the takedown
and Melcher counters with a left and a right that stings Williamson.
Williamson throws a hook but Melcher avoids it easily.

Melcher has closed the distance and engaged Williamson in a clinch.
Melcher takes a shot to the head.
Williamson taking a breather.
With the fighters up against the cage, Melcher throws an elbow but misses.

Melcher breaks from the clinch.
Williamson slaps away a takedown attempt from Melcher, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Melcher is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williamson tries for a takedown but Melcher circles away easily

and Melcher counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liu Williamson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Williamson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melcher.
Williamson wants to break the clinch but can't.

Melcher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Williamson misses with a takedown

and Melcher moves into the clinch.
Williamson trying to stall but Melcher improves his position.
Williamson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Melcher.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Melcher as Williamson tries to tie him up.

Williamson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melcher misses with a takedown attempt

and Williamson counters by clinching up.
Melcher tries to land a knee to the head but Williamson blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williamson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Williamson keeps control of Melcher as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Williamson is working for takedown but Melcher is calmly controlling the position for now.

Williamson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Melcher looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Williamson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Melcher!
Williamson with the ground and pound from mount.
Williamson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Melcher is looking to escape.
Williamson landing strikes from the mount and Melcher is in trouble!
A nice elbow there by Williamson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Williamson with good strikes from the mount here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williamson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The referee warns Melcher that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Williamson lands a heavy elbow.
Melcher is trying to escape the mount.
Williamson scoring with strikes but Melcher is staying in there.
Williamson landing strikes from the mount.

Williamson has hold of Melcher's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Melcher manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Melcher tries to hold on but Williamson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson is landing with some decent strikes but Melcher is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Williamson scoring with strikes but Melcher is staying in there.
Williamson lands a heavy elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Melcher wants to control but Williamson is having none of it.
Williamson landing punches.
Williamson lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Melcher is bucking up trying to escape but Williamson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Melcher takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Melcher is desperately trying to improve his position but Williamson has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Liu Williamson dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Melcher tries a low kick but Williamson avoids it.
Liu Williamson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Williamson tries for a takedown but Melcher circles away easily

and Melcher counters by moving into the clinch.

Melcher gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Williamson regains guard.
Williamson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Melcher!
Williamson is landing with some decent strikes but Melcher is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Melcher wants to control but Williamson is having none of it.
Williamson cracks Melcher with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Melcher is bucking up trying to escape but Williamson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Williamson lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Liu Williamson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Melcher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Melcher wants to control but Williamson is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Melcher is squirming around, avoiding Williamson's attempts to control the action.
Williamson cracks Melcher with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Williamson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Melcher turns into him and now he's in Williamson's guard.
Melcheris looking to pass into half guard but Williamson pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Williamson is in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Melcher uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Williamson shoots and misses

and Melcher counters by clinching up.
Williamson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Melcher is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liu Williamson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Melcher tries for a takedown but Williamson manages to get underhooks.
Williamson tries to pull guard but Melcher holds him up against the cage and eventually Williamson drops back down to his feet.
Melcher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Williamson avoids it.
Williamson tries to pull guard but Melcher holds him up against the cage and eventually Williamson drops back down to his feet.

Williamson drags the fight down to the ground.
Melcher sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Melcher trying to control but Williamson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Melcher forces his way into half guard.
Williamson punching from the bottom.

Melcher postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Williamson to stand up.
Melcher keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Melcher tries to clinch up.

Melcher gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Melcher looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Williamson trying to control the position from guard on top but Melcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Williamson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Williamson wants to control from the top but Melcher keeps moving.
Melcher has momentary wrist control but Williamson slips an elbow through the middle.
Williamson stopping the sweep attempt from Melcher.

Melcher has his foot on Williamson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Williamson works his way back into a safe position though.

Williamson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Williamson with a poor takedown
and Melcher counters with an outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Liu Williamson.
I think Williamson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Liu Williamson!