PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Walt William (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Fernandez
vs
William

180 cm
23
164 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

160 cm
21
180 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rudy Fernandez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Walt William!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and William holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fernandez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but William gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fernandez has William pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. William manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudy Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
William is pressed up against the cage. Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag William down to the mat. William avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fernandez fails with the takedown.
William tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fernandez shoots and misses

and William counters by clinching up.
Fernandez jumps guard but William stands there with Fernandez around his waist. Fernandez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
William misses with a shot to the kidneys.
William displaying some good clinch control by pressing Fernandez up against the cage.
William misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
William tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fernandez's elbow.
William is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Fernandez tries to break the clinch but William is controlling the position.
Fernandez blocks the elbow strike.
William misses with a knee strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, William just misses with a elbow thrown towards Fernandez's brow.
A bit of stalling here from William.

Fernandez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
William wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.
William slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fernandez is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is trying to control William's posture but William avoids it.
William throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
William wants to control but Fernandez is keeping him busy.
Fernandez is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
William is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Fernandez will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Fernandez is not content to let William control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fernandez is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
William working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked William off and has taken his back!

Fernandez looking for the choke from the back.
Fernandez is working the ground and pound. Can William escape?

Fernandez is looking for a rear naked choke here but William reverses the position brilliantly into Fernandez's guard!
William trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez wants to stand but William is controlling the position.
Fernandez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
William trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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!

Walt William has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
William throws a wild body kick that Fernandez sees coming a mile off.
Fernandez misses with a takedown attempt

and William counters by clinching up.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
William misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Fernandez.
William is pressed up against the cage. Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag William down to the mat. William avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

William drives through and clinches with Fernandez against the cage.
Fernandez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but William is defending well.
William putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fernandez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fernandez is breathing heavily.
Fernandez blocks an elbow strike from William.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walt William dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

William moves into the clinch successfully.
William trying to land knees to the body.

Fernandez pulls guard effortlessly.
William won't allow Fernandez to get back to his feet.
William sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fernandez's guard.
William thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
William controlling the action here.
William working Fernandez over with strikes.
Fernandez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fernandez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from William.
Fernandez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
William wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
William connects with a couple of short punches.
William trying to control but Fernandez is working from the bottom.
Fernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fernandez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fernandez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fernandez wants to sweep here but William controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
William is standing up over Fernandez. Fernandez looks to escape but William dives into side control.
William trying to control the position but Fernandez is working away.
William is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
William wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernandez keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

William looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Fernandez manages to get back to half guard.
William throwing shots but Fernandez is blocking nicely.
William prevents Fernandez from standing back up.
William is looking to take a break and control but Fernandez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
William is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
William trying to mount his opponent but Fernandez defends it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fernandez is not content to let William control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Walt William has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nice body punch from Fernandez.
Fernandez fails with the takedown

and William counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fernandez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but William is defending well.
William tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fernandez's elbow.
William misses with a punch to the body.
William with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
William throws a knee to the head but misses.
Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. William avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudy Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Fernandez tries to break the clinch but William is controlling the position.
William lands a shoulder strike.
Fernandez avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.
William stalling.
Fernandez working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
William throws a punch but it's blocked by Fernandez.
Fernandez tries for a takedown but William manages to get underhooks.
William misses with a shot to the kidneys.
William is pressed up against the cage. Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag William down to the mat. William avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
William moves in looking to clinch but Fernandez pushes him off.
William tries to clinch but Fernandez moves out of range.
Fernandez moves away from the strike by William.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fernandez fails with the takedown

and William counters by moving into the clinch.
William taking a breather.
William lands with a right to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
William pressing his opponent against the cage.
Fernandez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Walt William 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Fernandez shoots and misses

and William counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
William stalling in the clinch.
Walt William seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Fernandez jumps guard but William stands there with Fernandez around his waist. Fernandez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Good body shot from Fernandez.
William is pressed up against the cage. Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag William down to the mat. William avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudy Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernandez misses with a takedown

and William counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A head punch on the inside from William fails to land.
William tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fernandez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
William goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
William misses with an elbow strike.
William taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Fernandez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
William tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fernandez's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fernandez shoots and misses

and William holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
William looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Fernandez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
William is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Fernandez is keeping busy.
Fernandez tries to break free but William pushes him back against the cage.
William taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
William tries a body shot but Fernandez blocks it.
William stops a takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Fernandez is trying to work for a single leg takedown but William pulls him back up using the underhooks.
William can't find room to land a body shot as Fernandez controls the action.
Stalling in the clinch from William.
Fernandez avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. William gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
William prevents a takedown attempt there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
William tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fernandez avoids it.
Fernandez is working for takedown but William is calmly controlling the position for now.
William tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
William misses with a knee strike.
William is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fernandez is defending well for now.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Fernandez.
Rudy Fernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
William tries a knee to the head but Fernandez blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fernandez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. William just stands there and leans against the cage.
William can't find room to land a body shot as Fernandez controls the action.
William taking a breather.
Fernandez is looking for a takedown.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
William wants to clinch up but Fernandez keeps it at a distance.
Rudy Fernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

William rushes Fernandez and presses him up against the cage.
William tries to throw a body punch but Fernandez avoids it by throwing William back against the cage.
William is pressed up against the cage. Fernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag William down to the mat. William avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Fernandez with a lazy takedown attempt

and William counters by moving into the clinch.
Fernandez jumps guard but William stands there with Fernandez around his waist. Fernandez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
William will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Fernandez up against the cage.
Fernandez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
William misses with a punch to the body.
Fernandez tries to pull guard but William holds him up against the cage and eventually Fernandez drops back down to his feet.
Fernandez avoiding damage as William throws knees to the body.
Fernandez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez blocks the elbow strike.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
William throws a head punch that misses.
Fernandez blocks the elbow strike.
William pushes Fernandez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
William prevents the takedown attempt.
Fernandez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fernandez blocks a body shot from William.
William tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fernandez avoids it.
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!
Fernandez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but William gets the underhooks and prevents it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
William misses with a punch on the inside.
William working aggressively here.
William blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walt William comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got William winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Walt William!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Walt William!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Walt William!

Walt William wins by unanimous decision!
Walt William is the new welterweight champion!
Walt William seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.