PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Takanori Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi comes to the cage accompanied by Scary. Joseph has chosen TEARS FOR FEARS - SHOUT as his entrance music. William Joseph acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gomi
vs
Joseph

173 cm
31
168 lbs
12 - 7 - 2

175 cm
35
169 lbs
25 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 12 - 7 - 2, fighting out of Tokyo, Takanori Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, William Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gomi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Joseph tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Joseph darts in trying to clinch
and Gomi counters with a stiff right hand.
Joseph tries to clinch but Gomi is having none of it.
Gomi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Millions Top Team in the buildup to the fight.
Joseph is looking to clinch but Gomi is avoiding it.
Joseph turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Joseph tries to clinch but Gomi is having none of it.
Joseph tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gomi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Joseph is looking to clinch but Gomi is avoiding it.
Joseph tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gomi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Joseph doesn't manage to clinch there - Gomi circles away.
Gomi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joseph moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A nice combination there by Gomi.
Joseph misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gomi darts in looking for a takedown but Joseph gets double underhooks and turns Gomi into the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gomi prevents a body shot from Joseph.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi swings wildly with an uppercut but Joseph uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gomi tries to work over Joseph's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short uppercut from Gomi.
Gomi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gomi can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.
Gomi is trying to force a seperation but Joseph has the dominant position.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gomi tries for a takedown. No joy.
The referee calls for Gomi to work.
Gomi is trying to break free.
Gomi blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph wants to stall.
Joseph can't find room to land a body shot as Gomi controls the action.
Joseph lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Gomi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Joseph unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Joseph prevents Gomi from breaking the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Joseph.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joseph tries to land a knee to the head but Gomi blocks with his arms.
Joseph throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Gomi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Joseph displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gomi up against the cage.
Gomi struggles to land a body shot inside as Joseph controls his hands.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joseph taking a breather.
Joseph lands with a left to the head.
Joseph throws a knee to the head but misses.
Joseph prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Takanori Gomi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joseph gets through Gomi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gomi tightens his grip and picks Joseph up, before dumping him to the ground. Joseph manages to land in guard.
Gomi wants to pass the guard but Joseph is keeping the position.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Joseph keeps moving.
Joseph is looking to sweep but instead, Gomi has passed into half guard.
Gomi is nestled in close to Joseph, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gomi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joseph defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joseph is in trouble now - Gomi has advanced to mount!
Joseph sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Joseph is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gomi pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Joseph manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Joseph looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gomi is one step ahead there.
Gomi lands a couple of digs.
Joseph keeping moving, preventing Gomi from controlling successfully.
Gomi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gomi won't allow Joseph to sweep him here.
Joseph throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Gomi stopping the sweep attempt from Joseph.
Joseph not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Joseph wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but William Joseph will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gomi counters with a nice uppercut.
Gomi misses the shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Gomi.

Joseph clinches up against the cage.
Joseph swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Joseph stalling.
Joseph continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Nice elbow from Joseph.
Joseph pushes Gomi back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Joseph.
Gomi lands a nice shot to the body.
Gomi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
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!
Joseph lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph tries to throw a body punch but Gomi avoids it by throwing Joseph back against the cage.
Joseph lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gomi managing to block the knees to the body from Joseph.
William Joseph seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Joseph misses with a short punch on the inside.
Joseph scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Joseph goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gomi prevents a body shot from Joseph.
Joseph misses with a hook from the clinch.
Joseph has a couple of punches blocked by Gomi.
Joseph lands with a light punch inside.
Joseph is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gomi is defending well for now.
Joseph misses with a short punch on the inside.

Gomi breaks the clinch.
Nice shot lands for Joseph.
Joseph ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Joseph throws a right and a left that Gomi avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joseph fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt
and Gomi counters with a three punch combo that has Joseph backing up. Joseph nods at Gomi to acknowledge the strikes.
The fight stays on the outside here - Joseph looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gomi tries to keep at a distance but Joseph has taken the fight into the clinch.
Joseph doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gomi wants to stall.
Gomi lands a body punch.
Gomi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Joseph is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Joseph stops a takedown attempt from Gomi.
Joseph throws a punch but it's blocked by Gomi.
Joseph lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi blocks a body shot from Joseph.
Gomi presses Joseph against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A short right from Gomi on the inside.
Joseph content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gomi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Gomi is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.
Gomi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gomi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Joseph tries a body shot but Gomi blocks it.
Joseph tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Gomi looking to slow down the pace here.
Gomi goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right handed body shot lands from Joseph.
Joseph has a couple of punches blocked by Gomi.
Gomi blocks an uppercut.
Gomi tries to break the clinch but Joseph is controlling the position.
Gomi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Gomi struggles to land a body shot inside as Joseph controls his hands.
A body shot lands from Joseph.
Joseph tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gomi's elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Joseph is trying to maintain a safe position but Gomi gets an underhook and turns Joseph into the cage.

Gomi works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Gomi won't allow Joseph to sweep him here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gomi stands up over Joseph, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gomi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Joseph working for a triangle but Gomi defends it easily.
Joseph tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Joseph showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Gomi rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joseph moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Joseph connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Joseph tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gomi counters with a right hand to the body.
Joseph tries to clinch but Gomi moves out of range.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Joseph slips a straight right by Gomi.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gomi. Joseph does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gomi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gomi lands a right hook to the body.
William Joseph seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gomi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gomi misses with an uppercut.
Joseph closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gomi decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Joseph's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joseph looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gomi is one step ahead there.
Takanori Gomi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Joseph throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Joseph being controlled here, momentarily.

Joseph has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gomi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Joseph is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gomi is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gomi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gomi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joseph is one step ahead there.
Gomi keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Joseph pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomi is keeping the position for now.
Gomi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gomi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Joseph's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
Gomi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Joseph is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Joseph slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Gomi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Joseph moves into full guard.
Joseph bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gomi's guard.
Joseph postures up and lands a big shot to Gomi's brow.

Gomi has his foot on Joseph's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joseph works his way back into a safe position though.
Joseph stopping the sweep attempt from Gomi.
William Joseph is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joseph.
Takanori Gomi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomi keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
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!
Joseph pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gomi is keeping the position for now.
Gomi trying to control the position.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Gomi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Joseph in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gomi keeping moving, preventing Joseph from controlling successfully.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Gomi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Joseph can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to William Joseph.
I've got Joseph 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... William Joseph!
William Joseph thanked the fans post fight for their support.