PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Pierre Walter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Williams (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pierre Walter has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Walter
vs
Williams

219 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

152 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Pierre Walter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Williams!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Williams keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Matt Williams seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Walter jumps guard but Williams turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Walter letting Williams take a breather here.
Williams manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Williams manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Williams drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Williams postures up in Walter's guard and throws a big left but Walter blocks it.
Williams pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Walter is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Williams trying to control but Walter is working from the bottom.
Williams won't allow Walter to sweep him here.
Williams wants to pass the guard but Walter is keeping the position.
Williams sitting in guard here, content to control.
Williams wants to get up but he can't break Walter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Williams moves into range and clinches up with Walter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Walter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Williams just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pierre Walter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walter 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. Walter gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Williams stuffs the takedown attempt from Walter. Walter gets slowly back to his feet.

Williams closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Walter quickly recovers to half guard.
Walter has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Williams is working away from the top position though.
Williams seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Williams looks to land a strike but Walter avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walter trying to keep a closed guard but Williams is proving a slippery customer.
Williams controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Williams trying to control but Walter is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Williams feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

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.
Walter controls Williams momentarily but Williams frees himself.
Williams content to stall in guard here.
Williams wants to get up but he can't break Walter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Williams must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams is looking to pass into half guard but Walter pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Walter is in guard.
Walter is fighting to break Williams's control of his arms but Williams is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Walter preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Williams dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Williams tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Walter defends well and Williams ends up having to push Walter into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Williams shoots in looking for a takedown but Walter manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Williams's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Williams tries to clinch up
and Walter connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Williams tries for a takedown but Walter circles away easily
letting Walter counter with a right hand.
Pierre Walter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Williams.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walter shoots in but no luck this time.
Walter moves in looking to clinch but Williams pushes him off.
Williams wants to clinch.
Walter is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Walter gets caught napping as Williams dives in and scores a takedown. Walter manages to retain guard.

Walter throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Walter really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Williams is stalling in the full guard.
Williams is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walter controls Williams momentarily but Williams frees himself.
Walter punching from the bottom - just letting Williams know he's still in a fight.
Williams landing with the ground and pound.
Williams working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Williams tries to free his leg and advance position but Walter is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Williams looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Williams trying to control but Walter is working from the bottom.
Walter wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Walter seems keen to control Williams's posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Williams gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Walter tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Williams just stands there and leans against the cage.

Williams wants the takedown. Walter is fighting it off but Williams persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Walter's guard against the cage.
Williams passes Walter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Williams is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Walter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Williams has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Williams looking to pass the guard.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Walter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Williams showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Good leg kick by Williams there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Williams drives through with a takedown into Walter's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Walter keeping moving, preventing Williams from controlling successfully.
Williams in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Williams stands up from guard. Let's bang!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Williams tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Walter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Walter gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Williams to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Williams postures up and lands a big shot to Walter's brow.

Walter is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Williams decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Williams tries to clinch up but Walter circles away and keeps his distance.
Williams changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Walter tries to avoid it but Williams manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Walter to the ground. Walter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Williams takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Williams doesn't manage to clinch there - Walter circles away.

Walter gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Williams drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Walter gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Walter ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Walter no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Williams trying to control the position from guard on top but Walter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Walter holds on and takes a little breather.
Walter lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Williams controls Walter momentarily but Walter frees himself.
Walter scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Walter stands and steps away. Williams gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Walter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Williams pinned against the cage. Williams gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Williams looking to score a takedown here. Walter is defending well but Williams drives through and ends up in Walter's guard.
Williams looking to sit in guard and control but Walter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Walter will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Williams escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Walter gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Walter keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Williams's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Williams is working an open guard so Walter takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Williams misses with a takedown
and Walter counters with a left and a right that stings Williams.
Pierre Walter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Williams.
Williams tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling Walter to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Walter shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Walter lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

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 Pierre Walter.
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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Williams!