PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ziavash Zakhel (ranked 6030 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dougie McWilliam (ranked 7208 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Zakhel
vs
McWilliam

185 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ziavash Zakhel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dougie McWilliam!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zakhel closes the distance and clinches.
Nice elbow from McWilliam.

It looks like Ziavash Zakhel has been cut.
Zakhel wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zakhel drops down looking for an ankle pick but McWilliam pulls his leg out and moves away.

McWilliam pushes Zakhel up against the cage in a clinch.
McWilliam using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Zakhel blocks an elbow strike.
A bit of stalling here from McWilliam.
Zakhel is trying to drag McWilliam to the mat but McWilliam just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Zakhel has McWilliam pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McWilliam manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ziavash Zakhel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McWilliam stalling the fight.
Zakhel prevents a body shot from McWilliam.
Zakhel takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWilliam lands an elbow inside.
McWilliam lands a nice elbow.
McWilliam tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
McWilliam misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Zakhel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McWilliam gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McWilliam lands a body punch.
McWilliam comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McWilliam lands an elbow that stopped Zakhel in his tracks for a moment.

Ziavash Zakhel's cut is getting worse.
Zakhel wants a takedown.
McWilliam works on Zakhel's body with a couple of short punches.
McWilliam doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McWilliam throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McWilliam lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Zakhel tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McWilliam smiles and moves away.
McWilliam fakes the leg kick and cracks Zakhel in the body.

Zakhel tries to keep at a distance but McWilliam has taken the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McWilliam can't find room to land a body shot as Zakhel controls the action.
Nice elbow from McWilliam.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McWilliam softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
McWilliam lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zakhel is looking to break free of the clinch but McWilliam has double underhooks.
McWilliam can't find room to land a body shot as Zakhel controls the action.
McWilliam lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
McWilliam throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McWilliam holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McWilliam works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
McWilliam is working Zakhel over against the cage.
McWilliam lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
McWilliam doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McWilliam taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Zakhel drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zakhel is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McWilliam is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
McWilliam doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
McWilliam misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short body shot lands from McWilliam as the two fighters clinch.
McWilliam pushes off an throws an elbow but Zakhel leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Zakhel is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
McWilliam misses with a body punch.
McWilliam lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dougie McWilliam dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ziavash Zakhel's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

McWilliam throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Zakhel drives through with a takedown into guard.
McWilliam wants to stand up but Zakhel is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zakhel looking to sit in guard and control but McWilliam gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

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

Zakhel looking for a guillotine here but McWilliam defends easily.
McWilliam working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWilliam trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zakhel's guard.
McWilliam has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McWilliam loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
McWilliam throws a big elbow that misses.
McWilliam wants to get up but he can't break Zakhel's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zakhel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst McWilliam is controlling him.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Zakhel keeping moving, preventing McWilliam from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zakhel shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts McWilliam as he jumps to the side.
Zakhel sets himself, and McWilliam steps forward looking for the clinch! Zakhel avoids it this time.

Zakhel takes the fight into the clinch.
McWilliam scores with a shot to the side of Zakhel's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McWilliam lands an elbow inside.
McWilliam digs a right hand into Zakhel's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Zakhel's gas tank.
A nice glancing elbow lands by McWilliam.
McWilliam lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Zakhel blocks a body shot from McWilliam.
McWilliam lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Ziavash Zakhel's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
McWilliam lands a damaging elbow.
Zakhel letting McWilliam take a breather here.
McWilliam effectively controlling the action here.
Zakhel is looking to break free of the clinch but McWilliam has double underhooks.
McWilliam lands a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
McWilliam lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Zakhel.
A bit of stalling here from McWilliam.
McWilliam lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A left hand lands to the body for McWilliam.
McWilliam creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zakhel's defenses.
Nice body punch from McWilliam.
McWilliam stalling the fight.
McWilliam has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Zakhel seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if McWilliam can turn it around.
McWilliam can't find room to land a body shot as Zakhel controls the action.
McWilliam lands a body punch in the clinch.
McWilliam manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McWilliam using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
McWilliam can't find room to land a body shot as Zakhel controls the action.
McWilliam lands a right hand.
McWilliam lands a body punch in the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McWilliam.
A short body shot lands from McWilliam as the two fighters clinch.
McWilliam lands a shot to the body.
McWilliam lands an elbow inside.

Jeez, Ziavash Zakhel's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McWilliam tries to throw a body punch but Zakhel avoids it by throwing McWilliam back against the cage.
McWilliam lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
McWilliam gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
McWilliam's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dougie McWilliam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ziavash Zakhel's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McWilliam lands a front kick.

McWilliam has closed the distance and engaged Zakhel in a clinch.
Dougie McWilliam seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Zakhel is looking for a takedown.
A short uppercut from McWilliam.
McWilliam lands a nice elbow.
McWilliam comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
McWilliam tries to land knees in the clinch but Zakhel avoids the damage to the body.
McWilliam lands a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McWilliam lands an elbow inside.
Zakhel wants to take the fight to the mat but McWilliam manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McWilliam tries a body shot but Zakhel blocks it.
McWilliam misses with a hook to the ribs.
Zakhel tries to score a body lock takedown but McWilliam shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ziavash Zakhel. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McWilliam throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Zakhels head.
McWilliam lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Zakhel is trying to break the clinch but McWilliam has him pressed against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, McWilliam just misses with a elbow thrown towards Zakhel's brow.
McWilliam cracks Zakhel with a nice body shot.
McWilliam throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McWilliam gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ziavash Zakhel's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:44 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Dougie McWilliam!
A relieved looking Dougie McWilliam thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.