PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Zullo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Wheeler's choice of entrance music: New World Awaits. Ryan Wheeler looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Zullo
vs
Wheeler

194 cm
19
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
19
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
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 Sydney, Michael Zullo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ryan Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zullo avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zullo slips a jab and a cross from Wheeler.
Wheeler takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Zullo changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wheeler looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Zullo happy to just control the position for now.
Wheeler wants to get back to his feet.

Zullo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wheeler, who protects the arm well.
Zullo is staying tight to Wheeler's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zullo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zullo is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zullo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Wheeler is trying to control Zullo's posture but Zullo avoids it.
Wheeler on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Zullo tries for a kimura but Wheeler is defending well.
Wheeler tries to improve position but can't.
Wheeler looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zullo lands an elbow.
Wheeler is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zullo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zullo is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Wheeler will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Zullo grinds an elbow into Wheeler's temple.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Zullo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zullo is working Wheeler over with some ground and pound from side control.
Wheeler throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Wheeler being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zullo has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Zullo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zullo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zullo taking a breather here.
Zullo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Zullo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wheeler, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Wheeler is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zullo has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Wheeler seems a little lost for a moment, as Zullo dominates the positioning.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zullo wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wheeler, who protects the arm well.
Wheeler is being controlled here.
Wheeler tries to escape but Zullo is in control.

Zullo is trying to get an arm triangle but Wheeler is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Zullo dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wheeler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zullo circles away quickly and effectively.

Zullo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zullo showed some decent athleticism there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zullo connects with a nice short shot to Wheeler's temple.

Zullo is working for a kimura but Wheeler is defending it quite comfortably.
Zullo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Zullo with a couple of short strikes.
Zullo lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Wheeler tries to hold on but Zullo pushes him away.
Zullo controlling the pace for now.

Zullo looking to secure an arm triangle but Wheeler defends it well.
Zullo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Wheeler takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Wheeler controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zullo looking for the RNC.
Wheeler is trying to stand back up.
Wheeler trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Zullo biding his time, looking for the opening.

Zullo working for the choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zullo lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Wheeler hold on?!
Zullo is trying to stick to Wheeler's back but Wheeler is turning into Zullo. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Zullo's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Wheeler.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zullo is controlling Wheeler's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wheeler accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zullo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wheeler working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wheeler wants to stand but Zullo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Zullo pushes a forearm under Wheeler's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Wheeler is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Zullo!