PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Wittman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uriah Heath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Heath's choice of entrance music: Asche zu Asche. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wittman
vs
Heath

169 cm
24
135 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

179 cm
24
139 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Wittman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Uriah Heath!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wittman shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Heath manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Heath really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wittman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Wittman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Wittman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wittman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Heath escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wittman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heath throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Heath is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wittman is aware though and is defending well.
Wittman trying to control but Heath is working from the bottom.
Heath is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wittman pushes down on Heath's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heath is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath punching from the bottom.

Wittman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Heath doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Wittman.
Heath misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Wittman is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Heath is just riding it out for now. Wittman eventually gives up the hold.
Heath connecting with a few gentle strikes.

Heath looking for submissions off his back.

That's two 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.

Wittman is working for a kimura but Heath is defending it quite comfortably.
Heath is looking to control Wittman's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Heath avoid being mounted?
Heath is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Wittman is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Heath has managed to free his arm - good work.

Wittman is trying to work for a kimura but Heath is defending well.
Wittman is breathing heavily.
Wittman is thwarting Heath's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath is looking to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Heath fails with the takedown

and Wittman counters with a shoot takedown. Heath fights it but they end up in guard.

Heath looking for a guillotine here but Wittman defends easily.
Heath is trying to control the position but Wittman postures up.

Heath working for a triangle but Wittman defends it easily.
Wittman wants to control from the top but Heath keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heath will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Wittman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Heath looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Wittman drops back looking for a leg! Heath is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Heath manages to kick Wittman off! Wittman jumps back into Heath's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Wittman misses with a takedown attempt

and Heath counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Heath is looking for a kimura here.
Heath scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Wittman dominated that round.
That's time! Wittman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Heath lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Wittman has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Wittman and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Heath shoots and misses

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

Wittman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wittman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Heath working for a triangle but Wittman defends it easily.
Wittman trying to control but Heath is working from the bottom.
Heath tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Heath is breathing heavily.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Heath is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heath is striking but Wittman is not phased and passes to half guard.
Heath holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Wittman moves nicely into side control.

Wittman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Heath knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wittman trying to control the action but Heath is working from the bottom.
Heath can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wittman is trying to get an arm triangle but Heath is defending well.

Wittman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Heath holds on to Wittman's head and controls the position momentarily.
Marcus Wittman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Heath can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Heath is right now.
Wittman blocks the strikes from Heath.
Wittman working away.

Wittman is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Heath has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wittman trying to control the action but Heath is working from the bottom.
Heath struggling a bit here.

That's four 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Heath.
Heath throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Wittman.
Heath throws a push kick but Wittman slaps the foot to one side.
A solid leg kick lands there for Heath.
Heath pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Wittman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Heath counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Uriah Heath will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ouch! a nice leg kick from Heath, right into the meat.
Heath's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Heath duly obliges.
Wittman shoots and misses

and Heath decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wittman's guard.
Heath wants to control from the top but Wittman keeps moving.
Heath distracts Wittman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Heath looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Heath throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Heath is in close to Wittman's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heath is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Heath avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Heath is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Heath stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wittman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Wittman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heath might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Wittman kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Heath is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Heath pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wittman is keeping the position for now.
Wittman keeping moving, preventing Heath from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wittman doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Heath counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Heath.

Wittman working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Heath has passed into half guard!
Heath wants to control but Wittman is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath working over Wittman with some ground and pound. Wittman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Heath moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Wittman.
You can see the frustration on Wittman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Wittman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Heath is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wittman seems a little lost for a moment, as Heath dominates the positioning.
Wittman tries to buck Heath off but Heath is having none of it.
Heath working the head and body with strikes.

Heath tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Heath has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Wittman is working to avoid the ground and pound but Heath connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Heath in side control lands a decent elbow.

Heath wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Wittman, who protects the arm well.
Heath working the ground and pound but Wittman is defending the strikes.
Wittman dodges the ground and pound from Heath.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Heath throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Wittman on the side of the head.
Wittman fails with the takedown

and Heath counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Heath.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uriah Heath really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Heath has his takedown stuffed

and Wittman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Heath won't be happy with that.
Heath wants to control but Wittman postures up.
Wittman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Heath keeps working.

Wittman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Heath knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Wittman goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Heath rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Wittman's guard! Nice work there by Heath!

Heath is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wittman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Heath.
Heath slips nicely into half guard.

Heath looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Wittman is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Heath pulls his head out easily.

That's two 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.

Wittman looking for submissions off his back.
Wittman trying to get back to full guard but Heath takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Heath controlling his opponent.
Wittman wants to control but Heath is having none of it.
Heath is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wittman can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Heath dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath landing strikes from the mount.
Wittman is trying desperately to improve position.
Heath landing strikes, looking to finish!
Wittman is trying to escape the mount.

Heath is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Wittman can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Wittman tries to hold on but Heath pushes him away.
Wittman is squirming around, avoiding Heath's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wittman is trying desperately to improve position.
Heath unloading with bombs!
Wittman tries to hold on but Heath pushes him away.
Heath tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
A nice elbow there by Heath.
Heath lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wittman has given up his back here.
Heath not allowing Wittman to control his hands.
Heath just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Uriah Heath will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Heath shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Wittman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Heath is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Wittman pulls his head out easily.

Wittman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Wittman passes to full mount!

Wittman looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Heath wants to hold on but Wittman pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wittman goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Heath is on top in guard.

Wittman has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Heath is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Wittman.
Heath moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Heath wants to control but Wittman is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Wittman manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Wittman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Wittman.

Wittman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Wittman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Wittman looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Heath passes into half guard.
Heath lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heath trying to control the pace.

Wittman makes his way to full guard, as Heath worked for a kimura.

Wittman has his foot on Heath's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Heath works his way back into a safe position though.

Heath thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Wittman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Heath doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Heath manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Heath trying to control the position from guard on top but Wittman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Marcus Wittman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wittman looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Heath lands a couple of elbows.

Wittman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Heath can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wittman keeping moving, preventing Heath from controlling successfully.
Uriah Heath is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heath stands up over Wittman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Wittman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Heath 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 47:48
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 49:48
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Uriah Heath!