PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilan Rotberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Victor Wilhelm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rotberg
vs
Wilhelm

183 cm
31
217 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

190 cm
29
218 lbs
13 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ilan Rotberg!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Victor Wilhelm!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rotberg closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wilhelm to the mat! Wilhelm manages to get full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Wilhelm looking for a guillotine here but Rotberg defends easily.

Rotberg 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.
Rotberg won't allow Wilhelm to sweep him here.
Rotberg prevents Wilhelm from getting back to his feet.
Wilhelm keeping moving, preventing Rotberg from controlling successfully.
Rotberg is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wilhelm is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Wilhelm is retaining full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ilan Rotberg wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Rotberg bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wilhelm's head backwards.
Rotberg uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Wilhelm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rotberg moves forwards but Wilhelm connects with a nice, crisp jab.

It looks like Ilan Rotberg has been cut.
Rotberg misses with a two punch combination.
Wilhelm moves away from the strike by Rotberg.
Wilhelm throws a sloppy head kick and Rotberg moves out of range easily.
Wilhelm lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wilhelm lands a nice looking body shot.
Rotberg throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Jab by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm looks to land a combination but Rotberg avoids it well.
Rotberg jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Rotberg.
A big left from Rotberg misses.
Wilhelm tests Rotberg's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rotberg fails to land with a series of punches.
Wilhelm throws a hook to the side of Rotberg's head but Rotberg sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Wilhelm tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Rotberg manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rotberg swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wilhelm throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wilhelm moves in looking to clinch but Rotberg pushes him off.
Rotberg misses with a leg kick.
Victor Wilhelm seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A leg kick checked by Rotberg.
Wilhelm tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rotberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rotberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wilhelm tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rotberg swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wilhelm fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm throws a big shot that misses.
Wilhelm tries to clinch up.
Wilhelm pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wilhelm moves in looking to clinch but Rotberg pushes him off.
Rotberg misses with the combination.
Victor Wilhelm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rotberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rotberg moves out of range of the strikes.
Wilhelm getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rotberg lands with a hook. Wilhelm tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that Rotberg semi-blocks.
Wilhelm punishes Rotberg's body with a nice straight punch.
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!
Wilhelm scores with a nice strike.

Ilan Rotberg's cut is getting worse.
Sloppy strikes from Rotberg. Those never looked like landing.
Rotberg swinging wildly here.
Wilhelm slips under a jab from Rotberg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but Rotberg moves out of range.
Wilhelm fails to land with a series of punches.
Decent striking displayed by Rotberg there.
A combination from Wilhelm does no damage.
Wilhelm takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wilhelm looks gassed!
Nice uppercut lands for Rotberg. That snapped Wilhelm's head back.
Wilhelm misses the jab.
Rotberg jabs Wilhelm right on the nose. Wilhelm blinks but takes it well.
Wilhelm misses with an uppercut. Rotberg saw that one coming.
Wilhelm misses with a head kick.
Rotberg defending well as Wilhelm loads up on a big left hand.
The fighters circling - Rotberg throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wilhelm tries to clinch up
and Rotberg counters with a nice uppercut.
Rotberg fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Victor Wilhelm will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ilan Rotberg's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A telegraphed right hand from Rotberg misses the target.
Wilhelm bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rotberg moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rotberg fails with the takedown.
Rotberg connects with the punch.
Rotberg comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wilhelm tries to clinch up.
Victor Wilhelm seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wilhelm throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rotberg counters with a slapping leg kick.
Wilhelm's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Rotberg connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Wilhelm scrambles back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Rotberg, as that shot connected.
Rotberg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rotberg tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Wilhelm was well out of range. Poor timing from Rotberg.
Wilhelm pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rotberg scores with a nice strike.
Wilhelm wants to clinch up but Rotberg keeps it at a distance.
Wilhelm is breathing heavily.
Rotberg lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotberg throws a nice looking combination but Wilhelm bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wilhelm misses with a hook.
Rotberg checks a leg kick.
Rotberg throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Wilhelm misses with an uppercut.
Jab, jab by Rotberg - just one landing.
Rotberg scores with a jab to the head.
Wilhelm throws the left hand but Rotberg avoids the punch easily.
Wilhelm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rotberg cracks Wilhelm with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rotberg lands a really nice looking cross but Wilhelm seems unphased.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Wilhelm uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rotberg.
Rotberg lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
No joy there for Rotberg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wilhelm misses with a looping left.
Rotberg works over Wilhelm's head and body with a nice combination.
Wilhelm tries to clinch up.
Ilan Rotberg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg works Wilhelm's body with a nice hook.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilhelm looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rotberg bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Wilhelm's head backwards.
Wilhelm has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Wilhelm throws a sloppy head kick and Rotberg moves out of range easily.
Wilhelm needs to keep his hands up - Rotberg had a free shot at his head there.
Rotberg misses with a jab, cross combination.

Wilhelm takes the fight into the clinch.
Rotberg looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Wilhelm goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Wilhelm misses with a punch on the inside.

Rotberg breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wilhelm avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wilhelm throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rotberg swings for the body but Wilhelm moves out of range.
Rotberg misses with the combination.
Rotberg is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Wilhelm tries to clinch up.
A punch combination from Rotberg misses.
Wilhelm misses with a head kick.
A combination from Rotberg does no damage.
Rotberg is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rotberg takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wilhelm ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rotberg moves away.
Rotberg slips under a jab from Wilhelm.
Rotberg staying out of range there.
Rotberg drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

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!
Donk. Rotberg catches Wilhelm right on the button with a cross.

Rotberg tries to keep at a distance but Wilhelm has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rotberg tries to circle away but Wilhelm has him pinned against the cage.

Wilhelm escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wilhelm doesn't manage to clinch there - Rotberg circles away.
Wilhelm misses with a body shot.
Rotberg clobbers Wilhelm with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rotberg misses the shot to the body.
Wilhelm throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rotberg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rotberg scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rotberg staying out of range there.
Rotberg stalks Wilhelm and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Wilhelm's face. Wilhelm staggers backwards, shaken.
Wilhelm scores with a shot to the body.
Rotberg connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilan Rotberg dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ilan Rotberg's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wilhelm blocks a jab.
Wilhelm scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rotberg cracks Wilhelm with a right hand to the side of the head.
Wilhelm pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A head kick misses from Rotberg.
A big left from Rotberg misses.
Nice defenses there by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rotberg moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Rotberg.
Wilhelm is looking to clinch.
Rotberg throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rotberg tries to bum rush Wilhelm with a series of wild strikes but Wilhelm uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilhelm looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotberg lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Wilhelm takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rotberg with a hook.
Rotberg keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wilhelm.
Rotberg throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rotberg misses with a two punch combination.
Wilhelm jabs Rotberg right on the nose. Rotberg blinks but takes it well.
Rotberg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wilhelm circles away quickly and effectively.
Rotberg swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Wilhelm counters by moving into the clinch.
Rotberg has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Wilhelm escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rotberg moves out of range as Wilhelm strikes.
Wilhelm staying out of range there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wilhelm lands a really nice looking cross but Rotberg seems unphased.
A big left from Rotberg misses.
Rotberg takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Wilhelm doesn't seem bothered though.
Rotberg throws out a loose jab but Wilhelm uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rotberg throws a jab but it's blocked by Wilhelm.
Wilhelm throws a right and a left that Rotberg avoids nicely.
Rotberg missing with a left hand there. Wilhelm was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rotberg tests Wilhelm's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wilhelm throws an off balance right hand
and Rotberg counters with a stiff right hand.
Wilhelm bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rotberg's head.
A punch combination from Rotberg misses.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but Rotberg moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Rotberg.
Rotberg getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Rotberg looks to score with a jab to the body but Wilhelm is just out of range.
Rotberg drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wilhelm stuffs the takedown attempt from Rotberg. Rotberg gets slowly back to his feet.
Rotberg scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg catches Wilhelm with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Jab by Rotberg.

Wilhelm has closed the distance and engaged Rotberg in a clinch.
Rotberg keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Wilhelm's efforts to push away.
Rotberg has Wilhelm pressed against the cage, preventing Wilhelm from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Rotberg's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wilhelm displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rotberg.
A shot to the liver by Rotberg. Beautiful body shot.
Wilhelm swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Rotberg gets tackled into the cage by Wilhelm. Wilhelm maintains the clinch.

Rotberg breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm scores with a jab to the jaw.
Wilhelm ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rotberg avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Wilhelm throws a head kick but Rotberg moves out of range.
Rotberg lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rotberg avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rotberg throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rotberg takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rotberg dodges the punch combination from Wilhelm.
Rotberg misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wilhelm.
Rotberg lands a really nice looking cross but Wilhelm seems unphased.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Wilhelm tries to clinch but Rotberg is having none of it.
Rotberg bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Wilhelm's head.
Rotberg lands a nice looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilan Rotberg clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ilan Rotberg's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wilhelm takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wilhelm avoids the body shot from Rotberg.
Rotberg slips a straight right by Wilhelm.
Rotberg swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rotberg is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Wilhelm.
Wilhelm fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that misses.
Wilhelm throws a jab when Rotberg was well out of range.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but Rotberg moves out of range.
Wilhelm drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Wilhelm darts in trying to clinch
and Wilhelm takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rotberg avoids a kick to the body.
Rotberg digs a good hook to Wilhelm's body.
Wilhelm is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Wilhelm misses with a hook. Rotberg ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotberg works over Wilhelm's head and body with a nice combination.
Wilhelm misses with a hook
and Rotberg counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rotberg.
Rotberg tests Wilhelm's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wilhelm tries to close the distance and clinch but Rotberg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilhelm looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rotberg scores with a body shot.
Rotberg scores with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rotberg keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rotberg connects with the punch.
Wilhelm is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rotberg.
Rotberg misses with a jab, cross combination.
A left lands for Wilhelm.
Rotberg blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg misses with a takedown attempt - Wilhelm sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rotberg does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Wilhelm tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rotberg goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A jab from Rotberg does it's job there.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that Rotberg semi-blocks.
Wilhelm throws a hook but Rotberg avoids it easily.
Wilhelm wants to clinch up but Rotberg keeps it at a distance.
Rotberg comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Wilhelm takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Wilhelm enables Rotberg to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Wilhelm manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rotberg wants to control from the top but Wilhelm keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rotberg passes Wilhelm's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wilhelm is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rotberg slips a nice elbow through Wilhelm's hands, connecting with Wilhelm's forehead.
Rotberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wilhelm's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg wants to control but Wilhelm is keeping him busy.
Rotberg is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rotberg lands with a punch from half guard.
Rotberg working over Wilhelm with some ground and pound. Wilhelm looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rotberg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wilhelm is refusing to be controlled, as Rotberg sits in half guard.
Rotberg is really struggling to control Wilhelm but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rotberg is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Wilhelm is just riding it out for now. Rotberg eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilan Rotberg had his way with Victor Wilhelm in that round.
The cut man is working on Ilan Rotberg's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilhelm drives through and clinches with Rotberg against the cage.

Wilhelm pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wilhelm throws a series of punches but Rotberg moves out of range.
Wilhelm throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Some wild striking there from Rotberg.
Rotberg scores with a one two! Wilhelm had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Wilhelm throws a sloppy head kick and Rotberg moves out of range easily.
Wilhelm misses with a hook. Rotberg ducked under it nicely.
Rotberg throws a one two combo.
Wilhelm takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Wilhelm is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Wilhelm is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rotberg shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wilhelm as he jumps to the side.
Jab by Rotberg.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but Rotberg moves away
and Rotberg counters with a three punch combo that has Wilhelm backing up. Wilhelm nods at Rotberg to acknowledge the strikes.
Rotberg takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Wilhelm missing with a left hand there. Rotberg was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rotberg throws a right and a left that Wilhelm avoids nicely.
Rotberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wilhelm tries to clinch but Rotberg moves out of range.
Rotberg misses with an uppercut. Wilhelm saw that one coming.

Wilhelm pushes Rotberg up against the cage in a clinch.
Wilhelm wants to get back to striking at distance but Rotberg won't allow it.

Wilhelm's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ilan Rotberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rotberg scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Rotberg throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rotberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wilhelm keeps working.
Wilhelm tries to buck Rotberg off but Rotberg is having none of it.
Rotberg trying to control the position but Wilhelm is working away.
Wilhelm tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilhelm is not content to let Rotberg control the position.

Rotberg looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rotberg wants to control for a moment but Wilhelm uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Rotberg prevents Wilhelm from standing back up.
Rotberg is looking to stall here but Wilhelm recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rotberg wants to control from the top but Wilhelm keeps moving.
Rotberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Wilhelm is retaining full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rotberg slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Rotberg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilan Rotberg showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rotberg has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilan Rotberg!
Ilan Rotberg retains his light heavyweight title!
Ilan Rotberg decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.