PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Moses Mack (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Austin Wheeler looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Mack
vs
Wheeler

180 cm
21
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Moses Mack!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Austin Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wheeler thows a body shot but no joy.
Wheeler tries to bum rush Mack with a series of wild strikes but Mack uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wheeler misses with a looping right.
Mack slips a jab and a cross from Wheeler.
Wheeler looks winded!
Some wild striking there from Mack.
Mack slips a straight right by Wheeler.
Wheeler misses with a jab, cross combination.
Mack fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mack shoots in for a double leg but Wheeler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Mack shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Wheeler's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mack trying to control but Wheeler is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mack is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Wheeler is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Wheeler has escaped and now he's on top!
Mack thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Wheeler prevents Mack from getting back to his feet.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Wheeler working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Wheeler won't allow Mack to sweep him here.
Mack keeping moving, preventing Wheeler from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Austin Wheeler hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Mack enables Wheeler to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Mack manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Wheeler is stalling in the full guard.
Mack is pulling down on Wheeler's head. It's preventing any offense from Wheeler, at least for the moment.

Mack is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wheeler is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mack is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wheeler wants to control from the top but Mack keeps moving.

Mack looking for a guillotine here but Wheeler defends easily.
Mack utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler trying to control the position from guard on top but Mack is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wheeler slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Wheeler scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mack taking punishment in the form of punches.
Mack is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Wheeler landing a few strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wheeler wants to control but Mack is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wheeler throws a leg kick
and Mack connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wheeler misses the shot to the body.
Wheeler throws a looping overhand right but Mack ducks down to avoid it.
A punch combination from Wheeler misses.
Wheeler swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Mack counters with a three punch combo that has Wheeler backing up. Wheeler nods at Mack to acknowledge the strikes.
Mack dodges the punch combination from Wheeler.
Wheeler keeps the fight on the outside.
Wheeler lands a slapping body shot.
Wheeler is breathing heavily.
Mack misses with a takedown attempt - Wheeler sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mack shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wheeler as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack shoots in looking for a takedown but Wheeler manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mack's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moses Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mack blocks a low kick nicely.
Wheeler tries to bum rush Mack with a series of wild strikes but Mack uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wheeler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Wheeler as Mack shoots in.
Mack shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wheeler sprawls well. Wheeler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mack gets slowly back to his feet.

Wheeler looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mack does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Mack wants to get back to his feet.
Mack trying to control but Wheeler postures up.
Wheeler seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Nice strikes from Wheeler there.
Austin Wheeler has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Mack regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mack keeping moving, preventing Wheeler from controlling successfully.
Mack has momentary wrist control but Wheeler slips an elbow through the middle.

Wheeler stands up and waves to Mack to follow him.
Mack tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wheeler swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mack tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Wheeler is in Mack's guard.

Wheeler stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Mack tries for a takedown but Wheeler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
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!
Wheeler misses with a straight right.

Mack clinches up with Wheeler and pushes him back against the cage.
Mack tries for a takedown but Wheeler manages to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wheeler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wheeler tries to close the distance and clinch but Mack swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wheeler misses with the combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Austin Wheeler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Wheeler rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Mack counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Wheeler thinking.
Mack shoots in but no luck this time.
Some wild striking there from Mack.
Wheeler stuns Mack with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Wheeler misses with a few strikes there.
Mack scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Nice takedown defense from Wheeler. No joy for Mack on that attempt.
Wheeler throws a looping overhand right but Mack ducks down to avoid it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wheeler looks to score with a jab to the body but Mack is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mack fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Moses Mack. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wheeler looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wheeler trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.
Wheeler is looking to work some ground and pound but Mack has wrist control.
Wheeler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Wheeler trying to control but Mack is working from the bottom.
Wheeler must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Wheeler is looking to work some ground and pound but Mack has wrist control.
Mack keeping moving, preventing Wheeler from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Austin Wheeler wasn't active enough on the ground.
Mack slips a jab and a cross from Wheeler.
Mack tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wheeler swivels and escapes.
Wheeler scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler connects with a crisp jab.
Wheeler stuffs the takedown.
A combination from Wheeler does no damage.
Wheeler throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Mack tries for a takedown but Wheeler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Wheeler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mack is looking to regain half guard here but Wheeler keeps moving and retains side control.
Wheeler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mack keeps working.

Wheeler stands up and beckons Mack to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mack shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wheeler sprawls well. Wheeler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mack gets slowly back to his feet.

Wheeler decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
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!
Wheeler is thwarting Mack's attempts to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Austin Wheeler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wheeler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Austin Wheeler!
A very excited looking Austin Wheeler made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.