PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Corey Burton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikoli Wheeler (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.

Burton
vs
Wheeler

188 cm
20
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Corey Burton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nikoli Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Bruno Hogan and Francis DeMontford.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burton moves into the clinch.

Wheeler gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Burton wants to control but Wheeler is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wheeler content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Wheeler seems to be looking for submissions.
Wheeler looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
It looks like Wheeler might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Burton wants to get back to full guard.
Wheeler stalling.
Burton tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Burton is looking to improve his position.

Burton is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wheeler pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wheeler's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wheeler's back!
Burton really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Wheeler.
Wheeler rolls, trying to escape but Burton keeps control of the position.
Wheeler wants to get back to his feet.

Wheeler is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
I really don't envy Wheeler right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.
Wheeler trying to control the hands but Burton breaks the grip.

Burton looking for the choke but no joy.
Wheeler tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Burton trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wheeler is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Wheeler tries to hold on but Burton pushes him away.
Wheeler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wheeler tries to hold on but Burton postures up.
Wheeler is squirming around, avoiding Burton's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Wheeler is in all sorts of trouble here.
Burton trying to control but Wheeler is having none of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burton breaks from Wheeler's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Burton 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.

Wheeler gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Wheeler jumps guard and drags Burton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Wheeler wants to stand and escape but Burton is having none of it.
Wheeler lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wheeler controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Wheeler tries to stand but Burton is controlling from the bottom.
Wheeler preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Wheeler postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Burton looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Wheeler has picked Burton up and slammed him! Burton can't keep hold of the triangle and Wheeler manages to pass to side control!
Wheeler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burton keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burton is trying to improve his position.
Burton manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Burton throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Wheeler moves nicely into side control.
Burton is trying to improve his position.
Burton being controlled for a moment.
Burton sneaks back into half guard.
Wheeler working over Burton with some ground and pound. Burton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler is trying to work for a kimura but Burton is defending well.
Wheeler is controlling the pace.
Wheeler wants to pass to mount but Burton is defending the position.
Nikoli Wheeler has got the better of the ground game so far.

Burton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Wheeler moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Burton.
Burton is looking to reverse the position.
Wheeler controlling from side mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Wheeler's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Wheeler seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wheeler lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wheeler blocks the strikes from Burton.

Burton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burton is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted 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 calls for the fighters to work.
Wheeler slips a nice elbow through Burton's hands, connecting with Burton's forehead.
Burton is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wheeler blocks the strikes from Burton.
Wheeler drops an elbow to the side of Burton's head.
Wheeler is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Burton!
Wheeler cracks Burton with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Burton gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
Burton tries to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burton trying to control but not successfully.
Burton wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikoli Wheeler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Burton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Burton gets caught napping as Wheeler dives in and scores a takedown. Burton manages to retain guard.
Wheeler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burton is keeping the position for now.

Burton throws his legs up looking for a submission but Wheeler uses it to pass to side control.
Wheeler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wheeler taking a breather here.
Wheeler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burton keeps working.

Wheeler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Burton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Burton is looking to regain half guard here but Wheeler keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Wheeler working the head and body with strikes.
Burton tries to buck Wheeler off but Wheeler is having none of it.
Wheeler lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Burton is trying to control Wheeler's posture but Wheeler avoids it.
Burton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wheeler lands a decent elbow from side control.
Burton gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Wheeler looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burton tries to lock up and control but Wheeler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wheeler dominating with strikes here.
Wheeler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Burton is looking to escape.
Wheeler controlling from mount.
Burton takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Burton is squirming around, avoiding Wheeler's attempts to control the action.
Burton's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Burton is trying to escape the mount.
Wheeler looking to control but Burton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burton sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Wheeler stalling.
Burton missing with punches from the bottom.
Burton is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Burton keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Burton is arching his back trying to strike from the bottom but Wheeler turns him over and now has his back.

Wheeler is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Burton defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Wheeler is riding his opponent, not letting Burton buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burton can't escape the position.
Wheeler has Burton flattened out and is raining down punches.
Wheeler is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Burton tries to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wheeler scores with punches and elbows.
Burton is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Wheeler is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Wheeler gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Wheeler gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Wheeler apologises and we restart here on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikoli Wheeler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wheeler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikoli Wheeler!