PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Loco (ranked 6290 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Wheeler (ranked 7338 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Wheeler has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Loco
vs
Wheeler

183 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
154 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Juan Loco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Loco fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wheeler.
Wheeler misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Loco fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wheeler sprawls well initially but Loco persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Wheeler kicks Loco off and gets back to his feet.
Wheeler misses with a takedown attempt - Loco sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wheeler fails with the takedown
and Loco counters with a three punch combo that has Wheeler backing up. Wheeler nods at Loco to acknowledge the strikes.
Juan Loco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Wheeler.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Loco looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Loco throws an elbow that misses. Wheeler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Loco's guard. Nice move by Wheeler!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loco pulls Wheeler in close to prevent any damage.
Wheeler wants to control from the top but Loco keeps moving.
Loco has control of Wheeler's left arm, preventing Wheeler from doing any damage.
Wheeler throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Wheeler gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Loco darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Loco is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Loco wants to pass to mount but Wheeler is defending the position.
Loco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wheeler keeps working.

Loco decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler shoots in for a double leg but Loco sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Loco fails with the takedown.
Ryan Wheeler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wheeler dives in for a single leg takedown but Loco sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wheeler shoots in but Loco avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Wheeler or perhaps it was just good defense by Loco, which made it look bad.

Loco closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wheeler did well to prevent Loco getting side control.
Wheeler is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler is looking to escape.
Loco working Wheeler over with strikes.
Loco trying to mount his opponent but Wheeler defends it.

Loco is working for a kimura but Wheeler is defending it quite comfortably.
Loco tries to stand and escape but Wheeler is controlling the position.
Loco thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wheeler's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Loco dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wheeler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Loco as he avoids it easily.
Wheeler keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wheeler bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

Loco gets a takedown into half guard.

Wheeler has one foot on Loco's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Loco looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in 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!
Loco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wheeler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler is looking to control Loco's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wheeler avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Loco stands up out of the half guard.
Loco tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wheeler sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Loco somewhat.
No luck for Wheeler with that takedown attempt.
Loco stuffs the takedown attempt from Wheeler. Wheeler gets slowly back to his feet.
Juan Loco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Wheeler.

Loco closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wheeler to the mat! Wheeler manages to get full guard.
Loco has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Loco drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Wheeler manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Loco has Wheeler in his guard.

Wheeler stands and steps away. Loco gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Loco shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Wheeler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wheeler lands a right hook to the body.
Loco stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Loco wants it to stay on the feet.
Loco half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loco takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Wheeler moves into the clinch.

Wheeler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Loco is fighting to break Wheeler's control of his arms but Wheeler is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Wheeler has a closed guard, preventing Loco from standing up.
Loco is stalling in the full guard.

Wheeler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Loco doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Loco manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loco trying to control the position from guard on top but Wheeler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Loco postures up in Wheeler's guard and throws a big left but Wheeler blocks it.
Loco looking to sit in guard and control but Wheeler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Wheeler works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Wheeler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Wheeler slaps away a takedown attempt from Loco, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Loco throws a nice looking combination but Wheeler bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Wheeler.
A quick step to the side and Loco tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wheeler shoots for a double leg takedown but Loco sprawls well. He's pushed Wheeler's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Loco feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Wheeler has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Loco off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler stuffs the takedown attempt from Loco. Loco gets slowly back to his feet.
Wheeler swinging wildly here.
Loco was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loco is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Wheeler's half guard.
Ryan Wheeler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wheeler manages to get to full guard.
Wheeler keeping moving, preventing Loco from controlling successfully.
Loco wants to stand but Wheeler is controlling his posture from full guard.
Loco looking to sit in guard and control but Wheeler gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler trying to control but Loco is working from the bottom.
Wheeler is looking to work some ground and pound but Loco has wrist control.
Loco pulls Wheeler in close to his closed guard and prevents Wheeler from doing any damage or advancing position.
Wheeler is pushing down on Loco's leg trying to pass to half guard. Loco is fighting to maintain full guard but Wheeler has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler stands up and beckons Loco to join him on the feet.
Loco looks for a takedown but Wheeler sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Loco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wheeler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Loco throws a big counter combination but Wheeler scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Loco has a takedown stuffed.
Wheeler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Loco is fending him off so far but Wheeler persists. Nope, Loco circles away and we're back to standing.

Wheeler closes the distance and clinches.
Wheeler slows down the pace here.
Loco gets underhooks to prevent Wheeler's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Loco turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Loco manages to end up in side control.
Wheeler being controlled for a moment.
Wheeler is looking to regain half guard here but Loco keeps moving and retains side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wheeler is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Loco tries to pass the half guard into mount. Wheeler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Wheeler!
After the fight, Ryan Wheeler was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.