PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wilfred Wilkinson (ranked 5262 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Gotch (ranked 3992 p4p, 435 weight class). Wilkinson comes to the cage accompanied by Moonmen - Rick and Morty. The crowd seem to be enjoying Gotch's choice of entrance music: Erika . Gotch has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Karl Gotch enters the cage!

Wilkinson
vs
Gotch

193 cm
25
245 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

188 cm
25
245 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wilfred Wilkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Karl Gotch!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wilkinson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Gotch looks winded!
Wilkinson trying to control the pace.

Wilkinson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gotch to get to his feet.
Gotch looks for a takedown but Wilkinson sprawls well.

Wilkinson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gotch's guard.
Wilkinson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wilkinson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gotch is keeping the position for now.
Wilkinson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Wilkinson pushing down on Gotch's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wilkinson wants to control but Gotch is keeping him busy.
Wilkinson trying to pass the guard but Gotch defending well.
Wilkinson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Wilkinson is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gotch!

Wilkinson stands up from mount. Strange move.

Wilkinson 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson is looking to stand up but Gotch won't let him.
Wilkinson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Gotch trying to control the position.
Wilkinson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gotch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wilkinson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Wilkinson looking to pass the guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson shoots in looking for a takedown. Gotch tries to sprawl out of it but Wilkinson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gotch manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Wilkinson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gotch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gotch is not content to let Wilkinson control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gotch is looking to reverse the position.

Wilkinson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Gotch has escaped the position, nice work there.
Gotch gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wilkinson trying to control but Gotch is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wilkinson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gotch's guard.
Wilkinson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wilkinson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gotch swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotch is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Well, if Wilkinson 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.
Gotch wants to improve his position but Wilkinson is controlling well.
Wilkinson wants to control but Gotch is keeping him busy.
Wilkinson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wilkinson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wilkinson is looking to take a break and control but Gotch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gotch displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilkinson.
Gotch has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

Wilkinson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Gotch napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Wilkinson controlling the position.

Wilkinson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Wilkinson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gotch keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotch is trying to improve his position.
Wilkinson wants to control but Gotch is keeping him busy.
Wilkinson is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Gotch's shoulder. That is not cool.

Wilkinson decides to stand back up.

That's four 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.
Wilkinson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Wilkinson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wilkinson looking to pass the guard.

Gotch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gotch keeping moving, preventing Wilkinson from controlling successfully.
Gotch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wilkinson controls the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gotch keeping full guard, as Wilkinson tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wilfred Wilkinson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wilkinson.
Wilkinson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gotch can do to turn this around?
No luck with that takedown attempt from Gotch.

Wilkinson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gotch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilkinson just content to control the position.
Gotch prevents Wilkinson from improving position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilkinson wants to control but Gotch is keeping him busy.
Gotch is looking to regain half guard here but Wilkinson keeps moving and retains side control.
Gotch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson is looking to take a break and control but Gotch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wilkinson in side control, just content to control the action for now.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotch stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wilkinson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Wilkinson looking for a guillotine here but Gotch defends easily.
Gotch trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gotch won't allow Wilkinson to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson keeping full guard, as Gotch tries to pass.
Gotch trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilkinson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gotch looking to pass the guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gotch wants to stand but Wilkinson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Wilkinson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Gotch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gotch keeping full guard, as Wilkinson tries to pass.
Wilkinson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wilkinson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wilfred Wilkinson.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wilkinson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wilfred Wilkinson!
During a confident post fight interview, Wilfred Wilkinson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.