PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Khon Saroth (ranked 3003 p4p, 0 weight class) and Odis Wheetley (ranked 24856 p4p, 0 weight class). Odis Wheetley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Saroth
vs
Wheetley

172 cm
25
157 lbs
2 - 25 - 1

194 cm
25
158 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 25 - 1, fighting out of New York, Khon Saroth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Odis Wheetley!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Steve Montenegro and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saroth fails in his attempt to clinch.
Saroth throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Saroth shoots for a double leg takedown but Wheetley sprawls well. He's pushed Saroth's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wheetley shoots for a takedown but Saroth saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saroth.
Wheetley is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Saroth shoots in and drives through. Wheetley sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khon Saroth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saroth throws a shot to the body.
Saroth fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheetley goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Wheetley doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Saroth holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Wheetley tries to pull guard but Saroth won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saroth landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Saroth is looking to take this one to the mat.

Wheetley ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Wheetley no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Wheetley is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saroth is controlling him.
Saroth trying to control the position from guard on top but Wheetley is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saroth might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Saroth stands and steps away. Wheetley gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Wheetley fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wheetley looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saroth is defended easily by Wheetley.
Saroth misses with a takedown attempt - Wheetley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wheetley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Saroth, right into the meat.
Saroth shoots for a takedown but Wheetley saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saroth is looking to clinch but Wheetley is avoiding it.
Saroth closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wheetley circles away.
Saroth shoots for a double leg takedown but Wheetley sprawls well. He's pushed Saroth's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saroth tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wheetley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saroth lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wheetley circles away quickly and effectively.
Wheetley stuffs the takedown attempt from Saroth. Saroth gets slowly back to his feet.
Saroth looks to score with a jab to the body but Wheetley is just out of range.
Wheetley fails with the takedown.
Saroth shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wheetley pinned against the cage. Wheetley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wheetley keeps the fight on the outside.
Wheetley looks for a takedown but Saroth sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheetley stuffs the takedown attempt from Saroth. Saroth gets slowly back to his feet.
Wheetley throws a counter combo.
Saroth shoots in for a takedown but Wheetley shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Saroth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wheetley prevents Saroth from breaking the clinch.
Saroth tries to break the clinch but Wheetley is controlling the position.
Wheetley jumps guard but Saroth stands there with Wheetley around his waist. Wheetley gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saroth tries to pull guard but Wheetley won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Saroth blocks the elbow strike.
Saroth can't break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Khon Saroth will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saroth tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wheetley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Saroth plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Saroth moves to clinch but Wheetley breaks away
and Wheetley counters with a stiff right hand.
Saroth dives in for a single leg takedown but Wheetley sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saroth is defended easily by Wheetley.
Saroth tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wheetley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wheetley is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saroth tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wheetley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Saroth tries a head kick but it misses.

Wheetley darts in and clinches Saroth up against the cage.
Wheetley is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saroth pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saroth has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Wheetley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khon Saroth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saroth stops a takedown attempt from Wheetley.
Wheetley avoids a wild elbow strike from Saroth.

Wheetley pulls guard.

Wheetley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Saroth stands up and waves to Wheetley to follow him.
Wheetley is breathing heavily.
Saroth is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khon Saroth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Good standup being displayed there by Saroth as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saroth fails with a takedown attempt.
Wheetley wants to counter the offense by Saroth and move into the clinch position.
Saroth stuffs the takedown.
Wheetley shoots in for a takedown but Saroth shows good takedown defense.
Wheetley gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Saroth.
Saroth fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wheetley avoids it really well and circles away.
Wheetley shoots in for a double leg but Saroth sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Saroth is looking for a counter combo.
Wheetley swats away the attempt to clinch by Saroth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wheetley darts in and clinches Saroth up against the cage.
Saroth fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wheetley blocking some punches.
Saroth is trying to drag Wheetley to the mat but Wheetley just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Wheetley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wheetley shoots in and drives through. Saroth sprawls well.
Saroth appears to be looking for a big counter.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Saroth is defended easily by Wheetley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saroth shoots in and drives through. Wheetley sprawls well.
Saroth tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wheetley is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Saroth with a body shot.
Saroth displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wheetley.
Saroth looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wheetley is fending him off so far but Saroth persists. Nope, Wheetley circles away and we're back to standing.
Saroth swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saroth fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wheetley fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Saroth avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Odis Wheetley will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Saroth goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Saroth misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Saroth wants to clinch up but Wheetley keeps it at a distance.
Saroth fails with the takedown.
Wheetley tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Saroth changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wheetley tries to avoid it but Saroth manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wheetley to the ground. Wheetley escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saroth pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wheetley is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice takedown defense from Wheetley. No joy for Saroth on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Khon Saroth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wheetley fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Saroth manages to avoid it.
Saroth tries to clinch up but Wheetley circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheetley closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Wheetley closes the distance and pushes Saroth back into the cage.

Wheetley drags the fight down to the ground.
Wheetley is looking to stand up but Saroth isn't so interested in that idea.

Wheetley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Wheetley is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Saroth advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Saroth stands up and beckons Wheetley to his feet.
Saroth tries to clinch there but Wheetley circles away.
Saroth tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wheetley defends well and Saroth ends up having to push Wheetley into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Wheetley with the counter takedown but Saroth avoids it easily.

Wheetley clinches.
Wheetley gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Saroth.

Wheetley manages to break the clinch.
Saroth misses with a takedown attempt - Wheetley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
And Wheetley responds with a good body kick, but Saroth manages to step out the way in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saroth uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wheetley.

Wheetley forces Saroth back against the cage and clinches.
Wheetley slows down the pace here.
Wheetley pushes Saroth back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Saroth fails to pull guard.
Saroth tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Saroth is looking to take this one to the mat.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saroth is trying to pull guard but Wheetley turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Wheetley breaks from the clinch.

Wheetley closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Wheetley lands in his opponent's guard.

Saroth is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Wheetley presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Saroth wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wheetley has him pressed against the cage.
Saroth tries to pull guard but Wheetley holds him up against the cage and eventually Saroth drops back down to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wheetley throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saroth blocks it with crossed arms.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saroth doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Odis Wheetley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wheetley 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Odis Wheetley!