PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Wilkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Oxbig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wilkinson's entrance music is Unknown Soldier - Breaking Benjamin. A fine choice. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Wilkinson
vs
Oxbig

195 cm
18
198 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Wilkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Oxbig!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oxbig closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Oxbig lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilkinson looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Oxbig distracts Wilkinson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Oxbig is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Wilkinson keeping moving, preventing Oxbig from controlling successfully.
Wilkinson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Oxbig is controlling him.
Oxbig controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson keeping full guard, as Oxbig tries to pass.
Oxbig trying to control but Wilkinson is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Oxbig will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Oxbig throws a head kick that misses.
Oxbig catches Wilkinson with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Wilkinson shoots in for a double leg but Oxbig sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Steve Wilkinson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oxbig looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wilkinson is fending him off so far but Oxbig persists. Nope, Wilkinson circles away and we're back to standing.
Oxbig misses with a takedown attempt - Wilkinson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Steve Wilkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Oxbig.
Wilkinson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

It looks like Steve Wilkinson has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Oxbig. Oxbig obviously looking to wear him down.

Oxbig pushes Wilkinson up against the cage in a clinch.
Oxbig fails to pull guard.

Oxbig breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Oxbig rushes Wilkinson and presses him up against the cage.

Oxbig turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Oxbig manages to end up in side control.
Wilkinson wants to control but Oxbig postures up.

Oxbig has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
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!
Wilkinson closes the distance and clinches up with Oxbig, looking for a takedown. Wilkinson pushes Oxbig against the cage but Oxbig circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Oxbig scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson is refusing to be controlled, as Oxbig sits in half guard.
Oxbig lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Oxbig content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wilkinson tries to roll over but Oxbig keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Oxbig lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Oxbig wants to free his trapped foot but Wilkinson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wilkinson pushes Oxbig off looking to stand but Oxbig dives back in and keeps control.

Oxbig is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wilkinson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Oxbig.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wilkinson wants to clinch but Oxbig slips to the side

and Oxbig decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wilkinson's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oxbig stands up out of Wilkinson's guard for a moment - Wilkinson manages to land a nice upkick.
Oxbig controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Oxbig dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Wilkinson's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wilkinson closes the distance but Oxbig moves to the side

and Oxbig moves into the clinch.
Oxbig tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Oxbig manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Oxbig throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wilkinson wants to stand but Oxbig is controlling his posture from full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilkinson looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson trying to control but Oxbig is working from the bottom.
Oxbig has control of Wilkinson's left arm, preventing Wilkinson from doing any damage.
Wilkinson trying to control but Oxbig is working from the bottom.
Oxbig controls Wilkinson momentarily but Wilkinson frees himself.
Wilkinson throws a strike but Oxbig rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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.
Oxbig stands and throws Wilkinson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Oxbig taking a break here but Wilkinson is having none of it and regains half guard.

Oxbig stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Wilkinson to get to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson tries to clinch there but Oxbig circles away.

Oxbig clinches up with Wilkinson and pushes him back against the cage.
Oxbig is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Oxbig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wilkinson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Oxbig as he avoids it easily.
Wilkinson throws a head kick but Oxbig moves out of range.
Oxbig avoids the body shot from Wilkinson.
Oxbig shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wilkinson as he avoids it easily.
Oxbig darts in trying to clinch

and Wilkinson counters with a shoot takedown. Oxbig fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oxbig lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wilkinson!
Wilkinson taking shots to the head.
Oxbig can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Wilkinson is looking to escape.

Oxbig swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Wilkinson is now in Oxbig's guard. A big mistake from Oxbig there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mike Oxbig will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Steve Wilkinson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Oxbig scores with a kick to the midsection.
Oxbig looks to land a body kick but Wilkinson moved away.
Oxbig buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Wilkinson shoots for a takedown but Oxbig saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Oxbig will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Oxbig scores with a takedown into Wilkinson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oxbig scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Oxbig loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wilkinson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oxbig throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Oxbig pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilkinson is keeping the position for now.
Wilkinson trying to control the position.
Wilkinson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Oxbig is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wilkinson stuffs the takedown.

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.
Wilkinson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Oxbig connects with a solid leg kick.
Oxbig showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wilkinson.
Wilkinson stuffs the takedown attempt from Oxbig. Oxbig gets slowly back to his feet.
Oxbig fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Wilkinson manages to avoid it.
Oxbig changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wilkinson tries to avoid it but Oxbig manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wilkinson to the ground. Wilkinson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Steve Wilkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Oxbig.
Wilkinson avoids the head kick by Oxbig.
No luck for Oxbig with that takedown attempt.

Wilkinson scores with a takedown into Oxbig's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilkinson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Oxbig is pulling down on Wilkinson's head. It's preventing any offense from Wilkinson, at least for the moment.

Oxbig is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Oxbig looking to control.

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 postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wilkinson lands a couple of digs.
Oxbig looking to control but Wilkinson passes into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Oxbig trying to control here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Oxbig.
Well Oxbig 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Oxbig!