PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Immortal Saulnier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Blake Wheeler has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Wheeler
vs
Saulnier

200 cm
20
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
215 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Blake Wheeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Immortal Saulnier!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Saulnier has closed the distance and engaged Wheeler in a clinch.
Saulnier looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Wheeler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Saulnier fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Saulnier tries to clinch there but Wheeler circles away.
Wheeler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saulnier circles away.
Wheeler looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Wheeler tries to clinch there but Saulnier circles away.
Wheeler tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saulnier swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Wheeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wheeler throws a shot to the body.
Wheeler wants to clinch up but Saulnier keeps it at a distance.

Wheeler darts in and clinches Saulnier up against the cage.
Wheeler tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saulnier smiles and moves away.
Saulnier takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
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!
Saulnier takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Wheeler rushes Saulnier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Saulnier stops a takedown attempt from Wheeler.
Wheeler lands an elbow that stopped Saulnier in his tracks for a moment.
Wheeler trying to control the position but instead, Saulnier has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wheeler into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wheeler manages to pull guard.
Wheeler striking off his back but it's not causing Saulnier any problems.
Wheeler manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Saulnier avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wheeler.
Wheeler knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Saulnier on the ground.
Wheeler looking to finish with strikes here!

Wheeler looking to secure an arm triangle but Saulnier defends it well.
Wheeler trying to control but Saulnier is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saulnier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Wheeler thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Wheeler tries to control but Saulnier wriggling away.
Wheeler misses with a head shot.
Wheeler throws some wild stikes that Saulnier manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saulnier is looking to escape.
Saulnier holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Wheeler tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Wheeler tries to control but Saulnier wriggling away.
Wheeler is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Saulnier is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wheeler sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Wheeler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saulnier is looking to escape.
Saulnier avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wheeler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wheeler thowing shots but they're missing.
Wheeler prevents Saulnier from getting the reversal.
Wheeler thowing shots but they're missing.
Saulnier is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wheeler avoids the attempt from Saulnier to control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saulnier is looking to get to half guard.
Wheeler looking to ground and pound but Saulnier is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Wheeler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wheeler fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wheeler with a nice cross.
Saulnier wants to clinch
and Wheeler finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Wheeler connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
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!
Wheeler looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saulnier is fending him off so far but Wheeler persists. Nope, Saulnier circles away and we're back to standing.

Wheeler gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wheeler trying to control the position but instead, Saulnier has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wheeler into the cage.
Wheeler seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Saulnier is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Wheeler just leaning against Saulnier, taking a breather.
Wheeler trying to stall but Saulnier improves his position.
Wheeler drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saulnier gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Wheeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wheeler looking to slow down the pace here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Blake Wheeler.
Saulnier looks to clinch
and Wheeler counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wheeler shoots in for a takedown but Saulnier shows good takedown defense.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wheeler looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saulnier fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wheeler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saulnier tries to clinch there but Wheeler circles away.
Wheeler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saulnier's waist but Saulnier gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wheeler off to one side.
Wheeler is looking to clinch but Saulnier is avoiding it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wheeler.
Nice defenses there by Wheeler.
Wheeler fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Saulnier as Wheeler shoots in.

That's two 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.
Saulnier fails to land the takedown.

Wheeler rushes Saulnier and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wheeler tries to stall but Saulnier uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Wheeler has Saulnier pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Saulnier manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Saulnier is looking to break free of the clinch but Wheeler has double underhooks.
Wheeler is trying to break free.
Wheeler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saulnier just stands there and leans against the cage.

Saulnier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Saulnier tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Wheeler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Saulnier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wheeler fails with a takedown attempt.
Wheeler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saulnier pinned against the cage. Saulnier gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wheeler circles away from the clinch attempt
and Wheeler counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Saulnier is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Blake Wheeler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Saulnier closes the distance but Wheeler moves to the side
and Wheeler counters with a nice low kick that buckles Saulnier's knee momentarily.
Wheeler fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wheeler wants to clinch.
Wheeler shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saulnier but Saulnier pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Saulnier looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Saulnier with a nice head shot there.
Saulnier distracts Wheeler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saulnier missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Saulnier throwing strikes but missing.

Wheeler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Saulnier working some strikes from top position.
Wheeler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Saulnier lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saulnier postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wheeler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Saulnier paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wheeler fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Wheeler dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Wheeler shoots for a takedown but Saulnier saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wheeler tries to clinch but Saulnier is having none of it.
Saulnier moves in looking to clinch but Wheeler pushes him off.
Wheeler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saulnier circles away.
Saulnier misses with a straight right.
Saulnier looks for a takedown but Wheeler sprawls well.
Wheeler plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Saulnier keeps the fight on the outside.
Jab from Wheeler.
Wheeler tries to clinch but Saulnier is having none of it.
Blake Wheeler is winning the standup battle so far.

Wheeler gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Saulnier just misses with a elbow thrown towards Wheeler's brow.
Saulnier can't get the takedown.
Wheeler wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saulnier has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saulnier misses with a body punch.
Wheeler is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saulnier gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blake Wheeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Wheeler manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Wheeler is trying to keep Saulnier in close.
Saulnier connects with a couple of short punches.
Wheeler looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Saulnier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saulnier scoring with punches to the head and body.
Saulnier chips away with some ground and pound.
Saulnier trying to control but Wheeler is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Saulnier thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wheeler tries to clinch up.
Saulnier changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wheeler tries to avoid it but Saulnier manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wheeler to the ground. Wheeler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Saulnier tries for a takedown but Wheeler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Immortal Saulnier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wheeler with a poor takedown

and Saulnier counters by clinching up.
Wheeler tries to pull guard but Saulnier won't allow it.

Wheeler successfully pulls guard.
Wheeler wants to get back to his feet but Saulnier is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Immortal Saulnier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Saulnier landing with the ground and pound.
Saulnier throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wheeler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Saulnier postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Saulnier accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Wheeler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Saulnier doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Saulnier manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Wheeler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Saulnier throws and elbow that misses. Wheeler uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Saulnier's guard. Nice move by Wheeler!

Wheeler is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Saulnier has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Wheeler is looking to defend but Saulnier has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Wheeler! Saulnier pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Wheeler taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Immortal Saulnier!