PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Snake (ranked 25634 p4p, 4495 weight class) and Deontay Wilder (ranked 0 p4p, 530 weight class). Deontay Wilder told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Snake
vs
Wilder

180 cm
18
196
2 - 7 - 0

189 cm
25
206
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

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 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Snake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Deontay Wilder!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Lou da Vinci and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wilder has taken the fight to the clinch.

Snake breaks the clinch.

Wilder shoots in and bounces Snake off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Snake has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Wilder off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Snake gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Wilder to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wilder being controlled here momentarily.

Wilder stands up from Snake's guard - Wilder perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wilder pinned against the cage. Wilder gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Despite the aggression on Wilder's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Wilder blocks a leg kick.
A head kick misses from Wilder.
Snake shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wilder as he jumps to the side.
Snake is breathing heavily.
Wilder stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Snake. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Wilder drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Snake can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wilder controls the pace.
Wilder distracts Snake with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Wilder missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wilder pushing down on Snake's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Wilder slips a nice elbow through Snake's hands, connecting with Snake's forehead.
Wilder is taking a breather. Snake says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Wilder escapes and gets back to his feet.

Wilder closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Snake's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilder trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wilder slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wilder's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
More stalling from Wilder.
Wilder stands and throws Snake's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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.

Wilder has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Wilder closes the distance and pushes Snake back into the cage.

Wilder breaks the clinch.

Wilder closes the distance and clinches.

Wilder breaks from the clinch.
Snake changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wilder tries to avoid it but Snake manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wilder to the ground. Wilder escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Wilder looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Wilder is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Snake defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Deontay Wilder dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wilder scores with a takedown into Snake's guard.
Wilder stopping the sweep attempt from Snake.
Wilder tries to free his leg and advance position but Snake is retaining full guard.
Wilder sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Snake is looking for a triangle but Wilder pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilder seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Wilder wants to control from the top but Snake keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Wilder really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Snake. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wilder preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Wilder drives through with a takedown into guard.
Deontay Wilder has got the better of the ground game so far.
Snake wants to sweep here but Wilder controlling him for the moment.
Snake keeping moving, preventing Wilder from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilder sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wilder trying to control the position from guard on top but Snake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilder working some strikes from top position.
Wilder lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Snake is working an open guard so Wilder takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Snake tries for a takedown but Wilder sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wilder throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Snake was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilder shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Snake's guard.

Wilder drops back looking for a leg! Snake is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Snake manages to kick Wilder off! Wilder jumps back into Snake's guard.
Snake not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Snake is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wilder is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Wilder looking to pass the guard.
Snake keeping moving, preventing Wilder from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Snake has his foot on Wilder's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Wilder works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Snake has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wilder can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Wilder dives in and scores a takedown into Snake's guard.
Wilder postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Snake looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Snake is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Deontay Wilder showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wilder gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wilder is trying to break free.

Wilder pulls guard successfully.
Wilder trying to control the position.
Wilder 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.
Snake trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilder controlling the position.
Snake stopping the sweep attempt from Wilder.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Snake wants to control from the top but Wilder keeps moving.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Wilder working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Snake has passed into half guard!
Wilder wants to control but Snake is keeping busy.
Wilder controlling the position for now.
Wilder is looking to control Snake's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wilder avoid being mounted?

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.
Sloppy strikes from Wilder. Those never looked like landing.

Wilder dives in and scores a takedown into Snake's guard.

Snake uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Wilder. No joy for Snake on that attempt.
Wilder changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Wilder has managed to clinch.
Wilder tries to land a knee to the head but Snake blocks with his arms.
Wilder prevents the takedown attempt.

Wilder gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wilder keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Wilder is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Snake is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Deontay Wilder!