PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Volette (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wayne Gretzky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gretzky has chosen All shook up by Elvis Presley as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Volette
vs
Gretzky

188 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
199 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Marcus Volette!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Wayne Gretzky!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Volette swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gretzky displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Volette.
Volette throws the kick towards the body but Gretzky avoids it.

Volette is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Gretzky's half guard.
Gretzky wants to get back to full guard.

Volette is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Volette wants to work for an arm triangle but Gretzky is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Volette is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Volette tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gretzky knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Gretzky makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Gretzky.

Gretzky escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Volette gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volette wants to pass the guard but Gretzky is keeping the position.
Gretzky wants to sweep here but Volette controlling him for the moment.
Volette with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gretzky throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Volette pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gretzky is keeping the position for now.
Gretzky throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Gretzky throws his legs up looking for a submission but Volette uses it to pass to side control.
Gretzky sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gretzky is not content to let Volette control the position.
Volette is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Gretzky is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Gretzky is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Volette pulls his head out easily.
Gretzky looks gassed!

Gretzky looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Volette is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gretzky is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Volette scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gretzky strikes from the bottom but Volette uses the opportunity to move to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gretzky manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Volette is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Gretzky sees it coming and defends easily.

Volette is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gretzky slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gretzky controls Volette momentarily but Volette frees himself.
Gretzky bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Volette's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gretzky throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Gretzky 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.
Volette avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gretzky loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Volette has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gretzky can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gretzky throwing strikes from guard but Volette blocks nicely.
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 Marcus Volette will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gretzky keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gretzky slips a jab and a cross from Volette.
Volette misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Volette is defended easily by Gretzky.
Marcus Volette is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gretzky stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Volette. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gretzky stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gretzky wants it to stay on the feet.

Gretzky rushes Volette and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Volette wants to break free but Gretzky has control.

Gretzky is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Volette can't fight it off and eventually Gretzky manages to take the fight to the floor. Volette looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Volette working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gretzky.
Volette working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gretzky.

Gretzky drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gretzky jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gretzky throws a big right hand that misses.
Gretzky throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gretzky throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gretzky postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Volette is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Gretzky, into his guard.

Gretzky looking for a guillotine here but Volette defends easily.

Gretzky throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Volette trying to control but Gretzky is working from the bottom.
Gretzky has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Volette avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Volette wants to pass the guard but Gretzky is keeping the position.
Volette would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Volette is looking to work some ground and pound but Gretzky has wrist control.

Volette avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gretzky looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Volette wants to control from the top but Gretzky keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Volette tries to free his leg and advance position but Gretzky is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Volette drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Volette jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Gretzky trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Volette avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Volette wants to control from the top but Gretzky keeps moving.
Gretzky manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Volette manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayne Gretzky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Volette throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Volette throws a solid leg kick but Gretzky takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Volette.
Volette looks to clinch

and Gretzky counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Volette wants to sweep but no luck.
Volette keeping full guard, as Gretzky tries to pass.
Wayne Gretzky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gretzky thows a big elbow that misses.
Volette working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gretzky.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gretzky in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Volette trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gretzky 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.
Gretzky is looking to clinch.
Volette misses with a takedown

and Gretzky counters with a shoot takedown. Volette fights it but they end up in guard.
Gretzky cracks Volette with a solid left hand.
Volette tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gretzky got a little sloppy there for a moment and Volette has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gretzky has managed to get both his arms back between Volette's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gretzky stops Volette from standing up.
Gretzky working some strikes from top position.
Volette is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Volette isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Gretzky stacks Volette on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Gretzky!
Gretzky is looking to take a break and control but Volette is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gretzky lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gretzky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Volette keeps working.
Gretzky throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Gretzky scores with a couple of short elbows.
Gretzky cracks Volette with a big elbow.
Gretzky working the ground and pound.
Gretzky working the ground and pound.

Gretzky is trying to get an arm triangle but Volette is defending well.
Volette is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gretzky throwing strikes but Volette manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Volette lands some shots froms side control.
Volette wants to control but Gretzky is keeping him busy.

Volette tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Volette has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Volette wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Gretzky, who protects the arm well.
Gretzky is trying to control Volette's posture but Volette avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayne Gretzky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gretzky 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayne Gretzky!