PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between John Staley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Staley comes to the cage accompanied by Man in the Box. John Wilkins 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!

Staley
vs
Wilkins

185 cm
22
171 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Staley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Wilkins!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Chad Campbell and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Staley tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wilkins moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Staley drives through with a takedown into guard.
Staley postures up.
Wilkins might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Staley kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Staley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Staley wanted to stand there but Wilkins had control of the position.
Wilkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Staley's guard.
Staley wants to stand but Wilkins is controlling the position.
Wilkins trying to stand up but can't free himself from Staley's guard.
Wilkins won't allow Staley to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Staley is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Wilkins has Staley pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Staley manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Staley taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Staley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wilkins throws a head kick that half lands.

It looks like John Staley has been cut.
Wilkins misses with a takedown attempt

and Staley counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Staley is breathing heavily.
Staley working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Staley misses with a head shot. Wilkins uses the momentum to regain guard.
Staley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilkins is keeping the position for now.
Staley wanted to stand there but Wilkins had control of the position.
Staley won't allow Wilkins to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Staley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wilkins is proving hard to escape from.
Wilkins is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Staley stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilkins. Wilkins gets slowly back to his feet.
John Staley has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Wilkins.
Staley circles away from the clinch attempt

and Staley counters with a single leg into guard. Wilkins didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilkins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Wilkins is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Staley trying to move into half guard but instead Wilkins has managed to sweep!
Wilkins passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Wilkins wants to stand but Staley has his arm trapped.

Staley sneaks out the side door and pushes Wilkins away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Wilkins gets caught flat footed, as Staley shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Staley pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wilkins is keeping the position for now.
Staley is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Staley lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Staley trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilkins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilkins controls Staley momentarily but Staley frees himself.
Staley trying to control but Wilkins is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilkins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wilkins wants to stand and escape but Staley is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Staley dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Staley's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Wilkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Staley swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wilkins with a poor takedown

and Staley counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Staley.
Wilkins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Staley jumps guard.
John Staley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Staley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Wilkins defends well.
Staley 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.
Wilkins trying to control but Staley is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Staley wants to stand and escape but Wilkins is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wilkins is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wilkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Wilkins advances position into side control!
Wilkins is looking to take a break and control but Staley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Staley is trying to work for a sweep but Wilkins has mounted him!
Staley really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Staley is working hard here to advance position.
Wilkins putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Staley is working to get back to half guard.
Staley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wilkins on the ground.
Wilkins unloading with bombs!

Wilkins throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Staley has his hands clasped together but Wilkins breaks the hold and Staley is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Wilkins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). John Wilkins!