PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Sole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Wilkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Sole
vs
Wilkins

175 cm
19
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 London, Matt Sole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Wilkins!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sole closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wilkins landing strikes from the bottom.
Wilkins gets full guard.

Wilkins has an active guard here but Sole has managed to pass into half guard.
Sole looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wilkins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wilkins is trying to get back to full guard.
Wilkins throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Wilkins on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Wilkins is not content to let Sole control the position.
Wilkins punching from the bottom.
Sole stops Wilkins from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilkins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Sole gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Wilkins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sole working for a triangle but Wilkins defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins is looking to work some ground and pound but Sole has wrist control.
Sole working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wilkins.
Wilkins looking to pass the guard.
Wilkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Wilkins throws a big right hand that misses.
Wilkins looks gassed!
Wilkins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sole working a defensive guard here.
Wilkins looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wilkins misses with a two punch combination.

Wilkins closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sole tries to roll over but Wilkins keeps him under control.
Sole gets back to full guard.
Wilkins throws a big right hand that misses.

Sole looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Wilkins postures up and lands a big shot to Sole's brow.
Sole trying to control the position.

Sole looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sole utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wilkins stops Sole from standing up.
Wilkins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sole wants to sweep but no luck.
Wilkins lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wilkins postures up and lands a big shot to Sole's brow.
Wilkins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sole preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sole drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Wilkins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sole's guard.
Wilkins with a nice head shot there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sole is on top in guard.
Wilkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sole is one step ahead there.
Wilkins doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Sole stands and throws Wilkins's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wilkins manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sole wants to get back to full guard.
Wilkins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Sole defending well though.
Wilkins wants to pass the guard but Sole is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sole manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Wilkins chips away with some ground and pound.
Sole is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Wilkins stands and throws Sole's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wilkins is putting a hurting on Sole here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sole gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sole moves into full guard.
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 Matt Sole will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wilkins misses with a two punch combination.
Sole slips a jab and a cross from Wilkins.
Wilkins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wilkins scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Sole moves in looking to clinch but Wilkins pushes him off.
Sole takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Sole is rocked!
Wilkins throws a right hand that Sole ducks under and follows up with a left that Sole also avoids with ease.
Sole fails with a takedown attempt.
Wilkins has his takedown stuffed

and Sole counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wilkins!
Sole is landing with some decent strikes but Wilkins is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Sole with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Wilkins gets back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins regains full guard. Nicely done.
Wilkins throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sole wants to control from the top but Wilkins keeps moving.
Wilkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sole.
Sole won't allow Wilkins to sweep him here.

Sole drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sole jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Wilkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sole trying to control but Wilkins is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A punch combination from Wilkins misses.
Wilkins falls off balance throwing a combination

and Sole counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Sole.

Sole stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Wilkins shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Wilkins showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sole looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wilkins connects with a nice short shot to Sole's temple.
Wilkins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Oh Sole is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!

Wilkins seems to be working for a kimura but Sole defends the submission attempt.
Wilkins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wilkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Sole tries to get to full guard but Wilkins has control of the leg.
Wilkins slips a nice elbow through Sole's hands, connecting with Sole's forehead.

Wilkins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sole is pressing down on Wilkins's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins lands a couple of digs.
Sole seems to have got his legs back now.

Sole had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Wilkins is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sole Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Wilkins's back instead.
Wilkins wants to escape the position.
Sole is trying to stick to Wilkins's back but Wilkins is turning into Sole. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sole's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Wilkins.
Wilkins is pushing down on Sole's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sole is fighting to maintain full guard but Wilkins has managed to sneak the leg through.
Wilkins is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Wilkins is thwarting Sole's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkins 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.
Sole wants to improve his position but Wilkins is controlling well.
Wilkins working Sole over with strikes.
Wilkins takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Wilkins decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Sole scores with a takedown into Wilkins's guard.
Wilkins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sole makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Sole.
Wilkins postures up.
Wilkins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sole works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Sole will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice uppercut lands for Sole. That snapped Wilkins's head back.
Wilkins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sole swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Wilkins misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wilkins fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Sole will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wilkins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Sole moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Matt Sole is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sole tries to close the distance and clinch up but Wilkins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No joy there for Wilkins, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wilkins fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sole on the side of the head.
A combination from Wilkins does no damage.
A left and a right from Wilkins both land. Nice combination.
Wilkins keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Wilkins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Wilkins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Sole is looking to improve his position but Wilkins isn't that keen on the idea.
Wilkins lands with some strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkins landing shots from mount.
Wilkins prevents Sole from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Wilkins connects with a massive shot to the dome!
A nice elbow there by Wilkins.
Wilkins lands a big shot to the head and Sole winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Matt Wilkins!