PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rich Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Deanthony Wagner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Junior
vs
Wagner

175 cm
24
159 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

183 cm
22
145 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

MMA nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rich Junior!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Deanthony Wagner!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wagner slips a jab and a cross from Junior.
Wagner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Junior darts in and clinches Wagner up against the cage.

Junior jumps into guard, dragging Wagner to the mat.
Junior wants to stand but Wagner is controlling the position.
Wagner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Junior's guard.

Junior working for a triangle but Wagner defends it easily.
Junior throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Wagner drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Junior dives on top into guard.
Wagner is looking to stand up but Junior isn't so interested in that idea.
Junior is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Junior trying to control but Wagner is working from the bottom.
Junior lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wagner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wagner wants to get back to his feet but Junior is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wagner working a defensive guard here.
Junior pushes down on Wagner's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Junior working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Wagner's thigh. Wagner counters though and makes it back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Wagner trying to keep a closed guard but Junior is proving a slippery customer.
Junior 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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Junior trying to control but Wagner is working from the bottom.
Junior throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wagner works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wagner keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Junior missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Wagner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Junior is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Junior controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior postures up in Wagner's guard and throws a big left but Wagner blocks it.
Junior slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Junior looking to pass the guard.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Wagner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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

Wagner has his feet on Junior's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Junior stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Junior wants it to stay on the feet.

Junior gets a double leg takedown into Wagner's guard.
Junior slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner has control of Junior's left arm, preventing Junior from doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Junior looking to pass the guard.
Junior lands a couple of digs.
Wagner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Junior sitting in guard here, content to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Junior cracks Wagner with a solid left hand.
Junior pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wagner is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rich Junior dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Wagner shoots in and drives through. Junior sprawls well.
Wagner throws a body shot but no joy.
Junior scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Junior clobbers Wagner with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Wagner is rocked!

Junior decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wagner is still in real trouble! Can Junior finish him?
Wagner won't allow Junior to pass to mount.

Junior is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wagner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Junior is looking to advance position but Wagner won't allow it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Wagner seems to have recovered his senses.
Junior has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Junior is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wagner doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Junior.
Junior working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junior is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wagner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Wagner is refusing to be controlled, as Junior sits in half guard.
Rich Junior overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Still in half guard, Junior seems content to control.
Junior is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wagner can do to turn this around?
Wagner wants to control but Junior is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wagner is staying active underneath Junior, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Junior content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Wagner wants to get back to his feet.
Wagner has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Junior is controlling the pace.
Junior is looking to advance position but Wagner won't allow it.
Junior seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wagner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wagner is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Junior scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wagner manages to get to full guard.
Wagner has momentary wrist control but Junior slips an elbow through the middle.
Junior pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Wagner is keeping the position for now.
Junior stands up over Wagner, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Junior is staying tight to Wagner's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Junior trying to control the action but Wagner is working from the bottom.
Wagner is letting Junior control him for a moment.
Wagner on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Wagner tries to bench press Junior off him but Junior keeps the position.
Wagner is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wagner taking some punishment here, with Junior in his half guard.
Wagner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Junior performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior lands strikes from half guard.
Junior seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Junior looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Wagner with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Junior is sitting in half guard. He's postured up and lands a nice elbow. Oh, Wagner is hurt! He's hurt bad - Junior fires away with more strikes and the referee jumps in to save Wagner from any more punishment! Congratulations to Junior! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rich Junior!
An out of breath Rich Junior thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.