PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gil Walton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gil Walton has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Walton
vs
Wheeler

176 cm
21
151 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gil Walton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wheeler is fending him off so far but Walton persists. Nope, Wheeler circles away and we're back to standing.

Wheeler closes the distance and pushes Walton back into the cage.
Walton wants to stall.
Walton tries to break free but Wheeler pushes him back against the cage.
Walton tries to break free but Wheeler pushes him back against the cage.
Wheeler with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Wheeler has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Walton uses from the top position.
Wheeler wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Walton trying to control the position from guard on top but Wheeler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walton is looking to work some ground and pound but Wheeler has wrist control.

Wheeler has his foot on Walton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Walton works his way back into a safe position though.
Walton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Walton is stalling in the full guard.
Wheeler trying to control the position here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Wheeler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Walton can't find room to land a body shot as Wheeler controls the action.

Walton breaks the clinch.
Wheeler misses with a body kick.

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.

Wheeler moves into the clinch.
Walton trying to stall but Wheeler improves his position.
Walton tries to circle away but Wheeler has him pinned against the cage.
Walton can't break the clinch.
Wheeler keeps control of Walton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Wheeler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Walton moves to clinch but Wheeler breaks away

and Wheeler counters with a nice double leg into side control. Walton won't be happy with that.
Wheeler controls the position.
Walton is trying to control Wheeler's posture but Wheeler avoids it.
Wheeler in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walton wants to get back to his feet but Wheeler drags him back down.
Walton seems a little lost for a moment, as Wheeler dominates the positioning.
Walton wants to control but Wheeler postures up.
Walton is looking to reverse the position.
Wheeler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Walton keeps working.

Wheeler tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Wheeler has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Walton regains half guard.
Walton wants to get back to his feet.
Walton is refusing to be controlled, as Wheeler sits in half guard.

Walton actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wheeler slows the pace down in half guard.
Wheeler wants to control but Walton is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Walton wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wheeler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Walton tries to avoid it but Wheeler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Walton to the ground. Walton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wheeler keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wheeler drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Wheeler dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wheeler is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Walton's half guard.
Ryan Wheeler has got the better of the ground game so far.
Well, if Wheeler is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Wheeler prevents Walton from standing back up.

Wheeler is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Walton flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walton tries to kick Wheeler off but Wheeler keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Walton is defending against the submission attempts here by Wheeler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler controlling the action here.
Wheeler trying to control the action but Walton is working from the bottom.
Wheeler stops Walton from getting back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Wheeler misses with the combination.
Walton tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Wheeler manages to circle out of the way.
Wheeler shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler has Walton pressed against the cage, preventing Walton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Walton tries to break the clinch but Wheeler is controlling the position.

Wheeler breaks the clinch.

Walton pushes Wheeler up against the cage in a clinch.

Wheeler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ryan Wheeler seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wheeler misses with a head kick.
No luck for Walton with that takedown attempt.
Wheeler swings for the body but Walton moves out of range.
Walton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gil Walton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Walton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Wheeler!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Walton is not content to let Wheeler control the position.
Walton gets full guard.
Wheeler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Wheeler is breathing heavily.
Walton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Walton looking to control.
Wheeler chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wheeler preventing the sweep.
Walton is working hard here to advance position.
Wheeler showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Walton is keeping the position for now.
Walton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wheeler controls the pace.
Walton wants to stand but Wheeler is controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wheeler wants to stand but Walton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Walton is working an open guard so Wheeler takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Wheeler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Walton blocks a head kick by Wheeler.
Walton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Walton throws a combination that misses

and Wheeler moves into the clinch.
Wheeler tries to pull guard but Walton holds him up against the cage and eventually Wheeler drops back down to his feet.

Wheeler breaks the clinch.

Wheeler closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Walton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Walton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Walton tries to keep at a distance but Wheeler has taken the fight into the clinch.

Walton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Walton misses.
Walton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Wheeler closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Wheeler perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Wheeler tries to pass to full mount but Walton defends it.
Walton is refusing to be controlled, as Wheeler sits in half guard.
Walton looks like he's trying to stand up.
Walton is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler is keen to just control but Walton is a slippery customer.
Wheeler is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Wheeler looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Wheeler is taking a breather. Walton 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.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Walton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wheeler with the counter takedown but Walton avoids it easily.

Wheeler drives through with a takedown into Walton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Wheeler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler won't allow Walton to sweep him here.
Wheeler wants to pass the guard but Walton is keeping the position.
Walton controls Wheeler momentarily but Wheeler frees himself.
Wheeler trying to control but Walton is working from the bottom.
Wheeler scoring with some ground and pound.
Walton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Wheeler is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Wheeler instigates a clinch.
Wheeler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Walton walks away with a smile on his face. Wheeler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Walton looks to land a combination but Wheeler avoids it well.
Wheeler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Walton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wheeler throws a series of punches but Walton avoids them all with ease.
Walton scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Gil Walton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Wheeler is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Walton misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Wheeler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Wheeler winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Wheeler!