PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Wamberto Boaz (ranked 2620 p4p, 117 weight class) and Ashton Knuckles (ranked 2995 p4p, 136 weight class). Boaz comes to the cage accompanied by Preciso me encontrar. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Boaz
vs
Knuckles

164 cm
22
136 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

160 cm
26
135 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Solid chin

Voodoo Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

Juggernaut And Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Wamberto Boaz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ashton Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boaz swings widly with a right hand

and Knuckles counters with a single leg into guard. Boaz didn't expect that.
Knuckles throwing strikes but missing.
Knuckles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boaz swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boaz working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knuckles.
Knuckles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knuckles accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boaz trying to keep a closed guard but Knuckles is proving a slippery customer.
Knuckles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Knuckles working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles won't allow Boaz to sweep him here.

Boaz looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Knuckles throwing strikes from guard but Boaz blocks nicely.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Boaz holds on and takes a little breather.
Knuckles looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knuckles drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Knuckles jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boaz seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boaz has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Knuckles drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Boaz manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Knuckles has Boaz in his guard.

Boaz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boaz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two 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.
Knuckles punching from the bottom.
Boaz trying to control but Knuckles is working from the bottom.
Boaz wants to pass the guard but Knuckles is keeping the position.
Boaz controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boaz pushes down on Knuckles's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Knuckles looking for submissions off his back.

Knuckles looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Knuckles looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Boaz keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Boaz is trying to work for a kimura but Knuckles is defending well.
Knuckles has a hand on Boaz's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Boaz takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Boaz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boaz with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Boaz trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Knuckles blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boaz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Knuckles is trying desperately to improve position.
Boaz sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Knuckles tries to hold on but Boaz pushes him away.
Knuckles keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Boaz with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poor strikes thrown by Boaz there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wamberto Boaz dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Boaz gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Boaz has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Knuckles is trying to keep an underhook but Boaz manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Boaz seems to be working for a kimura but Knuckles defends the submission attempt.
Knuckles is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Boaz's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Boaz's back!
Knuckles thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Knuckles. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Knuckles looking for the RNC.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knuckles misses with an elbow to the head.
Knuckles lands punches and elbows.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Knuckles is hanging on to Boaz's back as he tries to escape.

Knuckles looking for the choke from the back.
Boaz trying to control but not successfully.

Knuckles has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Boaz has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles has the hooks in. Boaz is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Knuckles misses with a punch to the head.
Ashton Knuckles has got the better of the ground game so far.

Knuckles is persistently looking for the submission but Boaz is defending it well.
Boaz trying to control but not successfully.
Knuckles controlling well, preventing Boaz from escaping the position.
Boaz tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Boaz avoids a series of strikes thrown by Knuckles.
Boaz wants to hold on but Knuckles pushes him away.
Boaz is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boaz sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Boaz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Knuckles stopping the sweep attempt from Boaz.
Boaz is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Boaz is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Boaz is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Knuckles wants to get back to full guard but Boaz has mounted him!
Knuckles wants to hold on but Boaz pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles is looking to improve his position but Boaz isn't that keen on the idea.
Boaz controlling the pace for now.
Boaz looking to control but Knuckles is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boaz thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Boaz looking for a guillotine from mount but Knuckles is having none of it.
Boaz with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles is looking to improve his position but Boaz isn't that keen on the idea.

Boaz looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Boaz controlling his opponent.
Boaz avoids the attempt from Knuckles to control.
Knuckles wants to get back to his feet.
Knuckles tries to lock up and control but Boaz gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
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 Wamberto Boaz will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Boaz throws a hook but Knuckles blocks it.
Boaz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Knuckles moves away from the strike by Boaz.
Knuckles misses with a low kick.
Knuckles misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Knuckles with a poor takedown
and Boaz cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boaz lands with an overhand left.
Knuckles takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knuckles shoots in but no luck this time.
Knuckles closes the distance and clinches up with Boaz, looking for a takedown. Knuckles pushes Boaz against the cage but Boaz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wamberto Boaz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ashton Knuckles.
Knuckles uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Boaz.
Boaz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knuckles manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Knuckles.
Boaz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Boaz misses with a jab to the body
and Knuckles counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wamberto Boaz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boaz cracks Knuckles with an open hand slap.
Knuckles takes one to the side of the head.

Boaz has Knuckles up against the cage in a clinch.
Boaz pushes Knuckles back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Boaz successfully pulls guard.
Knuckles is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Knuckles throws a strike but Boaz rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boaz preventing the sweep.
Boaz engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Boaz advances to half guard.
Boaz wants to control but Knuckles is keeping him busy.
Boaz looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Boaz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boaz is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knuckles can do to turn this around?
Knuckles is in trouble now - Boaz has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boaz prevents Knuckles from getting the reversal.
Knuckles wants to control but Boaz is having none of it.
Boaz tries to control but Knuckles wriggling away.
Boaz prevents Knuckles from getting the reversal.
Knuckles is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Knuckles tries to reverse the position but Boaz maintains control.
Boaz moves to take his opponent's back.
Knuckles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
You can see the frustration on Knuckles's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Boaz looking to break Knuckles's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Knuckles remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Boaz will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Knuckles is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Boaz off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Boaz slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knuckles fending off the submission attempt from Boaz.
Boaz is hanging on to Knuckles's back as he tries to escape.

Boaz is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Knuckles defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
You can see the frustration on Knuckles's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Knuckles rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Boaz is looking to advance position but Knuckles won't allow it.
Ashton Knuckles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boaz moves nicely into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wamberto Boaz showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Boaz has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wamberto Boaz!
During a confident post fight interview, Wamberto Boaz thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.