PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wilfried Handel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Caines (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wilfried Handel has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Handel
vs
Caines

185 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
21
183 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Wilfried Handel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Caines!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Handel lunges at Caines with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Caines's hand.
Caines takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jab by Handel.
Handel lands an overhand right.
Handel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Caines decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Caines seems to be looking for submissions.

Caines is working for a submission of some sort.
Caines looks gassed!
Handel wants to improve his position but Caines is controlling well.
Handel is in trouble now - Caines has advanced to mount!
Caines should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Handel is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handel is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Handel is desperately trying to improve his position but Caines has a good base and remains in mount.
Handel regains half guard.
Handel is looking for a sweep. Caines is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Handel works his way to full guard. Good work.

Handel has his foot on Caines's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Caines works his way back into a safe position though.

Handel is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Caines defends well.
Handel keeping full guard, as Caines tries to pass.
Caines is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Caines avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Handel wants to sweep but no luck.

Caines drops back looking for a leg! Handel is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Handel manages to kick Caines off! Caines jumps back into Handel's guard.

Caines thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Handel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caines tries to free his leg and advance position but Handel is retaining full guard.
Caines preventing the sweep.

Handel working for a triangle but Caines defends it easily.

Caines avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Caines won't allow Handel to sweep him here.

Caines is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Handel is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Handel has escaped and now he's on top!
Handel looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Handel drops back looking for a leg! Caines is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Caines manages to kick Handel off! Handel jumps back into Caines's guard.
Handel advances position into side control!
Caines tries to improve position but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Handel is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Caines looks calm but he's in trouble here. Handel gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Caines is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Handel lets go of the hold and Caines can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Wilfried Handel!
Wilfried Handel is the new middleweight champion!