PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Henrique Yamamoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wheeler has chosen Iron Man as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Yamamoto
vs
Wheeler

195 cm
18
262 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Henrique Yamamoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wheeler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yamamoto as he avoids it easily.

Wheeler closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Yamamoto did well to prevent Wheeler getting side control.
Yamamoto regains full guard. Nicely done.

Yamamoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wheeler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Wheeler drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Yamamoto manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Wheeler has Yamamoto in his guard.
Yamamoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Wheeler is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wheeler is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wheeler throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Yamamoto escapes and throws Wheeler's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Yamamoto tries to stand but Wheeler is controlling his head.
Wheeler throws a few strikes from the bottom but Yamamoto takes advantage and mounts!
Wheeler tries to reverse the position but Yamamoto maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Yamamoto wants to control the pace but Wheeler is squirming around nicely.
Yamamoto is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Wheeler is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Yamamoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wheeler on the ground.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Wheeler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wheeler is trying to get back to full guard.

Wheeler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Yamamoto pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wheeler is pressing down on Yamamoto's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Wheeler wants to sweep but no luck.
Wheeler looks gassed!
Yamamoto wants to stand but Wheeler is controlling his posture from full guard.

Wheeler looking for a guillotine here but Yamamoto defends easily.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Wheeler 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.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Yamamoto.
Wheeler is looking to regain half guard here but Yamamoto keeps moving and retains side control.

Yamamoto decides to stand back up. Yamamoto steps back and let's Wheeler get back to his feet.
Yamamoto misses with a takedown attempt

and Wheeler counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wheeler advances position into side control!

Wheeler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Yamamoto is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Yamamoto sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler passes to side control.
Wheeler throws an elbow but Yamamoto slips to the side and avoids it well.

Wheeler goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Yamamoto rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Wheeler's guard! Nice work there by Yamamoto!
Yamamoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Wheeler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Wheeler working for a triangle but Yamamoto defends it easily.
Yamamoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Wheeler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wheeler looking to control but Yamamoto passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler wants to improve his position but Yamamoto is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wheeler gets back to full guard.
Yamamoto stopping the sweep attempt from Wheeler.
Wheeler keeping full guard, as Yamamoto tries to pass.

That's four 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 will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Wheeler looking for a sweep. Not yet Wheeler, not yet.
Yamamoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wheeler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Wheeler has an active guard here but Yamamoto has managed to pass into half guard.
Wheeler wants to get back to full guard.
Wheeler moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wheeler keeping moving, preventing Yamamoto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Wheeler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Yamamoto pushes Wheeler up against the cage in a clinch.

Yamamoto breaks the clinch.
Yamamoto blocks a head kick by Wheeler.
Wheeler misses the shot to the body.
Wheeler closes the distance and clinches up with Yamamoto, looking for a takedown. Wheeler pushes Yamamoto against the cage but Yamamoto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Yamamoto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Wheeler feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Wheeler drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Yamamoto manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Wheeler has Yamamoto in his guard.
Wheeler looking to control.
Wheeler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yamamoto has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wheeler is proving hard to escape from.
Wheeler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wheeler looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Yamamoto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Yamamoto thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Wheeler's head.
Wheeler works his way to full guard. Good work.
Wheeler looking to hit a scissor sweep but Yamamoto is one step ahead there.
Yamamoto has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wheeler is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Wheeler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yamamoto defends well.
Wheeler wants to sweep here but Yamamoto controlling him for the moment.

Wheeler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yamamoto preventing the sweep.
Yamamoto's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Yamamoto lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Wheeler backs up against the cage.

Yamamoto clinches with his opponent.

Yamamoto gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wheeler is not content to let Yamamoto control the position.
Wheeler slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Henrique Yamamoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yamamoto is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Yamamoto can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Yamamoto avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mike Wheeler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Wheeler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Yamamoto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Yamamoto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mike Wheeler.
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 Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

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