PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Gonzales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wheeler comes to the cage accompanied by Don't Damn Me. Gonzales is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Eminem - Go to Sleep. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wheeler
vs
Gonzales

185 cm
22
229 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

191 cm
22
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Bling Bling

Koffin Inc.

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mike Wheeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Gonzales!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Chris Edwards and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gonzales throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gonzales tries a head kick but it misses.
Wheeler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gonzales throws out the jab.
Wheeler blocks a jab.
Wheeler misses with a takedown attempt - Gonzales sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gonzales throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gonzales stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gonzales wants it to stay on the feet.
Gonzales misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A cross from Gonzales lands.
Gonzales tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gonzales motions for Wheeler to come forward. Gonzales throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gonzales swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzales throws a sloppy head kick and Wheeler moves out of range easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wheeler.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Wheeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wheeler is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gonzales sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gonzales gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Wheeler counters with a takedown into side control.
Gonzales wants to control but Wheeler postures up.
Wheeler throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Gonzales works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Wheeler tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gonzales knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Wheeler.
Wheeler looking to pass the guard.
Gonzales keeping moving, preventing Wheeler from controlling successfully.
Wheeler missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gonzales is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wheeler moves out of range as Gonzales strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales tries to clinch but Wheeler moves out of range.
Gonzales throws out a leg kick but Wheeler moves out of range and Gonzales only half commits.
Wheeler takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wheeler slips under a jab.
Wheeler thows a body shot but no joy.
Wheeler with a poor takedown
and Gonzales counters with a slapping leg kick.
Wheeler avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Wheeler shoots and misses
and Gonzales counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Wheeler's head.
Wheeler checks a low kick from Gonzales.
Wheeler fails with the takedown
and Gonzales makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Gonzales misses with a head kick.
Gonzales misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Wheeler gets caught flat footed, as Gonzales shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gonzales missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gonzales wants to control from the top but Wheeler keeps moving.

Wheeler is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gonzales works over Wheeler with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gonzales scores with a push kick.
Gonzales scoring well with a low kick there.
Gonzales tries to clinch but Wheeler moves out of range.
Gonzales loads up on a big right hand but Wheeler slips the punch.
Wheeler looks to score with a jab to the body but Gonzales is just out of range.
Gonzales paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wheeler has his takedown stuffed
and Gonzales counters with a three punch combo that has Wheeler backing up. Wheeler nods at Gonzales to acknowledge the strikes.
Gonzales pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wheeler closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gonzales counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wheeler misses with a wild body shot.
Gonzales fails to land the takedown.
Wheeler swings for the body but Gonzales moves out of range.
Gonzales lands a high kick!
Gonzales connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Wheeler avoids the head kick by Gonzales.
Gonzales misses with a low kick.
Gonzales lands with a kick to the temple. Wheeler shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzales tries for a takedown but Wheeler circles away easily

and Wheeler counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gonzales's guard now.
Wheeler slips nicely into half guard.
Wheeler is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gonzales!
Wheeler 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Wheeler is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gonzales has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gonzales!
Gonzales trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gonzales trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Wheeler is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gonzales postures up.
Gonzales missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Gonzales thows a big elbow that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gonzales throws a leg kick but Wheeler checks it.
Gonzales throws a head kick that misses.
Wheeler with a lazy takedown attempt
and Gonzales counters with a nice leg kick.
Wheeler is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Wheeler shoots and misses
and Gonzales counters with a nice leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Wheeler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gonzales fails with the takedown

and Wheeler counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gonzales defends it well.

Gonzales looking for submissions off his back.

Wheeler is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Gonzales is staying active underneath Wheeler, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Gonzales will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gonzales connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rafael Gonzales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wheeler takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Gonzales lands with a slapping head kick.
Wheeler has his takedown stuffed
and Gonzales counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Wheeler is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Gonzales is looking to chop away at Wheeler's legs.

Gonzales gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mike Wheeler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wheeler forces his way into half guard.

Gonzales looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wheeler is looking for a kimura but Gonzales is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Wheeler to get the leverage.
Gonzales is refusing to be controlled, as Wheeler sits in half guard.
Wheeler throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wheeler is pressing down on Gonzales's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gonzales is holding on for now.

Gonzales is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Wheeler pulls his head out easily.
Gonzales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gonzales has hold of Wheeler's hands but Wheeler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wheeler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Wheeler is working for a submission of some sort.
Wheeler takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gonzales is looking to get back to is feet but Wheeler passes into side control.
Gonzales tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Gonzales knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Wheeler working the ground and pound but Gonzales is defending the strikes.

Wheeler thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Gonzales is pushing Wheeler's head away, looking to escape. Wheeler manages to hold on to the position though.
Wheeler taking a break here but Gonzales is having none of it and regains half guard.

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.
Gonzales is trying to stand.
Mike Wheeler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wheeler wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gonzales keeps working.

Wheeler is looking for a kimura here.

Wheeler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gonzales has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Wheeler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Gonzales has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Gonzales!