PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Wessel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark DeLuca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DeLuca has chosen Welcome To The Jungle as his entrance music. Mark DeLuca is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Wessel
vs
DeLuca

180 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
19
172 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Wessel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mark DeLuca!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Reed Andrews and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wessel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
DeLuca is looking to regain half guard here but Wessel keeps moving and retains side control.
Wessel prevents DeLuca from escaping the position.

Wessel stands up.
DeLuca shoots in for a takedown but Wessel shows good takedown defense.
Wessel circles away from the clinch attempt.
DeLuca has a takedown stuffed.

Wessel gets caught flat footed, as DeLuca shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wessel trying to keep a closed guard but DeLuca is proving a slippery customer.
DeLuca missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wessel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
DeLuca is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
DeLuca wants to control from the top but Wessel keeps moving.
Wessel trying to control the position.
DeLuca trying to control but Wessel is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wessel preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
DeLuca must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Wessel goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Wessel cracks DeLuca with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
DeLuca throws a head kick that misses.
DeLuca looks gassed!
DeLuca lands a head shot.
DeLuca misses with a head kick.
DeLuca chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wessel can pounce on him.
DeLuca drops his hands momentarily and Wessel takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
DeLuca tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Good leg kick by Wessel there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Wessel instigates a clinch.
DeLuca is working for takedown but Wessel is calmly controlling the position for now.
Eric Wessel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark DeLuca.

Wessel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wessel tries to bum rush DeLuca with a series of wild strikes but DeLuca uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wessel swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wessel wants to clinch.
DeLuca fails in his attempt to clinch.
DeLuca shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Wessel as he avoids it easily.
DeLuca closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wessel circles away.
Wessel throws a series of strikes that have DeLuca backpedaling.
Wessel keeps the fight on the outside.
DeLuca tries to bum rush Wessel with a series of wild strikes but Wessel uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
DeLuca darts in trying to clinch
and Wessel counters with a good low kick that DeLuca was not able to check.
DeLuca fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Wessel gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wessel escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
DeLuca with a poor takedown

and Wessel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wessel.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wessel pushes down on DeLuca's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wessel is tying to control. DeLuca wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
DeLuca gets back to full guard.

DeLuca pushes Wessel off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Wessel has DeLuca up against the cage in a clinch.

Wessel breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Wessel dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Wessel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by DeLuca.

Wessel closes the distance and clinches.
DeLuca can't break the clinch.
Wessel is trying to break free.

Wessel breaks the clinch.
Wessel throws a nice outside leg kick.
DeLuca throws a one two combo.
Wessel throws a combination. DeLuca tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Wessel closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
DeLuca tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Wessel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Wessel working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
DeLuca is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Wessel's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeLuca trying to control here.
DeLuca is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wessel scores with a couple of nice shots.
DeLuca makes his way to full guard. A much better position for DeLuca.
DeLuca looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wessel is one step ahead there.

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.
DeLuca is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

DeLuca manages to escape and get back to his feet.
A chopping leg kick lands by Wessel.

Wessel fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with DeLuca, pushing him back against the cage.
DeLuca is trying to stall.
DeLuca fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wessel breaks from the clinch.

Wessel darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
DeLuca is trying to stand.
Wessel passes into side control, despite DeLuca's attempt to control the position.
DeLuca tries to bench press Wessel off him but Wessel keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wessel working away.
DeLuca tries to bench press Wessel off him but Wessel keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Wessel lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Wessel throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and DeLuca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
DeLuca closes the distance but Wessel moves to the side
and Wessel counters with a slapping leg kick.
Eric Wessel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wessel fails in his attempt to clinch.
DeLuca tries for a takedown but Wessel sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
DeLuca doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Wessel counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Wessel dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Wessel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of DeLuca's head.
DeLuca has his takedown stuffed
and Wessel counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
DeLuca fails in his attempt to clinch.
DeLuca shoots in looking for a takedown. Wessel tries to sprawl out of it but DeLuca keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wessel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Eric Wessel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DeLuca misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A shot to the body from Wessel misses
and DeLuca counters with a lovely straight right hand!
DeLuca shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Wessel counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in DeLuca's guard now.
Eric Wessel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark DeLuca.
Wessel postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wessel tries to free his leg and advance position but DeLuca is retaining full guard.

DeLuca has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Wessel off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeLuca looks for a takedown but Wessel sprawls well.
Wessel swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and DeLuca counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wessel!
DeLuca tries to control but Wessel wriggling away.
Wessel wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by DeLuca.
A nice elbow there by DeLuca.
DeLuca trying to control but Wessel is having none of it.
DeLuca is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wessel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wessel taking shots to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
DeLuca trying to control but Wessel is having none of it.
DeLuca is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Wessel can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeLuca controlling from the full mount.
Wessel's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

DeLuca goes for an armbar but Wessel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Wessel.
Wessel trying to move into half guard but instead DeLuca has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
DeLuca has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Wessel is proving hard to escape from.
DeLuca wants to control from the top but Wessel keeps moving.
DeLuca looking to sit in guard and control but Wessel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
DeLuca working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark DeLuca.
Well Wessel 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Eric Wessel!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Eric Wessel!
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight for Eric Wessel!

Eric Wessel wins by unanimous decision!