PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Branson OToole (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zakk Wylde (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). OToole comes to the cage accompanied by Danny Boy. Wylde comes into a darkened arena with his song building. A Song For You by Zack Wylde kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

OToole
vs
Wylde

182 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
196 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Backyard Fighting

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Branson OToole!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zakk Wylde!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Elvis Blanc and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wylde has taken the fight to the clinch.
OToole softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wylde swings wildly with an uppercut but OToole uses good head movement to avoid it.
OToole misses with a punch on the inside.
Wylde throws a punch but it's blocked by OToole.
Wylde's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Wylde looking to slow down the pace here.
A short left from OToole.
Wylde wants to break free but OToole has control.
Wylde is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wylde is looking to control OToole's arms but OToole gets an underhook and turns him. Now Wylde has his back to the cage.
A nice left hand lands by OToole.
OToole lands a body punch in the clinch.
OToole prevents a body shot from Wylde.
Wylde blocking some punches.
A frustrated look appears on Wylde's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Wylde has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. OToole seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Wylde can turn it around.
Wylde tries a body shot but OToole blocks it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by OToole as Wylde tries to tie him up.
A quick uppercut on the inside from OToole.

That's one minute gone in the round.
OToole swings wildly with an uppercut but Wylde uses good head movement to avoid it.
OToole makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wylde wants to get back to striking at distance but OToole won't allow it.
Wylde tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Wylde goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wylde looking to stall.
A short uppercut from OToole.
OToole pushes Wylde back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Wylde is trying to force a seperation but OToole has the dominant position.
OToole lands a shoulder strike.
Wylde misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wylde prevents a body shot from OToole.
OToole tries to throw a body punch but Wylde avoids it by throwing OToole back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from OToole.
OToole working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wylde slowing the pace effectively.
A short left from OToole.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
OToole working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wylde misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right handed body shot lands from OToole.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short uppercut from OToole.
OToole lands a left hand.
Wylde misses with a hook from the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
OToole lands with a short shot to the head.
OToole lands a shoulder strike.

Wylde is rocked!
I was talking to OToole's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
OToole pushes Wylde against the cage. OToole is working some dirty boxing. OToole pushes off with a quick right hook! Wylde goes down! Wylde tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! OToole moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:42 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Branson OToole!
After winning the bout, Branson OToole thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.