PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Malcom Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eleone Simonato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malcom Wheeler has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Wheeler
vs
Simonato

191 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Malcom Wheeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Eleone Simonato!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simonato slaps away a takedown attempt from Wheeler, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Simonato clinches up against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Simonato.
Wheeler has had enough of the clinch but Simonato keeps him there for the moment.

Simonato gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Simonato must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Simonato is looking to work some ground and pound but Wheeler has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler keeping full guard, as Simonato tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simonato postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wheeler keeping moving, preventing Simonato from controlling successfully.
Simonato wants to pass the guard but Wheeler is keeping the position.
Wheeler can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Simonato controls the pace.
Simonato wants to stand but Wheeler has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

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

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.
Wheeler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Simonato fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Wheeler sprawls well initially but Simonato persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Simonato not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Simonato seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wheeler does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wheeler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Simonato.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Simonato is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Wheeler trying to control from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Simonato is working for a submission of some sort.
Wheeler lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wheeler on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Wheeler gets caught flat footed, as Simonato shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wheeler working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Simonato has passed into half guard!
Wheeler is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Simonato passes the guard and advances to mount!
Wheeler is in all sorts of trouble here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wheeler wants to control but Simonato is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eleone Simonato dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Simonato shoots in and gets a takedown into Wheeler's guard.
Wheeler is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Wheeler trying to keep a closed guard but Simonato is proving a slippery customer.
Simonato wanted to stand there but Wheeler had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler is trying to keep Simonato in close.
Simonato wants to control from the top but Wheeler keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wheeler throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Wheeler displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Simonato throws out the jab.

Simonato closes the distance and clinches.

Simonato ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Simonato no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Wheeler stays in close to Simonato's body and controls the position.

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

Simonato throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler working some strikes from top position.
Wheeler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Wheeler postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wheeler sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wheeler seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Simonato for as long as he can get away with.

Simonato looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wheeler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simonato is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Simonato working for a triangle but Wheeler defends it easily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Simonato is breathing heavily.

Simonato rushes Wheeler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Simonato holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Simonato tightens his grip and picks Wheeler up, before dumping him to the ground. Wheeler manages to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simonato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Wheeler swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Wheeler is looking for a triangle but Simonato pushes his legs off easily.

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

Wheeler is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Simonato is aware though and is defending well.
Simonato trying to move into half guard but instead Wheeler has managed to sweep!

Wheeler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wheeler is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eleone Simonato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Simonato darts in and clinches Wheeler up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Wheeler manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simonato stuffs the takedown attempt from Wheeler. Wheeler gets slowly back to his feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Wheeler.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simonato throws out a loose jab but Wheeler uses good head movement to avoid it.
Wheeler jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Simonato scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Simonato performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Simonato looks to land a strike but Wheeler avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Wheeler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Simonato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Simonato trying to control the position from guard on top but Wheeler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simonato works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Simonato works his way into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler tries to hold on but Simonato pushes him away.

Simonato goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Wheeler is on top in guard.
Simonato has a closed guard, preventing Wheeler from standing up.
Wheeler showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wheeler with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Simonato can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Wheeler controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler tries to stand but Simonato is controlling from the bottom.
Wheeler controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wheeler wants to clinch up but Simonato keeps it at a distance.

Simonato closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Simonato pulls Wheeler into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wheeler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Wheeler won't allow Simonato to sweep him here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eleone Simonato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Simonato 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eleone Simonato!