PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Wilkinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Fletcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wilkinson
vs
Fletcher

195 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
23
205 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Wilkinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steve Fletcher!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilkinson doesn't manage to clinch there - Fletcher circles away.
Wilkinson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Fletcher throws a nice looking combination but Wilkinson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wilkinson is looking to clinch but Fletcher is avoiding it.
Wilkinson is looking to clinch.
Wilkinson thows a body kick. Fletcher tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Wilkinson tries to close the distance and clinch but Fletcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fletcher drops Wilkinson with a left right combo! Fletcher follows him down to the ground into side control.

It looks like Steve Wilkinson has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fletcher takes a little break here. Wilkinson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Fletcher working away.
Fletcher staying calm.
Wilkinson struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Fletcher.
Fletcher trying to control the position but Wilkinson is working away.
Fletcher throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Wilkinson works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Fletcher throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wilkinson wants to improve his position but Fletcher is controlling well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilkinson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wilkinson has his takedown stuffed
and Fletcher counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Fletcher looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson throws a right hand that Fletcher ducks under and follows up with a left that Fletcher also avoids with ease.
Fletcher closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wilkinson circles away.
Fletcher takes one on the button.
A slapping body kick lands there for Wilkinson.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Wilkinson.

Wilkinson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Wilkinson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Fletcher wants to get back to full guard.
Wilkinson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fletcher is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wilkinson looking to secure an arm triangle but Fletcher defends it well.

Wilkinson stands up from mount. Strange move.

Wilkinson has managed to clinch.
Wilkinson gets underhooks to prevent Fletcher's takedown attempt.
Steve Wilkinson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Fletcher.
Wilkinson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Wilkinson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Fletcher clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Will Wilkinson go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher rolls, trying to escape but Wilkinson keeps control of the position.
Fletcher rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Fletcher tries to get to full guard but Wilkinson has control of the leg.
Fletcher wants to control but Wilkinson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wilkinson wants to pass the guard but Fletcher is defending well.
Fletcher manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Fletcher dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Steve Wilkinson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Wilkinson tries to clinch up.
Fletcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Wilkinson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wilkinson has his takedown stuffed

and Fletcher counters with a shoot takedown. Wilkinson fights it but they end up in guard.
Fletcher stands and throws Wilkinson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Wilkinson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Fletcher is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wilkinson tries to get to full guard but Fletcher has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fletcher drops an elbow to the side of Wilkinson's head.
Fletcher keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Wilkinson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Fletcher wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wilkinson keeps working.

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.
Fletcher trying to control from Wilkinson's half guard. Wilkinson has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Wilkinson trying to keep a closed guard but Fletcher is proving a slippery customer.
Fletcher wants to control from the top but Wilkinson keeps moving.

Wilkinson has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Fletcher is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Wilkinson.
Fletcher looking to control but instead Wilkinson has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Fletcher is trying to control the action in half guard but Wilkinson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Steve Fletcher just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wilkinson tries to close the distance and clinch but Fletcher swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wilkinson looks to clinch

and Fletcher counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Wilkinson!
Wilkinson is squirming around, avoiding Fletcher's attempts to control the action.
Wilkinson is looking to get to half guard.
Fletcher working the ground and pound effectively.
Wilkinson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wilkinson is bucking up trying to escape but Fletcher cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Wilkinson tries to hold on but Fletcher postures up.
Fletcher looking to finish Wilkinson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wilkinson!
Wilkinson is looking to get to half guard.
Fletcher scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Wilkinson?
Wilkinson tries to hold on but Fletcher pushes him away.
Fletcher looking to finish Wilkinson with some ground and pound. This is bad for Wilkinson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Fletcher showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Wilkinson's cut.
That's time! Wilkinson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Wilkinson fails to land the takedown.
Wilkinson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fletcher as he avoids it easily.
Fletcher swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilkinson.

Fletcher gets the takedown into side control.
Wilkinson taking a bit of punishment here - Fletcher scoring with strikes.
Wilkinson is letting Fletcher control him for a moment.
Wilkinson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilkinson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Wilkinson is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkinson struggling a bit here.
Fletcher trying to control the position but Wilkinson is working away.
Check out the look on Fletcher's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Wilkinson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fletcher throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wilkinson counters with a three punch combo that has Fletcher backing up. Fletcher nods at Wilkinson to acknowledge the strikes.

Wilkinson shoots in and bounces Fletcher off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Fletcher looking for a sweep. Not yet Fletcher, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkinson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fletcher is keeping the position for now.
Wilkinson trying to control the position from guard on top but Fletcher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fletcher is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fletcher manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wilkinson manages to get himself to full guard.
Fletcher lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fletcher preventing the sweep.
Wilkinson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fletcher is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fletcher can do anything to dispel that myth.
Fletcher holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Wilkinson is thwarting Fletcher's attempts to control the position.
Fletcher wants to get back to full guard.
Fletcher is pressing down on Wilkinson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fletcher looking to control.

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.
Wilkinson is looking to stand up but Fletcher won't let him.
Fletcher keeping full guard, as Wilkinson tries to pass.
Wilkinson looking to sit in guard and control but Fletcher gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Fletcher controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fletcher preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Fletcher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Fletcher 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 John Mangel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Fletcher!