PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mason Schmidt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Wheeler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Schmidt
vs
Wheeler

156 cm
20
151 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mason Schmidt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ryan Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wheeler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wheeler changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Schmidt tries to avoid it but Wheeler manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Schmidt to the ground. Schmidt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Schmidt stuffs the takedown attempt from Wheeler. Wheeler gets slowly back to his feet.
Mason Schmidt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Wheeler.
Wheeler tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Schmidt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Schmidt attempts a counter takedown but Wheeler avoids it well and moves away.
Schmidt really is a fat lump.

Wheeler closes the distance and pushes Schmidt back into the cage.

Wheeler ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Wheeler no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Schmidt throwing strikes but missing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schmidt connects with a couple of short punches.
Wheeler is looking to stand up but Schmidt isn't so interested in that idea.
Schmidt cracks Wheeler with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schmidt stopping the sweep attempt from Wheeler.
Wheeler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Schmidt.
Wheeler avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Schmidt preventing the sweep.
Schmidt throws a strike but Wheeler rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Schmidt keeping full guard, as Wheeler tries to pass.
Schmidt controls Wheeler momentarily but Wheeler frees himself.
Wheeler stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Schmidt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Schmidt trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wheeler is one step ahead there.
Wheeler passes Schmidt's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wheeler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wheeler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Schmidt is looking to control Wheeler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Schmidt avoid being mounted?
Wheeler with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt is trying to control but can't.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Wheeler has taken the fight to the clinch.
Schmidt wants a takedown.
Schmidt being controlled against the cage.

Wheeler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wheeler misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler lands a nice hook to Schmidt's body. Schmidt takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Schmidt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Wheeler scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Schmidt tries to close the distance and clinch but Wheeler swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Schmidt shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Schmidt gets tackled into the cage by Wheeler. Wheeler maintains the clinch.
Schmidt is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wheeler is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Wheeler jumps into guard, dragging Schmidt to the mat.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Schmidt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wheeler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Wheeler dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Schmidt decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Wheeler kicks Schmidt off and gets back to his feet.

Wheeler clinches with his opponent.
Wheeler just leaning against Schmidt, taking a breather.
Wheeler is trying to pull guard but Schmidt has him pressed against the cage.
Schmidt is trying to pull guard but Wheeler turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Wheeler jumps guard.
Wheeler throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Schmidt throwing strikes but missing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Schmidt is working Wheeler over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wheeler is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Schmidt trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Wheeler thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wheeler is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Schmidt reverses the position - he's now on top in Wheeler's guard.
Wheeler is adopting a defensive guard.
Wheeler manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Schmidt manages to get himself to full guard.

Wheeler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Schmidt is keeping the position for now.
Schmidt might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler pushing down on Schmidt's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Schmidt trying to control here.
Schmidt moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Wheeler controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt wants to sweep here but Wheeler controlling him for the moment.
Wheeler sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wheeler works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Schmidt is defending against the submission attempts here by Wheeler.
Wheeler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Schmidt's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schmidt tries to get to full guard but Wheeler has control of the leg.
Schmidt trying to hold on to Wheeler's head to control him but Wheeler postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Wheeler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Schmidt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wheeler lands with a thumping leg kick.
Schmidt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wheeler but Wheeler pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wheeler is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Wheeler darts in looking for a takedown but Schmidt gets double underhooks and turns Wheeler into the cage.
Wheeler is trying hard to land a takedown here. Schmidt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Wheeler clinches up with Schmidt and pushes him back against the cage.
Schmidt jumps guard but Wheeler turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Come on Wheeler - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Schmidt jumps guard but Wheeler turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mason Schmidt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schmidt jumps guard but Wheeler stands there with Schmidt around his waist. Schmidt gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler is looking for a takedown.

Wheeler manages to break the clinch.
Wheeler doesn't manage to clinch there - Schmidt circles away.
Schmidt wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Wheeler looks to land a combination but Schmidt avoids it well.
Schmidt attempts a counter takedown but Wheeler avoids it well and moves away.
Schmidt looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wheeler is fending him off so far but Schmidt persists. Nope, Wheeler circles away and we're back to standing.
Wheeler is looking to clinch but Schmidt is avoiding it.
Wheeler shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Schmidt pinned against the cage. Schmidt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Schmidt swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Wheeler wants to clinch

and Schmidt counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wheeler won't be happy with that.

Wheeler sneaks out the side door and pushes Schmidt away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Wheeler closes the distance and pushes Schmidt back into the cage.
Schmidt looking to stall.

Wheeler breaks the clinch.
Wheeler throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Schmidt's waist but Schmidt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wheeler off to one side.
Wheeler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Schmidt wants to clinch up but Wheeler keeps it at a distance.
Schmidt fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Wheeler has closed the distance and engaged Schmidt in a clinch.

Wheeler's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Schmidt misses with a wild body shot.

Wheeler clinches up against the cage.
Schmidt is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Wheeler is defending well.
Wheeler has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schmidt tries to pull guard but Wheeler won't allow it.
Schmidt fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wheeler is looking to take this one to the mat.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Wheeler looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schmidt tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wheeler just stands there and leans against the cage.
Wheeler wants to take the fight to the mat but Schmidt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Schmidt drops down looking for an ankle pick but Wheeler pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wheeler lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wheeler goes for a double leg but Schmidt avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Schmidt continues to drive forward.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schmidt fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wheeler avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Wheeler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Wheeler has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Wheeler!
After the fight, Ryan Wheeler was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.