PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wayne Wilson (ranked 4144 p4p, 442 weight class) and Simon Epstien (ranked 23897 p4p, 687 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Wilson
vs
Epstien

186 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
27
192 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wayne Wilson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Simon Epstien!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Epstien fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Wilson is looking for a counter combo.
Epstien tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wilson defends well and Epstien ends up having to push Wilson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Wilson forces Epstien back against the cage and clinches.

Epstien has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Wilson uses from the top position.
Wilson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Epstien throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Epstien is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Epstien being controlled here, momentarily.
Epstien has his hands on Wilson's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilson prevents Epstien from getting back to his feet.

Wilson gets to his feet. Epstien looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Wilson pushes Epstien up against the cage in a clinch.
Wilson has Epstien pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Epstien manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Wilson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Epstien uses from the top position.
Wilson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Epstien trying to get back to full guard but Wilson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epstien tries to lock up and control but Wilson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wilson controlling the pace for now.
Wilson misses with a head shot.
Wilson avoids the attempt from Epstien to control.
Epstien is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Wilson throws a wild left hand from mount and Epstien manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Wilson seems content to control.
Wilson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Epstien tries to get to full guard but Wilson has control of the leg.

Wilson looking for a submission but Epstien manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Epstien keeping moving, preventing Wilson from controlling successfully.
Wilson stopping the sweep attempt from Epstien.

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.
Wilson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Epstien wants to stand and escape but Wilson is having none of it.
Epstien is striking but Wilson is not phased and passes to half guard.
Epstien is not content to let Wilson control the position.
Wilson misses with a head shot. Epstien uses the momentum to regain guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wilson trying to control the position from guard on top but Epstien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wilson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Epstien's waist but Epstien gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wilson off to one side.
Wilson throws a body shot but no joy.
Epstien shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Wilson.
Epstien misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wayne Wilson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Epstien shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wilson defends it nicely.
Wayne Wilson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Epstien.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson throws a quick inside leg kick.
Epstien lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epstien fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Epstien closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wilson circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Epstien. No joy for Wilson on that attempt.
Epstien avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Epstien stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilson. Wilson gets slowly back to his feet.
Epstien tries to clinch up but Wilson circles away and keeps his distance.

Epstien clinches up against the cage.
Wilson tries to pull guard but Epstien won't allow it.
Epstien is looking for a takedown.
Wilson stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Wilson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Epstien can do to turn this around?
Wilson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Epstien pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Epstien stuffs the takedown.
Wilson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Epstien counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wilson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Epstien shoots in for a takedown but Wilson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Epstien shoots for a takedown but Wilson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Epstien is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wilson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Epstien pushes Wilson up against the cage in a clinch.
Wilson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Epstien up against the cage.

Epstien's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Epstien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Epstien looks to move away, Wilson throws a big counter combo but Epstien just gets out of the way.
Epstien keeps the fight on the outside.
Epstien wants to clinch.
Epstien fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Epstien swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilson.
Wilson throws a head kick that misses.
Epstien wants to counter the offense by Wilson and move into the clinch position.
Epstien scores with a kick to the body.
Epstien keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Epstien misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Epstien defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wilson.

Epstien closes the distance and pushes Wilson back into the cage.

Wilson gets control of Epstien's arms and successfully pulls guard. Wilson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Wilson working a defensive guard here.
Wilson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Epstien is one step ahead there.

Epstien avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Epstien trying to control but Wilson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Epstien 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!

Wilson shoots in looking for a takedown but Epstien manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Wilson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Wilson.
Epstien fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wilson avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Epstien as Wilson shoots in.
Epstien avoids the head kick by Wilson.
Wilson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Epstien paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Epstien throws a nice head kick!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilson moves out of range of the body kick.
Epstien darts in looking for a takedown but Wilson gets double underhooks and turns Epstien into the cage.
Epstien wants to clinch
and Wilson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Epstien changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wilson tries to avoid it but Epstien manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wilson to the ground. Wilson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wayne Wilson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simon Epstien.
Epstien looks for a takedown but Wilson sprawls well.
Wilson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Epstien takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Epstien shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wilson sprawls well. Wilson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Epstien gets slowly back to his feet.
Wilson avoids the head kick by Epstien.
Epstien displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.
Wilson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Epstien. No joy for Wilson on that attempt.
Epstien misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Epstien moves into the clinch.
Wilson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Wilson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Epstien is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Wilson tries to pull guard but Epstien forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Epstien is trying to stall.

Epstien manages to break the clinch.
Epstien fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wilson is defended easily by Epstien.
Epstien displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wilson.
Epstien has a takedown stuffed.
Wilson tries to clinch but Epstien moves out of range.

Wilson closes the distance and pushes Epstien back into the cage.
Epstien misses with a body punch.
Epstien lands a shot to the body.

Wilson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Epstien circles away quickly and effectively.
Epstien wants to counter with a clinch but Wilson pushes him away.
Epstien dives in for a single leg takedown but Wilson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Epstien avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Epstien misses with a head kick.
Wilson with a poor takedown

and Epstien counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Epstien.

Epstien breaks the clinch.
Epstien slaps away a takedown attempt from Wilson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Epstien stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilson. Wilson gets slowly back to his feet.
Epstien throws a fast counter high kick but Wilson manages to duck under it in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wilson misses with a takedown
and Epstien counters with a head kick. That will keep Wilson thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Epstien comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Epstien has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Epstien!