PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mito Taamasa (ranked 3159 p4p, 5017 weight class) and Marcus Wheeler (ranked 398 p4p, 581 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Taamasa
vs
Wheeler

188 cm
18
206
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
215
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Kore Fight Nutrition

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 London, Mito Taamasa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Wheeler!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taamasa looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Taamasa slips a jab from Wheeler.
Taamasa is looking to slow Wheeler down with leg kicks.
Wheeler avoids a kick to the body.
It seemed like Wheeler was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Taamasa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Taamasa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wheeler.
Taamasa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Taamasa looks for the body kick but Wheeler saw that one coming.
Wheeler looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Taamasa moves into range and clinches up with Wheeler.
Wheeler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taamasa misses with a knee to the head.
Taamasa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wheeler avoids it.
Wheeler is trying to break the clinch but Taamasa is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taamasa tries to land a knee to the head but Wheeler blocks with his arms.
Wheeler can't break the clinch.
Wheeler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Wheeler escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Taamasa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wheeler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Mito Taamasa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Taamasa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taamasa looks to score with a jab to the body but Wheeler is just out of range.
Wheeler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taamasa was well out of range. Poor timing from Wheeler.
Taamasa looks for the body kick but Wheeler saw that one coming.
Nice shot lands for Wheeler.
Wheeler throws a body punch but Taamasa moves out of range.
Taamasa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Decent striking displayed by Wheeler there.
Wheeler tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Taamasa was well out of range. Poor timing from Wheeler.
Taamasa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wheeler throws out the jab.
Taamasa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wheeler moves away.
Taamasa misses with a kick to the body.
Wheeler misses with a hook.
Taamasa wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Wheeler blocks the leg kick.
Taamasa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wheeler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taamasa throws a sloppy head kick and Wheeler moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taamasa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It seemed like Wheeler was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wheeler getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Mito Taamasa has been cut.
Wheeler blocks a head kick by Taamasa.
Wheeler throws out a counter right but Taamasa avoids it with no problem.
Taamasa walks into a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Taamasa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Taamasa ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A decent looking cross lands there for Wheeler.
A head kick misses from Taamasa.
A little jabbing left from Wheeler on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Taamasa tries a head kick but it misses.
Taamasa misses with a body kick.
A little jabbing left from Wheeler on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Taamasa drives through and clinches with Wheeler against the cage.
Wheeler throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Taamasas head.
Taamasa scores a nice knee to the body.
Taamasa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wheeler lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taamasa lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Taamasa obliges.
Wheeler looks winded!
With the fighters up against the cage, Taamasa throws an elbow but misses.
Taamasa blocking some punches.
Taamasa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wheeler.
Wheeler misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wheeler is struggling to control the position.
Wheeler avoiding damage as Taamasa throws knees to the body.
Wheeler leaning against his opponent.
Wheeler misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wheeler blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Taamasa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Taamasa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wheeler is defending well for now.
Taamasa tries to work over Wheeler's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Taamasa working Wheeler over with knees to the body.
Wheeler blocks the elbow strike.
Wheeler tries to work over Taamasa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taamasa lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Marcus Wheeler has been cut.
Taamasa landing knees to the body.
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!
Taamasa lands a nice knee to the body.
Wheeler takes an elbow to the temple.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Taamasa obliges.
Taamasa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Taamasa lands a knee to the body.
Taamasa creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Wheeler's defenses.
Taamasa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Taamasa lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wheeler is looking to break free of the clinch but Taamasa has double underhooks.
Wheeler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wheeler on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Taamasa obliges.
Taamasa tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Wheeler wants to get back to striking at distance but Taamasa won't allow it.
Taamasa lands an elbow inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mito Taamasa dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Taamasa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wheeler throws a hook but Taamasa avoids it easily.
Taamasa tries to counter by clinching up but Wheeler breaks away and moves out of range.
A slow jab from Wheeler misses its intended target.
Taamasa lands with a kick to the ribs.
Wheeler takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wheeler just misses with a punch to the body.
Wheeler is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Taamasa.
Taamasa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wheeler can do to turn this around?
Taamasa misses with a looping left.
Wheeler throws a shot to the body.
Wheeler misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taamasa tries a head kick but it misses.
Wheeler looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Taamasa takes one to the chin there.
Wheeler fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taamasa on the side of the head.
Wheeler steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Taamasa.
Taamasa throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Marcus Wheeler seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taamasa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Taamasa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wheeler.
Taamasa moves in looking to clinch but Wheeler pushes him off.
Wheeler misses with a straight right.
Wheeler checks a leg kick.
A nice side step and Wheeler releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Taamasa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wheeler throws out the jab.
Taamasa bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wheeler on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Taamasa takes a swing at Wheeler's ribcage but misses.

Wheeler tries to keep at a distance but Taamasa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Wheeler has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Wheeler pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Wheeler connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Taamasa's hands.
Taamasa takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taamasa throws a wild body kick that Wheeler sees coming a mile off.
Taamasa doesn't manage to clinch there - Wheeler circles away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wheeler misses with a looping right.
Some bone on bone action there as Wheeler checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A jab lands there for Wheeler.
Taamasa misses with a body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Taamasa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Taamasa throws a head kick but Wheeler moves out of range.
A nice side step and Wheeler releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Taamasa takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taamasa tries to clinch up but Wheeler circles away and keeps his distance.
Wheeler throws a big shot that misses.

Taamasa moves into the clinch.
Wheeler wants to break free but Taamasa has control.
Wheeler throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler avoiding damage as Taamasa throws knees to the body.
Taamasa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wheeler blocks it with crossed arms.
Wheeler throws a head punch that misses.
Taamasa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wheeler.
Taamasa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Taamasa misses with a punch to the body.
Wheeler managing to block the knees to the body from Taamasa.
Wheeler pressing his opponent against the cage.
Taamasa tries to land knees in the clinch but Wheeler avoids the damage to the body.
Wheeler is trying to push Taamasa away but Taamasa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Taamasa throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Wheeler blocks it with crossed arms.
Taamasa working Wheeler over with knees to the body.
Taamasa misses with a body punch.
Mito Taamasa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Taamasa missing with knees to the body.
Taamasa is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wheeler is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler lands a right hand.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Taamasa obliges.
Wheeler is breathing heavily.
Wheeler has a couple of punches blocked by Taamasa.
Taamasa pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Wheeler is trying to push Taamasa away but Taamasa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Wheeler is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Taamasa tries to land knees in the clinch but Wheeler avoids the damage to the body.
Taamasa missing with knees to the body.
Taamasa pushes off an throws an elbow but Wheeler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Wheeler lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wheeler is trying to force a seperation but Taamasa has the dominant position.
Taamasa lands an elbow inside that Wheeler shrugs off.
Taamasa pushes off an throws an elbow but Wheeler leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Taamasa tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Wheeler avoids it.
Wheeler takes a knee right on the jaw!
Taamasa unloads a knee to the mid-section. Wheeler lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mito Taamasa dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Taamasa is looking to land body kicks.
Taamasa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wheeler paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Taamasa throws a push kick but Wheeler slaps the foot to one side.
Wheeler keeps the fight on the outside.
Wheeler misses the shot to the body.
Wheeler takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wheeler blocks the body kick.
Taamasa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The fighters circle momentarily. Wheeler darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A leg kick checked by Wheeler.
Wheeler throws out a counter right but Taamasa avoids it with no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler throws a shot to the body.
Taamasa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Wheeler takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wheeler swats away the attempt to clinch by Taamasa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taamasa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Taamasa wants to clinch.
Taamasa lands a head kick. Wheeler smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Taamasa throws a body kick that misses
and Wheeler counters with a nice uppercut.
Wheeler throws a body punch but Taamasa moves out of range.
Taamasa scores with a head kick. Wheeler tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Wheeler throws out a powerful jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taamasa throws a body kick that misses.
Wheeler throws out a counter right but Taamasa avoids it with no problem.
Taamasa misses with a body kick.
A lazy left from Wheeler finds it's target.
A slow jab from Wheeler misses its intended target.
Taamasa is looking to clinch but Wheeler is avoiding it.
Wheeler fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Taamasa manages to avoid it.
Taamasa throws a quick counter kick to the body but Wheeler avoids it.
A big left from Taamasa misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taamasa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wheeler.
Wheeler scores with a jab to the jaw.
Taamasa moves away from the strike by Wheeler.
Taamasa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A punch combination from Taamasa misses.
Wheeler cracks Taamasa with an open hand slap.
Taamasa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wheeler.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Taamasa misses with a left hand
and Wheeler counters with a stiff right hand.
Taamasa takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Wheeler punishes Taamasa's body with a nice straight punch.
Taamasa lets loose with a powerful body kick. Wheeler will feel that in the morning.
An inside leg kick from Taamasa misses.
Marcus Wheeler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wheeler punishes Taamasa's body with a nice straight punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wheeler. Taamasa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Taamasa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taamasa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wheeler takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wheeler lands with a nice body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taamasa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taamasa slips a jab from Wheeler.
Taamasa tries to clinch
and Wheeler connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circling - Wheeler throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Taamasa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Taamasa looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Wheeler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Taamasa sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taamasa throws a body kick that misses.
Nice defenses there by Taamasa.
It looked like Taamasa wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wheeler lands with a hook. Taamasa tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Taamasa looks to score with a jab to the body but Wheeler is just out of range.
Wheeler swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taamasa is looking to counter the offense by Wheeler and move into the clinch.
Mito Taamasa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taamasa throws a sloppy head kick and Wheeler moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Wheeler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Taamasa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mito Taamasa!