PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rylan Wheeler (ranked 2816 p4p, 4470 weight class) and Justin Solano (ranked 355 p4p, 492 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wheeler
vs
Solano

178 cm
21
173
3 - 2 - 0

174 cm
18
178
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rylan Wheeler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Solano!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solano tries to clinch up but Wheeler circles away and keeps his distance.
Wheeler was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A jab from Wheeler finds it's way through Solano's defenses.
Wheeler definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Solano tries to land a body kick
and Wheeler counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Wheeler lands a left and a right that sends Solano crashing to the canvas! Wheeler dives into mount looking to finish!

It looks like Justin Solano has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Wheeler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Solano is looking to escape.
Solano is trying desperately to improve position.
Solano holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Wheeler tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Solano really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wheeler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Solano wants to hold on but Wheeler pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Wheeler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Wheeler has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Wheeler working for a guillotine from mount but Solano is in no mood to give up.
Wheeler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wheeler thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Solano can do anything to dispel that myth.
Solano tries to lock up and control but Wheeler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Solano is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wheeler throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Solano because Wheeler loaded up on that one.
Wheeler content just to control the position here.

Wheeler is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Solano is surviving well by controlling Wheeler's body position as best he can.
Solano is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Solano is looking to improve his position but Wheeler isn't that keen on the idea.
Wheeler controlling the pace for now.
A nice elbow there by Wheeler.
Solano looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler wants to control the pace but Solano is squirming around nicely.
Wheeler throwing strikes here but Solano is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Wheeler lands a heavy elbow.
Solano is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Solano is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Wheeler controlling his opponent.
Solano is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solano tries to lock up and control but Wheeler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Wheeler throwing strikes here but Solano is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Solano is wriggling around trying to escape.
Solano tries to hold on but Wheeler postures up.
Wheeler content just to control the position here.
Wheeler has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wheeler thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Wheeler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Solano wants to hold on but Wheeler pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rylan Wheeler dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Justin Solano's cut.
That's time! Wheeler's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Solano tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Wheeler defends well and Solano ends up having to push Wheeler into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
It looked like Wheeler was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A head kick by Solano misses
letting Wheeler counter with a right hand.
Rylan Wheeler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wheeler lands a nice shot that snaps Solano's head back.
Solano throws a low kick but Wheeler moves out of range easily.
Wheeler scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A looping hook to the body misses from Solano. Wheeler does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wheeler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A telegraphed right hand from Solano misses the target.
Justin Solano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Solano looks to score with a jab to the body but Wheeler is just out of range.
As Solano looks to move away, Wheeler throws a big counter combo but Solano just gets out of the way.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler looks to land a combination but Solano avoids it well.
Wheeler dips to his left and cracks Solano with an uppercut!
Nice shot lands for Wheeler.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Solano misses with a wild body shot.
Wheeler is looking for a counter combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solano takes one to the chin there.
A head kick by Solano misses
and Solano takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Solano is rocked!
Solano dodges the punch combination from Wheeler.
Solano is still on wobbly legs! Can Wheeler finish him?
Solano thows a leg kick but Wheeler checks it
and Wheeler counters with a nice uppercut.
Solano throws a sloppy head kick and Wheeler moves out of range easily.
Wheeler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Solano seems to have recovered his senses.
Wheeler misses with the combination.
Solano misses with a double jab
and Wheeler counters with a nice body shot.
Wheeler lands with a good body shot.
No joy there for Wheeler, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wheeler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Solano can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solano misses with a shot to the body

and Wheeler counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Solano down! Wheeler is looking to finish but Solano is intelligently defending himself.
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!

Solano is looking for a triangle but Wheeler pushes his legs off easily.
Solano is breathing heavily.
Wheeler controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Solano holds on and takes a little breather.
Wheeler controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wheeler continues to stall.
Wheeler with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler passes Solano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Wheeler passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Solano!
Solano can't escape the position.
Wheeler sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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

Wheeler is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Solano is surviving well by controlling Wheeler's body position as best he can.
Solano really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Wheeler punching from mount but Solano doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Wheeler has control of Solano's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Solano regains control of the situation pretty easily.
The referee warns Solano that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rylan Wheeler dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Justin Solano's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Solano dives in and scores a takedown into Wheeler's guard.
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.

Wheeler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Solano defending well though.
Wheeler is trying to control the action in half guard but Solano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wheeler is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Solano punching from the bottom.
Solano tries to roll over but Wheeler keeps him under control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Solano tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Wheeler has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Wheeler controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solano tries to lock up and control but Wheeler gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Wheeler looking to secure an arm triangle but Solano defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Solano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Wheeler looking to control and managing it successfully.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Wheeler.
Solano avoids a series of strikes thrown by Wheeler.
Solano wants to control but Wheeler is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wheeler content just to control the position here.
Wheeler continues to hold on tight.

Wheeler has hold of Solano's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Solano manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Wheeler sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Wheeler controlling his opponent.
Wheeler throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Solano because Wheeler loaded up on that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solano is squirming around, avoiding Wheeler's attempts to control the action.
Wheeler unloads with some shots from mount but Solano bucks and avoids them well.
Wheeler tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wheeler looking to control but Solano is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wheeler controlling the position easily from mount.
Justin Solano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rylan Wheeler is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rylan Wheeler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rylan Wheeler showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Wheeler has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:26
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rylan Wheeler!