PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rylan Wheeler (ranked 1845 p4p, 2107 weight class) and Nakagome Kakuzo (ranked 248 p4p, 278 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wheeler
vs
Kakuzo

178 cm
21
173
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
180
9 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm NYC

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 5 - 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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nakagome Kakuzo!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kakuzo throws a head kick that misses
and Wheeler counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Nakagome Kakuzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kakuzo tries to clinch but Wheeler moves out of range.
Kakuzo lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Wheeler takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Wheeler thuds a left hand into Kakuzo's body.
Kakuzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kakuzo.
Kakuzo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wheeler checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kakuzo scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kakuzo wants to clinch.
Wheeler was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wheeler throws a series of punches but Kakuzo avoids them all with ease.
Kakuzo throws a lazy head kick
and Wheeler counters with a straight right hand.
Kakuzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wheeler is looking to counter punch.
Kakuzo with a hook.
Kakuzo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kakuzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kakuzo darts in trying to clinch
and Kakuzo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wheeler moves away.
Kakuzo misses with an uppercut
and Wheeler makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kakuzo is looking to clinch but Wheeler is avoiding it.
As Kakuzo looks to move away, Wheeler throws a big counter combo but Kakuzo just gets out of the way.
Kakuzo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Wheeler.
Kakuzo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wheeler swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kakuzo will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Kakuzo has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Wheeler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wheeler tries to avoid it but Kakuzo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wheeler to the ground. Wheeler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kakuzo misses with a straight left.
Kakuzo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wheeler throws a big counter combination but Kakuzo scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Kakuzo misses with an uppercut
and Wheeler counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Nakagome Kakuzo has been cut.
Wheeler takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wheeler avoids a punch combination nicely.
Wheeler works over Kakuzo's head and body with a nice combination.
Kakuzo jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kakuzo goes for a double leg but Wheeler avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wheeler continues to drive forward.
Kakuzo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wheeler went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Wheeler connects with a crisp jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kakuzo throws a body shot but no joy.

Kakuzo forces Wheeler back against the cage and clinches.

Wheeler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've been told by Wheeler's head coaches at LA Training Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kakuzo shoots in for a takedown but Wheeler shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rylan Wheeler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nakagome Kakuzo.
Nice jab there from Wheeler.
Kakuzo tries to land a body kick
and Wheeler counters with a straight right hand.
Wheeler misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kakuzo drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Wheeler defends it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rylan Wheeler will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nakagome Kakuzo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kakuzo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
An attempted straight right counter from Wheeler misses the target.
Kakuzo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kakuzo getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wheeler takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Wheeler throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kakuzo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wheeler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Wheeler just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wheeler is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The fighters circling - Kakuzo throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wheeler punishes Kakuzo's body with a nice straight punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kakuzo fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Wheeler checks it well.
Kakuzo shoots in but no luck this time.
Kakuzo looks to throw the jab but Wheeler is out of range.
Wheeler is looking to counter punch.
Good work by Wheeler as he checks the leg kick.
Kakuzo misses with a double jab
and Wheeler counters with a nice uppercut.
Kakuzo fails with a takedown attempt.
Rylan Wheeler is winning the standup battle so far.
Wheeler avoids the head kick by Kakuzo.
Kakuzo tries a head kick but it misses.
Wheeler works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kakuzo throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wheeler counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Wheeler listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kakuzo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wheeler counters with a right hand to the body.
Kakuzo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wheeler.
Wheeler appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Wheeler's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kakuzo under the eye.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wheeler scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wheeler is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kakuzo can do to turn this around?

Wheeler drops Kakuzo with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Kakuzo looks back up at him and smiles so Wheeler waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Kakuzo is rocked!
Wheeler closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Kakuzo! Wheeler dives in looking to finish! Kakuzo is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rylan Wheeler!
After the big win, Rylan Wheeler made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Champion Apparel and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.