PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jae Wilco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Knuckles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wilco
vs
Knuckles

172 cm
27
163 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

172 cm
25
150 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Battalion Athletics

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jae Wilco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dick Knuckles!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Felipe Paraventi and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knuckles swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilco.
Wilco scores with a nice head shot.
Knuckles throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Wilco.
Knuckles throws out a powerful jab.
Knuckles misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Knuckles stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Knuckles wants it to stay on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wilco is defended easily by Knuckles.
Wilco will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jae Wilco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wilco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knuckles.
Wilco slips a jab from Knuckles.

Wilco closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wilco lands an elbow just above Knuckles 's eye.
Wilco taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Wilco pulls guard successfully.
Knuckles with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Knuckles looking to pass the guard.
Knuckles loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Wilco is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Knuckles wants to stand but Wilco has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Wilco keeping moving, preventing Knuckles from controlling successfully.

Wilco has his foot on Knuckles's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knuckles works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knuckles wants to control from the top but Wilco keeps moving.
Knuckles stopping the sweep attempt from Wilco.
Wilco keeping moving, preventing Knuckles from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Wilco has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knuckles can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wilco 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.

Wilco working for a triangle but Knuckles defends it easily.
Knuckles missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Knuckles working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Knuckles wants to stand but Wilco is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilco looking to control.

Wilco working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Knuckles has passed into half guard!
Knuckles is nestled in close to Wilco, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Knuckles lands strikes from half guard.
Wilco regains full guard. Nicely done.
Knuckles postures up in Wilco's guard and throws a big left but Wilco blocks it.
Knuckles postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Knuckles working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Knuckles trying to control the position from guard on top but Wilco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wilco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knuckles is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Wilco working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Knuckles has passed into half guard!
Knuckles throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Knuckles is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Knuckles not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wilco trying to control here.
Wilco is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Wilco flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dick Knuckles will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Good exchange - Knuckles coming out on top.
Knuckles blocks a jab.
Wilco wants to clinch up but Knuckles keeps it at a distance.
Knuckles throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wilco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Knuckles swivels and escapes.
Knuckles ducks under a wild hook from Wilco.
Knuckles swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Wilco throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Knuckles connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wilco takes a swing at Knuckles's ribcage but misses.
Wilco fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wilco tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Knuckles swivels and escapes.
Dick Knuckles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Knuckles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Knuckles rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Wilco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wilco's corner calls for a 1-2. Wilco obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Knuckles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Wilco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles scores with a sloppy right hand. Wilco should have avoided that one.
Knuckles throws a body punch but Wilco moves out of range.
Knuckles misses with a body shot
and Wilco counters with a straight right hand.
Wilco slips a jab from Knuckles.
Wilco swinging wildly here.
Wilco misses with a wild combination.
Wilco fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knuckles avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jae Wilco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wilco moves out of range of the strikes.
Knuckles connects with a jab.
Knuckles swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knuckles scores with a shot to the body.
Knuckles thows a body shot but no joy.
Knuckles looks to score with a jab to the body but Wilco is just out of range.
Jae Wilco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knuckles will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Knuckles slips under a jab from Wilco.
Knuckles throws out a loose jab but Wilco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knuckles swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Wilco counters with a left and a right that stings Knuckles.
Wilco slips a jab from Knuckles.
Wilco swings for the body but Knuckles moves out of range.
Knuckles misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Wilco.
Wilco shoots in but Knuckles avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Knuckles misses with a jab to the body
and Wilco counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Wilco misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilco closes the distance and clinches up with Knuckles, looking for a takedown. Wilco pushes Knuckles against the cage but Knuckles circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Knuckles throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Wilco sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Knuckles misses with a body shot.
Knuckles lands a jab to the nose.
Wilco ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wilco doesn't manage to clinch there - Knuckles circles away.
Knuckles misses with a jab, cross combination.
A big right from Knuckles misses.
Wilco takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Knuckles misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice body punch from Wilco.
Wilco slips a jab and a cross from Knuckles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Knuckles throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Wilco darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Wilco is trying to control. Knuckles wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Knuckles blocking the ground and pound attempt from Wilco.
Wilco is pressing down on Knuckles's thigh, looking to free his foot. Knuckles is holding on for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wilco is controlling the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Knuckles showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

A slow jab from Knuckles misses its intended target.
Knuckles throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Knuckles lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Wilco at a distance.
Wilco misses with a wild body shot.
Knuckles misses with a combination
and Wilco counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Knuckles ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Wilco moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wilco moves out of range as Knuckles strikes.
A nice combination there by Knuckles.
Wilco throws an overhand right that lands on Knuckles's shoulder, as Knuckles tries to avoid the shot.
Wilco throws a sloppy body shot
and Knuckles counters with a left and a right that stings Wilco.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knuckles throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Wilco is defended easily by Knuckles.
Dick Knuckles is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wilco blocks a jab.
Knuckles lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Knuckles dips to his left and cracks Wilco with an uppercut!
Knuckles misses with a double jab

and Wilco counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wilco.
Wilco is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Knuckles gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wilco trying to stall but Knuckles improves his position.
Knuckles wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Wilco has him pressed against the cage.
Knuckles wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wilco lands a right hand that snaps the head of Knuckles backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilco prevents Knuckles from breaking the clinch.
Wilco displaying some good clinch control by pressing Knuckles up against the cage.
Knuckles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Wilco crunches a lovely knee into Knuckles's ribcage.
Wilco misses with the head strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Knuckles as Wilco tries to tie him up.
Wilco will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Knuckles up against the cage.
Wilco has a couple of punches blocked by Knuckles.
Wilco misses with some punches.
Knuckles avoids a wild elbow strike from Wilco.
Knuckles has had enough of the clinch but Wilco keeps him there for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilco is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Knuckles gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jae Wilco. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knuckles dodges an elbow strike from Wilco.
Wilco scores with a hook to the body.
Wilco lands a left hand.
Knuckles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Wilco avoiding damage.
Knuckles tries to break free but Wilco pushes him back against the cage.
Knuckles looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Wilco holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Wilco lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Wilco has Knuckles pushed against the cage.
Wilco trying to control the position but instead, Knuckles has worked for underhooks and has pushed Wilco into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jae Wilco.
Good standup being displayed there by Knuckles as he connects with a hook.
Dick Knuckles is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Knuckles scores with a nice strike.
Wilco misses with a wild body shot.
Wilco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Knuckles manages to avoid it.
Wilco misses with the combination.
Wilco tries to clinch there but Knuckles circles away.
Dick Knuckles seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Knuckles scores with a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knuckles moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Jae Wilco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Wilco fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Knuckles looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Wilco fails with an attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Knuckles comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Knuckles winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Knuckles!