PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Wilkerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Rua
vs
Wilkerson

177 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thiago Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthew Wilkerson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rua moves in looking to clinch but Wilkerson pushes him off.
Wilkerson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wilkerson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Wilkerson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rua!
Wilkerson working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Rua slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
Wilkerson is trying to control the action in half guard but Rua is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wilkerson seems to be looking for submissions.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkerson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rua does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Rua actively working from the bottom here.
Wilkerson stalling.
Wilkerson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Wilkerson seems to be working for a kimura but Rua defends the submission attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rua shoots in and drives through. Wilkerson sprawls well.
Rua is breathing heavily.

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.
Wilkerson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Wilkerson is trying to control the position but Rua postures up.
Rua tries to free his leg and advance position but Wilkerson is retaining full guard.

Wilkerson has his foot on Rua's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Rua 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.
Rua won't allow Wilkerson to sweep him here.
Rua sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Wilkerson working for a triangle but Rua defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua wants to control from the top but Wilkerson keeps moving.
Wilkerson controls Rua momentarily but Rua frees himself.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Wilkerson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rua's waist but Rua gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wilkerson off to one side.
Wilkerson tries to close the distance and clinch but Rua swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua scores with a head kick.

Rua shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
BOOM! Rua connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Wilkerson is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Rua.
Wilkerson is still in real trouble! Can Rua finish him?
Rua controlling the pace for now.
Rua landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rua controlling the position easily from mount.
Wilkerson seems to have recovered his senses.

Rua stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rua lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Rua dominated that round.
That's time! Rua's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rua throws a series of punches but Wilkerson avoids them all with ease.
Rua takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wilkerson lands with a straight right. Rua didn't see that one coming.
Wilkerson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rua decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wilkerson's guard.

Wilkerson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wilkerson trying to keep a closed guard but Rua is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkerson wants to get back to his feet but Rua is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wilkerson keeping moving, preventing Rua from controlling successfully.

Wilkerson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rua trying to control but Wilkerson is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Wilkerson shoots in and bounces Rua off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkerson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Rua working a defensive guard here.
Rua tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wilkerson tries to free his leg and advance position but Rua is retaining full guard.
Thiago Rua overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rua scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Wilkerson fails with the takedown

and Rua counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Rua.
Wilkerson can't break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua managing to block the knees to the body from Wilkerson.
Rua fails to pull guard.
Wilkerson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Rua has Wilkerson pressed against the cage.
Rua has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wilkerson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Wilkerson pulls Rua into guard.

Wilkerson kicks Rua off and gets to his feet.
Wilkerson shoots and misses
and Rua counters with a nice leg kick.
Thiago Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Wilkerson.
Wilkerson with a poor takedown
and Rua counters with a stiff right hand.
Rua misses with a takedown

and Wilkerson counters by clinching up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilkerson jumps into guard, dragging Rua to the mat.

Rua decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Wilkerson, up you get!
Rua keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rua wants to clinch but Wilkerson slips to the side
and Wilkerson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wilkerson pinned against the cage. Wilkerson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Wilkerson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Rua looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilkerson tries to move to mount but Rua blocks the move with his legs.
Rua tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Wilkerson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wilkerson throws an elbow but Rua slips to the side and avoids it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matthew Wilkerson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rua tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wilkerson swivels and escapes.
No luck for Wilkerson with that takedown attempt.
Thiago Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice takedown defense from Rua. No joy for Wilkerson on that attempt.
Wilkerson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Thiago Rua has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matthew Wilkerson.
Wilkerson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rua circles away.
Rua chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Wilkerson can pounce on him.
Wilkerson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wilkerson closes the distance and clinches up with Rua, looking for a takedown. Wilkerson pushes Rua against the cage but Rua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wilkerson closes the distance and clinches up with Rua, looking for a takedown. Wilkerson pushes Rua against the cage but Rua circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rua wants to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rua scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkerson regains half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rua connects with a nice short shot to Wilkerson's temple.

Rua stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Rua closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rua wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wilkerson keeps working.
Rua takes a little break here. Wilkerson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkerson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rua with the ground and pound but Wilkerson regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Wilkerson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua is trying to control the action in half guard but Wilkerson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rua wants to stand up but Wilkerson has a hold of him and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rua sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Rua shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rua doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilkerson circles away.
Wilkerson has his takedown stuffed
and Rua counters with a nice kick to the body.

Wilkerson clinches.

Wilkerson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Wilkerson manages to end up in side control.
Rua holds on to Wilkerson's head and controls the position momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Wilkerson decides to stand back up. Wilkerson steps back and let's Rua get back to his feet.

Rua gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wilkerson stalling in the clinch.
Wilkerson tries to stall but Rua uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Wilkerson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Wilkerson lands a takedown into guard.

Wilkerson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Wilkerson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Wilkerson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matthew Wilkerson.
I think Wilkerson 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthew Wilkerson!