PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shad Wagner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jonny Punch (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.

Wagner
vs
Punch

198 cm
19
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Sydney, Shad Wagner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jonny Punch!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wagner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wagner misses with a takedown attempt

and Punch counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wagner tries to roll over but Punch keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wagner manages to get to full guard.
Punch postures up.
Wagner throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Punch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wagner. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Punch is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Punch postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Punch sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Wagner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Punch trying to control the position from guard on top but Wagner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wagner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Punch manages to get himself to full guard.
Wagner throwing strikes from guard but Punch blocks nicely.
Punch trying to control the position here.
Wagner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wagner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Punch swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Punch shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Punch drives through and clinches with Wagner against the cage.
Wagner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Punch.
Wagner is trying to break the clinch but Punch is controlling him.
Wagner with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Wagner changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Punch fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch doesn't manage to clinch there - Wagner circles away.
Wagner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Punch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A leg kick checked by Wagner.
Punch attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Wagner keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Punch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Punch shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wagner manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wagner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Punch controls the pace.

Wagner looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Punch is working Wagner over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punch is in close to Wagner's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Punch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Punch postures up in Wagner's guard and throws a big left but Wagner blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wagner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Punch controls the pace.
Punch trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Punch is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jonny Punch.
Punch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Punch dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A clash of legs there as Wagner blocks the low kick.

Wagner fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Punch to the ground. Wagner is now in Punch's guard.
Wagner is looking to stand up but Punch won't let him.
Punch seems keen to control Wagner's posture.
Wagner missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wagner wants to control from the top but Punch keeps moving.
Wagner wants to get up but he can't break Punch's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

We're going to have a standup here because Shad Wagner wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Wagner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Punch as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punch throws out a leg kick but Wagner moves out of range and Punch only half commits.
Punch wants to land a leg kick but Wagner is out of range.
Punch thows a body shot but no joy.

Punch closes the distance and clinches.

Punch gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Wagner is looking for a sweep. Punch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Punch stops Wagner from getting back to his feet.
Punch drops an elbow to the side of Wagner's head.
Punch lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Punch scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Punch landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Punch controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wagner is not content to let Punch control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wagner has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Punch is working away from the top position though.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Punch landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wagner is looking to improve his position.
Jonny Punch has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punch working Wagner over with strikes.
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. Punch connects with a nice short shot to Wagner's temple.
Punch working Wagner over with strikes.
Punch working Wagner over with strikes.
Punch content to control rather than advance.
Wagner regains full guard. Nicely done.
Punch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punch's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Punch throws an elbow that misses. Wagner uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Punch's guard. Nice move by Wagner!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wagner preventing the sweep.
Punch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jonny Punch was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Punch shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wagner is trying to defend but Punch finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Punch blocks the strikes from Wagner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jonny Punch 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Wagner blocks a leg kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Punch.
Punch wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wagner keeps working.
Punch controlling the position from side mount.
Wagner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Punch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Punch lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Wagner down.
Wagner wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Wagner is trying to control Punch's posture but Punch avoids it.
Wagner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Punch is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Punch is looking to take a break and control but Wagner is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Wagner tries to buck Punch off but Punch is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punch working the ground and pound from side control.
Punch working the head with strikes.
Punch scoring with punches and elbows.
Punch working the ground and pound from side control.
Wagner takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Wagner is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wagner taking punishment in the form of punches.
Oh Wagner is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Punch controls the position from side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wagner takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Wagner is looking for a sweep.
Punch working the head with strikes.
A big shot lands for Punch! That's hurt Wagner! Will he recover? Punch fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jonny Punch!