PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taneli Valkama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ernie Whit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ernie Whit acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Valkama
vs
Whit

180 cm
22
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

160 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Valkama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ernie Whit!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Valkama tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whit swivels and escapes.
Whit stuffs the takedown attempt from Valkama. Valkama gets slowly back to his feet.

Whit looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Valkama looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Valkama is working hard here to advance position.

Valkama has his foot on Whit's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whit works his way back into a safe position though.
Whit distracts Valkama with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Valkama escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Whit gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Valkama had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Whit is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Valkama Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Whit's back instead.

Valkama working for the choke.
Whit trying to control the hands but Valkama breaks the grip.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Whit lands a couple of sideways elbows.
Whit is looking to improve his position.
Valkama has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Whit tries to hold on but Valkama pushes him away.
Valkama throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Whit is in all sorts of trouble here.
Whit wants to control but Valkama is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Valkama is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Whit is surviving well by controlling Valkama's body position as best he can.
Valkama thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Whit throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Whit really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Valkama. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Whit gets back to half guard.

Valkama is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Valkama is breathing heavily.
Whit has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Valkama is working away from the top position though.
Valkama is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Whit!
Whit tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valkama lands a heavy elbow.
Valkama lands a heavy elbow.

Valkama with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Valkama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whit tries to reverse the position but Valkama maintains control.
Whit is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Whit wants to control but Valkama is having none of it.
Whit really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Valkama unloads with some shots from mount but Whit bucks and avoids them well.
Whit is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four 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.

Valkama with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Whit blocking the ground and pound.

Valkama goes for an armbar but Whit turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Whit.

Valkama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Whit lands a couple of digs.
Whit preventing the sweep.
Whit lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Taneli Valkama will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Whit drives through with a takedown into guard.
Valkama 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.
Whit works over Valkama with some ground and pound from guard.
Whit must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Valkama is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Valkama looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Valkama is looking for a triangle here but Whit uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Valkama trying to remain calm as Whit controls from the top position.
Valkama is looking for a sweep.
Whit passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Valkama!
Whit with a couple of short strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whit breaks from Valkama's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit scoring with strikes but Valkama is staying in there.
Whit fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Valkama in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Whit raining down shots from the mount!
Valkama is in all sorts of trouble here.
Whit with good strikes from the mount here!
Whit scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Valkama?
Whit lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Valkama working to try and regain half guard.
Valkama in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Whit scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Valkama is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whit connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Whit landing shots from mount.
Oh Valkama is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Whit working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Whit landing strikes from the mount.
A big strike lands for Whit! That's really hurt Valkama and he's turned his back - Whit keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Whit Jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ernie Whit!