PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Deontay James (ranked 4395 p4p, 4410 weight class) and Khazmat Whittaker (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.

James
vs
Whittaker

197 cm
20
280
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
230
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Deontay James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khazmat Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Paul Gruel and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with a double jab.
Whittaker drops down looking to force a counter takedown but James defends it well.

Whittaker gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows James to score an easy takedown into full guard.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whittaker has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
James has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
James won't allow Whittaker to sweep him here.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Whittaker on the ground.

Whittaker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. James is aware though and is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whittaker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Whittaker should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Whittaker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. James manages to get himself to full guard.

James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
James preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Whittaker gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Whittaker misses with a takedown
and James counters with a series of strikes. Whittaker will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker fails to land with a series of punches.
James tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

James pushes Whittaker up against the cage in a clinch.
James lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Khazmat Whittaker has been cut.
James slowing the pace effectively.
Whittaker can't get the takedown.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whittaker keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
James throws a series of punches but Whittaker moves out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Whittaker as he avoids it easily.
James is breathing heavily.
A nice combination there by Whittaker.

It looks like Deontay James has been cut.
James throws the left hand but Whittaker avoids the punch easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Whittaker, looking for a takedown. James pushes Whittaker against the cage but Whittaker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deontay James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whittaker throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Whittaker shoots in for a takedown but James shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Whittaker shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Whittaker gets slowly back to his feet.
Whittaker swats away the attempt to clinch by James.

Whittaker closes the distance and pushes James back into the cage.
James is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Whittaker to keep the fight standing.
Whittaker tries for a takedown. No joy.

James's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Whittaker sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Whittaker shoots in but James avoids the takedown attempt easily.
James checks a leg kick.
Good standup being displayed there by Whittaker as he connects with a hook.

Whittaker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James wants to take the fight to the mat but Whittaker manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Whittaker wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whittaker just leaning against James, taking a breather.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Khazmat Whittaker will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Whittaker misses with a takedown attempt - James sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Some wild striking there from Whittaker.
James tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Whittaker defends well and James ends up having to push Whittaker into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

James breaks the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from James.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker darts in looking for a takedown but James gets double underhooks and turns Whittaker into the cage.
Khazmat Whittaker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James misses with a low kick.
Despite the aggression on Whittaker's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A shot to the liver by Whittaker. Beautiful body shot.
Whittaker misses with a low kick as James jumps back.
James appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker shoots in and drives through. James sprawls well.
Deontay James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Khazmat Whittaker.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whittaker tries to clinch up.
James dives in and grabs Whittaker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whittaker pushes down on James's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown attempt by Whittaker or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.
James seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Whittaker uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from James.
Whittaker will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Whittaker looks to move away, James throws a big counter combo but Whittaker just gets out of the way.

James pushes Whittaker up against the cage in a clinch.
Whittaker jumps guard but James stands there with Whittaker around his waist. Whittaker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Whittaker wants to stall.
James has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Whittaker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whittaker pulls guard successfully.
James trying to control but Whittaker is working from the bottom.
Whittaker controls James momentarily but James frees himself.

Whittaker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. James gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
James wants to control from the top but Whittaker keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

James trying to keep a closed guard but Whittaker is proving a slippery customer.
Whittaker is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.

James looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Whittaker has picked James up and slammed him! James can't keep hold of the triangle and Whittaker manages to pass to side control!
James on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if James tries to get out of the position.
Whittaker is staying tight to James's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whittaker's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker advances to mount.
Whittaker misses with a head shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
James blocking the ground and pound.
Whittaker controlling from mount.
James blocking the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khazmat Whittaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Whittaker or perhaps it was just good defense by James, which made it look bad.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Whittaker. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
James misses with a takedown attempt - Whittaker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Whittaker throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Whittaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Whittaker moves into the clinch.

James gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker has his hands clasped together around James's back. He's all about the action.
James is trying to control. Whittaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Whittaker keeping hold of James's head, controlling as best he can.
Whittaker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Whittaker.

Whittaker has his foot on James's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. James works his way back into a safe position though.
Whittaker keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.
Whittaker has his hands on James's head, controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

James has managed to clinch.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Whittaker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Whittaker's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Whittaker pulls guard.
Khazmat Whittaker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whittaker trying to control the position here.
Whittaker controls James momentarily but James frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
Whittaker is trying to control the position but James postures up.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Whittaker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Whittaker is stalling in the full guard.

Whittaker stands up and waves to James to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
James tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Whittaker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James moves out of range of the body kick.
James appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
James is looking to clinch.
Whittaker wants to counter the offense by James and move into the clinch position.
Whittaker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Whittaker fails to land the takedown.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whittaker tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whittaker to the ground. Whittaker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Deontay James. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Whittaker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into James's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Whittaker passes into half guard.
Deontay James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khazmat Whittaker is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Whittaker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed James's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khazmat Whittaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Whittaker 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khazmat Whittaker!