PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ernie Whit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Preston Driver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Driver has chosen Candy Paint as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Whit
vs
Driver

160 cm
24
157 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
168 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ernie Whit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Preston Driver!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whit clinches up with Driver and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right from Driver.
Whit scores with a shot to the side of Driver's head.
Whit pushes Driver back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Whit.
Driver connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Ernie Whit has been cut.
Whit has a couple of punches blocked by Driver.

Driver gets control of Whit's arms and successfully pulls guard. Driver will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Whit content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Driver had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Whit is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Driver Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Whit's back instead.
Driver is trying to stick to Whit's back but Whit is turning into Driver. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Driver's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Whit.
Whit lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Driver trying to strike off his back.
Driver is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Whit is controlling him.
Driver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Whit trying to control the position from guard on top but Driver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Driver looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit throws and elbow that misses. Driver uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Whit's guard. Nice move by Driver!
Driver postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whit is adopting a defensive guard.
Whit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whit pulls Driver in close to prevent any damage.
Driver trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whit preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Whit pulls Driver in close to prevent any damage.
Driver throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

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.
Driver with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whit seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Whit avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Whit trying to keep a closed guard but Driver is proving a slippery customer.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Driver scores with a nice right hand.
Driver misses with a double jab.
Driver tries to clinch but Whit is having none of it.
Driver fails with a takedown attempt.
Driver looks gassed!

Driver gets caught flat footed, as Whit shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Whit postures up in Driver's guard and throws a big left but Driver blocks it.
Whit stopping the sweep attempt from Driver.
Whit is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Whit is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Whit works over Driver with some ground and pound from guard.
Whit landing with the ground and pound.
Whit lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Whit scoring with some ground and pound.
Whit postures up and lands a big shot to Driver's brow.
Whit throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Driver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whit is aware though and is defending well.
Whit stands up over Driver, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whit stands and throws Driver's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Driver taking a bit of punishment here - Whit scoring with strikes.
Whit lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driver tries to buck Whit off but Whit is having none of it.
Whit is putting a hurting on Driver here, landing some big shots from side control.
Whit controlling the position from side mount.
Whit wants to control but Driver is keeping him busy.
Whit landing strikes.
Whit working the ground and pound.
Driver taking a bit of punishment here - Whit scoring with strikes.
Driver wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Whit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Driver keeps working.
Whit in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Whit dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ernie Whit's cut.
That's time! Whit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Driver tries to clinch up
and Whit counters with a stiff right hand.
Whit's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Whit duly obliges.
Whit catches Driver with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Whit shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Driver is trying to defend but Whit finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Whit working over Driver with some ground and pound. Driver looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Driver is trying to stand up here but Whit is controlling him well.
Whit is pressing down on Driver's thigh, looking to free his foot. Driver is holding on for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Whit lands a nice short elbow.
Whit slips a nice elbow through Driver's hands, connecting with Driver's forehead.
Ground and pound from Whit.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Driver wants to improve his position but Whit is controlling well.
Driver manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit won't allow Driver to sweep him here.
Whit knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Driver on the ground.
Driver is breathing heavily.
Whit with a nice head shot there.
Whit wants to control from the top but Driver keeps moving.
Whit is looking to work some ground and pound but Driver has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whit accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whit is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Whit is pushing down on Driver's leg trying to pass to half guard. Driver is fighting to maintain full guard but Whit has managed to sneak the leg through.
Driver gets full guard.
Whit trying to control the position from guard on top but Driver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Driver preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Whit is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Whit has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whit works over Driver with some ground and pound from guard.

Driver working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whit doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whit manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whit landing with the ground and pound.
Whit postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Whit postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Whit stands up over Driver, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whit scoring with some ground and pound.
Whit working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Driver's head.
Ernie Whit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whit cracks Driver with a solid left hand.
Whit trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.
Whit won't allow Driver to sweep him here.
Whit trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Driver is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Whit defends well.
Whit trying to control the position from guard on top but Driver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whit missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whit keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Driver's head.
Driver looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whit is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Driver gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Driver keeping moving, preventing Whit from controlling successfully.
Whit cracks Driver with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Driver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whit is aware though and is defending well.
Whit postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Whit lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Whit tries to free his leg and advance position but Driver is retaining full guard.
Whit trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.
Driver 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.
Whit postures up and lands a big shot to Driver's brow.
Whit is in close to Driver's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Driver looking for a guillotine here but Whit defends easily.
Whit stands up over Driver, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Whit dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ernie Whit's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Whit closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Whit lands with a punch from half guard.
Driver wants to get back to his feet.
Whit slips a nice elbow through Driver's hands, connecting with Driver's forehead.
Whit working over Driver with some ground and pound. Driver looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Whit seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Driver has hold of Whit's hands but Whit slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whit is looking to advance position but Driver won't allow it.

Driver looking for submissions off his back.
Whit looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Driver takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whit passes to full mount!
Driver takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Whit scoring with strikes but Driver is staying in there.
Driver working to try and regain half guard.
Whit scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Whit unloading with bombs!
Whit fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Whit postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Driver looks a forlorn figure.
Whit in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Driver keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
A nice elbow there by Whit.
Driver throwing hammer fists to the chest of Whit. What's that going to do exactly?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whit wants to control the pace but Driver is squirming around nicely.
Whit lands with some strikes.
Whit raining down shots from the mount!
Driver slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Whit working Driver over with strikes.
Driver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Whit slips a nice elbow through Driver's hands, connecting with Driver's forehead.
Whit working Driver over with strikes.
Whit winds up and cracks Driver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Driver is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Whit scores with a couple of nice shots.
Whit controlling the action here.
Whit landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Whit works his way into full mount!
Whit controlling from the full mount.
Driver tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Whit landing punches.
Whit is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Driver can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Whit punishing his opponent with strikes.
Driver taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Driver keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Whit connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Whit putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Driver tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Whit pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Whit putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Driver taking shots to the head.

Driver bucks up and throws Whit to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Driver walks into a left hand.
Whit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Driver can do to turn this around?
Whit scores with a jab. Driver acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Whit misses with a combination
and Driver counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Whit clinches up against the cage.
Whit blocking some punches.
Driver misses with the head strike.
Whit stalling the fight.
Whit is working Driver over against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Whit clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Ernie Whit's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Good exchange - Whit coming out on top.

Whit drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Driver is looking to regain half guard here but Whit keeps moving and retains side control.
Whit trying to control the position but Driver is working away.
Driver takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Whit working the ground and pound.
Driver manages to work his way to half guard, despite Whit's best efforts.
Driver is refusing to be controlled, as Whit sits in half guard.
Whit takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Whit lands strikes from half guard.
Driver is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Whit is trying to control the action in half guard but Driver is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Driver looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Driver wants to get back to his feet.
Driver is refusing to be controlled, as Whit sits in half guard.
Whit scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Whit is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Driver looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Whit not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Whit winds up and cracks Driver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Whit controlling the pace.
Driver is staying active underneath Whit, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Whit is controlling the pace.
Whit is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Nice strikes from Whit there.
Whit working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Whit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Driver keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Driver is trying to stand.
Whit trying to pass the guard but Driver defending well.
Whit throwing shots but Driver is blocking nicely.
Whit winds up and cracks Driver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Whit is nestled in close to Driver, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Whit takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whit takes a swing at Driver's ribcage but misses.
Whit throws a looping overhand right but Driver ducks down to avoid it.
Driver tries to clinch

and Whit counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Whit.
Driver with a knee to the head.
Whit prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Driver on the inside.
Whit misses with the head strike.
Whit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Driver backwards.
Driver tries to score a body lock takedown but Whit shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Driver drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Whit gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Ernie Whit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Preston Driver.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Whit lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Driver manages to get to full guard.
Whit wants to pass the guard but Driver is keeping the position.
Driver tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Driver 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 working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Driver keeping full guard, as Whit tries to pass.
Whit makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernie Whit had his way with Preston Driver in that round.
The cut man is working on Ernie Whit's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Driver takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Whit feints and as Driver raises his hands in defense, Whit changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whit content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whit connects with a couple of short punches.
Whit makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whit lands a couple of digs.
Driver looking for a sweep. Not yet Driver, not yet.
Whit lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Driver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whit is aware though and is defending well.
Whit connects with a couple of short punches.
Whit trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.
Whit might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Whit is in close to Driver's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Driver 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.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whit makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Whit seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Whit lands a couple of digs.
Driver trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Whit makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Driver tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whit is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Driver looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whit is one step ahead there.
Whit prevents Driver from getting back to his feet.
Driver has momentary wrist control but Whit slips an elbow through the middle.
Whit lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Driver wants to sweep but no luck.
Whit trying to control but Driver is working from the bottom.

Driver throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Whit wants to control from the top but Driver keeps moving.
Whit is in close to Driver's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Whit working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Driver's head.

Driver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whit is aware though and is defending well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whit content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whit's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whit advances position into side control!
Driver gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Ernie Whit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Whit controlling from mount.
Driver regains half guard.
Whit performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Whit prevents Driver from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whit slips a nice elbow through Driver's hands, connecting with Driver's forehead.
Driver is trying to get back to full guard.
Whit controlling the action here.
Preston Driver has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Whit trying to control from half guard but Driver is working away.
Driver on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernie Whit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Whit has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernie Whit!
Ernie Whit retains his lightweight title!