PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ciaran Whelehan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taji Bolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whelehan comes to the cage accompanied by Go to sleep. Bolo has chosen This is how we do as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whelehan
vs
Bolo

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

157 cm
19
130 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ciaran Whelehan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taji Bolo!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whelehan tries to keep at a distance but Bolo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Whelehan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Bolo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bolo feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Bolo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Whelehan doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Bolo postures up.

Bolo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bolo drops back looking for a leg! Whelehan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whelehan manages to kick Bolo off! Bolo jumps back into Whelehan's guard.
Whelehan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Bolo decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Whelehan, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whelehan closes the distance and clinches.

Bolo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bolo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Bolo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Whelehan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Whelehan is staying active underneath Bolo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Whelehan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Bolo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bolo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bolo looks gassed!
Whelehan wants to stand and escape but Bolo is having none of it.
Bolo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whelehan is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolo trying to control but Whelehan is working from the bottom.

Bolo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Whelehan looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Whelehan looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Whelehan!
Whelehan tries to stand but Bolo is controlling his head.

Whelehan is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bolo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Whelehan tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bolo wants to control but Whelehan postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whelehan scores with a couple of short elbows.
Whelehan tries to get to his feet but Bolo is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Whelehan in his guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bolo shoots in for a takedown but Whelehan shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Whelehan misses with a takedown

and Bolo counters by clinching up.

Whelehan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Bolo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bolo trying to control the position from guard on top but Whelehan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bolo drops back for a leg here. A bit of a high risk move... He's looking for a kneebar by the looks of things. Now both of them are looking for submissions. Bolo seems to have locked his on tight now - Whelehan screams in pain and taps out furiously! It certainly was a high risk move but it's paid off for Bolo, as he picks up the win!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Taji Bolo!