PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jones Whitelaw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Bighouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bighouse has chosen Isontalon Antti ja Rannanjärvi as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Whitelaw
vs
Bighouse

225 cm
23
303 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

196 cm
22
292 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jones Whitelaw!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Bighouse!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitelaw throws the kick towards the body but Bighouse avoids it.
Whitelaw moves in looking to clinch but Bighouse pushes him off.
Whitelaw doesn't manage to clinch there - Bighouse circles away.
Whitelaw tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Whitelaw is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Whitelaw fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Bighouse fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Whitelaw sprawls well initially but Bighouse persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Bighouse.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bighouse wants to stand up but Whitelaw is controlling the position.
Bighouse seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Whitelaw is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bighouse pulls his head out easily.
Bighouse throwing shots but Whitelaw is blocking nicely.
Whitelaw is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bighouse's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bighouse's back!
Bighouse trying to control the action but Whitelaw just sinks the hooks in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bighouse breaks Whitelaw's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Bighouse trying to control but Whitelaw is working from the bottom.
Whitelaw avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Whitelaw is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whitelaw looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bighouse trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitelaw is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bighouse throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Whitelaw had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bighouse defends it easily.

Bighouse got a little sloppy there for a moment and Whitelaw has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bighouse has managed to get both his arms back between Whitelaw's legs - danger averted.
Whitelaw looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Whitelaw has momentary wrist control but Bighouse slips an elbow through the middle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bighouse accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bighouse avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bighouse wants to control from the top but Whitelaw keeps moving.

Bighouse stands and steps away. Whitelaw gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Whitelaw is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bighouse's half guard.

Whitelaw is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whitelaw will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whitelaw is breathing heavily.

Whitelaw wants to work for an arm triangle but Bighouse is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bighouse is pressing down on Whitelaw's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bighouse is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Whitelaw is controlling him.
Whitelaw is looking to work some ground and pound but Bighouse has wrist control.
Bighouse wants to stand up but Whitelaw is controlling him.
Bighouse striking off his back but it's not causing Whitelaw any problems.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Whitelaw 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bighouse moves into the clinch successfully.
Whitelaw lands a hook that snaps the head of Bighouse backwards.
Whitelaw using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitelaw throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Whitelaw has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bighouse regains guard immediately.
Whitelaw landing with the ground and pound.
Whitelaw cracks Bighouse with a solid left hand.
Whitelaw lands a couple of decent looking shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bighouse looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitelaw is one step ahead there.
Whitelaw is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bighouse can do anything to dispel that myth.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whitelaw stands up over Bighouse, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitelaw keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bighouse's head.
Bighouse 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.
Whitelaw in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jones Whitelaw dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Whitelaw gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Whitelaw is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bighouse is defending well for now.
A short right from Whitelaw.
Whitelaw wants a takedown but no success here.
Bighouse wants to break free but Whitelaw has control.
Nice body punch from Bighouse.
Bighouse is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whitelaw is defending well for now.
Whitelaw lands a shot to the body.
Bighouse has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Bighouse looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Whitelaw lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Whitelaw has Bighouse pressed against the cage, preventing Bighouse from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Whitelaw tries to land knees in the clinch but Bighouse avoids the damage to the body.
Whitelaw is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bighouse takes a knee right on the jaw!
A short right from Whitelaw.
Whitelaw tries to land a knee to the head but Bighouse blocks with his arms.
Whitelaw is trying to drag Bighouse to the mat but Bighouse just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bighouse has had enough of the clinch but Whitelaw keeps him there for the moment.
Whitelaw tries to land a knee to the head but Bighouse blocks with his arms.
Whitelaw landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitelaw lands a body shot.
Whitelaw utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Bighouse as Whitelaw tries to tie him up.
Whitelaw trying to land knees to the body.
Whitelaw working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bighouse misses with a knee strike.
Whitelaw looking to throw knees to the head but Bighouse is blocking nicely.
Bighouse has Whitelaw pushed against the cage.
Whitelaw prevents Bighouse from breaking the clinch.
Bighouse is pressed up against the cage. Whitelaw has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bighouse down to the mat. Bighouse avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jones Whitelaw. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitelaw with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bighouse counters with a nice double leg into side control. Whitelaw won't be happy with that.
Bighouse throws an elbow but Whitelaw slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bighouse wants to control but Whitelaw is keeping him busy.
Whitelaw tries to bench press Bighouse off him but Bighouse keeps the position.
Whitelaw gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitelaw is pressing down on Bighouse's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Whitelaw throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bighouse escapes and throws Whitelaw's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Whitelaw tries to improve position but can't.
Bighouse landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Whitelaw sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Whitelaw is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bighouse lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bighouse tries to stand but can't do so whilst Whitelaw controls his leg.
Whitelaw moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitelaw working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bighouse doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bighouse manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bighouse content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Whitelaw throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bighouse must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bighouse wants to control from the top but Whitelaw keeps moving.
Whitelaw wants to sweep here but Bighouse controlling him for the moment.
Whitelaw is working hard here to advance position.

That's four 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.

Bighouse stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Whitelaw throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Whitelaw misses with a takedown attempt

and Bighouse counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Whitelaw missing with knees to the body.
Bighouse wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bighouse trying to control the position but instead, Whitelaw has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bighouse into the cage.

Bighouse decides to pull guard.
Whitelaw working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bighouse looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitelaw is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Whitelaw drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Whitelaw as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Bighouse screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Whitelaw! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Jones Whitelaw!
Jones Whitelaw retains his super heavyweight title!