PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shane Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demarcus DeSilva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitaker comes to the ring accompanied by "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragon Force. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Whitaker
vs
DeSilva

185 cm
26
205 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Demarcus DeSilva!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitaker closes this distance looking for a takedown but DeSilva circles away.
DeSilva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
DeSilva misses with a low kick.
Whitaker waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract DeSilva.
Whitaker shoots in and drives through. DeSilva sprawls well.
DeSilva throws a head kick but Whitaker moves out of range.
A low kick from Whitaker misses

and DeSilva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
DeSilva tries to pass the half guard into mount. Whitaker knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Whitaker wants to get back to full guard.
DeSilva not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Whitaker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Whitaker is looking for a sweep. DeSilva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

DeSilva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
DeSilva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker is positioning himself well to prevent DeSilva advancing to mount.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
DeSilva with a lazy takedown attempt

and Whitaker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Whitaker postures up.

DeSilva throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Whitaker stopping the sweep attempt from DeSilva.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but DeSilva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitaker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because DeSilva is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
DeSilva looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
DeSilva throws and low kick but Whitaker moves out of range easily.
DeSilva with a poor takedown
and Whitaker counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Shane Whitaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

DeSilva closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Whitaker to the mat! Whitaker manages to get full guard.
Whitaker is breathing heavily.
Whitaker is trying to keep DeSilva in close.
DeSilva wants to pass the guard but Whitaker is keeping the position.

Whitaker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. DeSilva defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva tries to free his leg and advance position but Whitaker is retaining full guard.
DeSilva passes Whitaker's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Whitaker wants to get back to full guard.
DeSilva trying to control the action but Whitaker is working from the bottom.
DeSilva works his foot free and advances to mount.
DeSilva landing shots from mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Whitaker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

DeSilva looking to secure an arm triangle but Whitaker defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

DeSilva with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Whitaker is wriggling around trying to escape.

Whitaker defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from DeSilva.
Whitaker is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
DeSilva scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
DeSilva punishing his opponent with strikes.
Whitaker manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Whitaker has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, DeSilva escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by DeSilva!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarcus DeSilva dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

DeSilva throws a head kick but Whitaker moves out of range.
Whitaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Whitaker misses with a hook.
A decent looking body kick lands there for DeSilva.
DeSilva throws a nice inside leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
DeSilva feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Whitaker's calf.
DeSilva clinches but Whitaker breaks the clinch

and Whitaker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in DeSilva's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker stopping the sweep attempt from DeSilva.
DeSilva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
DeSilva manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
DeSilva moves to the back position.

DeSilva looking to break Whitaker's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Whitaker remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise DeSilva will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Whitaker defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

DeSilva working for a choke but Whitaker is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Whitaker is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if DeSilva gets his way!
Whitaker turns into DeSilva and is now in his guard.
DeSilva is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Whitaker thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
DeSilva tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Whitaker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Whitaker wants to control from the top but DeSilva keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Whitaker is really struggling to control DeSilva but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Whitaker won't allow DeSilva to sweep him here.
Whitaker trying to control but DeSilva is working from the bottom.
DeSilva looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
DeSilva is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

DeSilva closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Whitaker wants to improve his position but DeSilva is controlling well.
DeSilva throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

DeSilva is trying to work for a kimura but Whitaker is defending well.
DeSilva blocks the strikes from Whitaker.
Whitaker wants to get back to full guard.

DeSilva seems to be working for a kimura but Whitaker defends the submission attempt.
Whitaker trying to control but DeSilva postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
DeSilva winds up and cracks Whitaker with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Whitaker is looking to improve his position.
DeSilva missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Demarcus DeSilva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

DeSilva feints and then cracks Whitaker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Whitaker down.
DeSilva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Whitaker tries for a takedown but DeSilva circles away easily

so DeSilva counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

DeSilva stands up and waves to Whitaker to follow him.
DeSilva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
DeSilva shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Whitaker sprawls well. Whitaker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. DeSilva gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
DeSilva lands a nice looking body kick.
Good work by DeSilva as he checks the leg kick.
Whitaker keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Shane Whitaker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
DeSilva misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Whitaker finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
DeSilva throws a nice inside leg kick.

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.
Whitaker with a lazy takedown attempt
and DeSilva counters with a head kick. That will keep Whitaker thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
DeSilva fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Whitaker.
Whitaker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Whitaker instigates a clinch.
Whitaker misses with the head strike.
Whitaker blocks the elbow strike.
DeSilva looking to throw knees to the head but Whitaker is blocking nicely.
Whitaker jumps guard but DeSilva stands there with Whitaker around his waist. Whitaker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
DeSilva trying to land knees to the body.
Whitaker managing to block the knees to the body from DeSilva.

DeSilva manages to break the clinch.
Whitaker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and DeSilva makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Whitaker really felt that one!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Whitaker avoiding damage as DeSilva throws knees to the body.
DeSilva landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
DeSilva tries to land knees in the clinch but Whitaker avoids the damage to the body.
Whitaker blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
DeSilva tries to land knees in the clinch but Whitaker avoids the damage to the body.
DeSilva throws an elbow that misses.

Whitaker gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
DeSilva has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
DeSilva keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.
DeSilva looking for a sweep. Not yet DeSilva, not yet.

DeSilva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whitaker is aware though and is defending well.
Whitaker controlling from the top position.
DeSilva keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
DeSilva looking to control.

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

DeSilva looking for a guillotine here but Whitaker defends easily.

DeSilva is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whitaker is aware though and is defending well.
DeSilva wants to sweep but no luck.

DeSilva is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
DeSilva is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Shane Whitaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Demarcus DeSilva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but DeSilva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Demarcus DeSilva comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got DeSilva 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Demarcus DeSilva!