PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Burt Fangle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitaker has chosen "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragon Force as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Fangle
vs
Whitaker

190 cm
22
214 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Elite Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Burt Fangle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Whitaker!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Fangle with that takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Fangle misses.
Fangle shoots in but no luck this time.
Whitaker fails to land the takedown.
Fangle moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fangle shoots in for a takedown but Whitaker shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burt Fangle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fangle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Whitaker tries to clinch but Fangle is having none of it.
Whitaker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Fangle counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fangle is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Fangle!
Fangle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Whitaker on the ground.
Whitaker looking to control but Fangle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Whitaker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Whitaker tries to control but Fangle wriggling away.
Whitaker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Whitaker throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Fangle because Whitaker loaded up on that one.

Whitaker is working for a guillotine from mount but Fangle frees his head quite easily.
Whitaker tries to control but Fangle wriggling away.

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.
Whitaker is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fangle blocking the ground and pound.
Whitaker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Whitaker trying to control but Fangle is having none of it.
Fangle can't escape the position.
Fangle is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Whitaker trying to control but Fangle is having none of it.

Despite being in the dominant position, Shane Whitaker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Whitaker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Whitaker lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fangle letting Whitaker take a breather here.
Fangle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Whitaker smiles and moves away.
Burt Fangle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fangle swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Whitaker doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Fangle counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Whitaker gets back to full guard.
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Fangle from controlling successfully.
Whitaker working a defensive guard here.
Whitaker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whitaker is trying to control the position but Fangle postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker has momentary wrist control but Fangle slips an elbow through the middle.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Whitaker tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Fangle counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Fangle from controlling successfully.
Fangle preventing the sweep.
Whitaker looking to control.
Fangle lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Fangle from controlling successfully.
Fangle won't allow Whitaker to sweep him here.
Fangle looking to pass the guard.
Whitaker is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Whitaker gets a takedown into half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is keen to just control but Fangle is a slippery customer.

Whitaker is trying to work for a kimura but Fangle is defending well.
Fangle is not content to let Whitaker control the position.
Fangle moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Fangle wants to sweep here but Whitaker controlling him for the moment.
Whitaker trying to control but Fangle is working from the bottom.
Fangle being controlled here, momentarily.
Whitaker trying to control but Fangle is working from the bottom.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Despite being in the dominant position, Shane Whitaker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Whitaker clinches with his opponent.
Fangle goes for a takedown attempt but Whitaker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Fangle has a takedown stuffed.
Whitaker comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Fangle shoots for a takedown but Whitaker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Whitaker is looking to clinch.
Fangle fails with the takedown

and Whitaker counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Whitaker working Fangle over with strikes.
Fangle is looking for a sweep. Whitaker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whitaker moves into full mount! Fangle won't be happy about that!
Whitaker controlling from the full mount.
Whitaker trying to control but Fangle is having none of it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Shane Whitaker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whitaker tries to clinch there but Fangle circles away.
Whitaker tries to clinch but Fangle moves out of range.

Whitaker 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.
Whitaker passes into half guard.
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 is trying to control the action in half guard but Fangle is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Fangle is looking to control Whitaker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fangle avoid being mounted?
Fangle tries to get to full guard but Whitaker has control of the leg.
Whitaker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Whitaker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fangle keeps working.
Fangle is looking for a sweep. Whitaker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whitaker is keen to just control but Fangle is a slippery customer.
Whitaker is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Whitaker wants to control the pace but Fangle is squirming around nicely.
Fangle is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shane Whitaker will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Fangle tries for a takedown but Whitaker circles away easily

and Whitaker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fangle works his way to full guard. Good work.
Whitaker wants to control from the top but Fangle keeps moving.
Whitaker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fangle has Whitaker pulled in close to control his posture.
Whitaker passes Fangle's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Whitaker is looking to take a break and control but Fangle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fangle keeping hold of Whitaker's head, controlling as best he can.
Whitaker is breathing heavily.
Fangle's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Whitaker trying to pass the guard but Fangle defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fangle is trying to stand.
Whitaker is keen to just control but Fangle is a slippery customer.
Whitaker is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Fangle wants to improve his position but Whitaker is controlling well.
Fangle on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fangle tries to get out of the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Fangle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Whitaker counters by clinching up.
Fangle takes an elbow to the temple.
Whitaker looking to stall.
Fangle jumps guard but Whitaker stands there with Fangle around his waist. Fangle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burt Fangle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fangle fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Nice elbow from Whitaker.
Whitaker looking to slow down the pace here.
Stalling in the clinch from Whitaker.
Fangle drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fangle takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Whitaker is trying to stall.
Whitaker scores a nice knee to the body.
Fangle blocks an elbow strike from Whitaker.
Fangle can't get the takedown.
Fangle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Whitaker just stands there and leans against the ropes.
Whitaker lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Whitaker.
Fangle has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Whitaker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Whitaker lands a knee to the head.
Whitaker misses with an elbow over the top.
Fangle tries to score a body lock takedown but Whitaker shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Whitaker tries to stall but Fangle uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fangle drops down looking for an ankle pick but Whitaker pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fangle tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Fangle feints and as Whitaker raises his hands in defense, Fangle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whitaker 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.
Fangle controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whitaker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Fangle controls the pace.
Whitaker wants to sweep here but Fangle controlling him for the moment.
Fangle postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Whitaker closes the distance but Fangle moves to the side

and Fangle counters with a nice double leg into side control. Whitaker won't be happy with that.
You can see the frustration on Whitaker's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Whitaker manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker moves into full guard.
Fangle wants to pass the guard but Whitaker is keeping the position.
Fangle trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitaker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitaker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fangle is one step ahead there.
Fangle pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whitaker is keeping the position for now.
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Fangle from controlling successfully.

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

and Fangle counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Fangle makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fangle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burt Fangle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fangle throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fangle sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Fangle wants to control from the top but Whitaker keeps moving.
Whitaker trying to control the position.
Fangle chips away with some ground and pound.
Fangle wants to control from the top but Whitaker keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Whitaker closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fangle circles away.

That's six 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.
Fangle shoots and misses

and Whitaker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fangle keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.
Fangle looking to control.
Fangle is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Fangle manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whitaker manages to get himself to full guard.
Whitaker manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Whitaker content just to control the position here.
Whitaker tries to control but Fangle wriggling away.
Whitaker sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker trying to control but Fangle is having none of it.
Whitaker throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Whitaker trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Whitaker looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fangle is in all sorts of trouble here.
Whitaker throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Whitaker controlling from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Shane Whitaker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whitaker tries to clinch but Fangle moves out of range.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Fangle throws a left and a right that both miss

and Whitaker moves into the clinch.
Whitaker lands an elbow inside.
Fangle wants a takedown.
Whitaker lands an elbow inside.
Fangle goes for a takedown attempt but Whitaker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Fangle feints and as Whitaker raises his hands in defense, Fangle changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whitaker is trying to keep Fangle in close.

Whitaker looking for a guillotine here but Fangle defends easily.
Fangle is looking to work some ground and pound but Whitaker has wrist control.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fangle sitting in guard here, content to control.
Whitaker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whitaker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Fangle's guard.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Fangle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fangle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fangle keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.
Fangle looking for a sweep. Not yet Fangle, not yet.
Whitaker stays in close to Fangle's body and controls the position.
Fangle keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.
Fangle looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitaker is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Burt Fangle.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Shane Whitaker!
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight for Shane Whitaker!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Shane Whitaker!

Shane Whitaker wins by unanimous decision!