PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dana Whitte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Branco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whitte
vs
Branco

195 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Drops Nutri
Drops Nutri

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dana Whitte!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Branco!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Luis Engracia and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitte tries to close the distance and clinch up but Branco swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Branco closes the distance but Whitte moves to the side
and Branco takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Rafael Branco has been cut.
Whitte uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Branco has time to react.
Whitte lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Branco looks to clinch
and Whitte counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Branco tries to clinch up
and Whitte counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco looks to clinch
and Whitte cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Whitte has Branco up against the cage in a clinch.
Whitte is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Branco.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Whitte.
Branco should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Whitte blocks a body shot from Branco.
Branco throws a punch but it's blocked by Whitte.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Branco has eaten all the pies!
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Whitte uses good head movement to avoid it.
Branco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Whitte's efforts to push away.
Branco keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Whitte's efforts to push away.
Branco wants to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whitte throws out a powerful jab.
Whitte lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Whitte looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Branco wants to clinch

and Whitte moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Whitte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whitte wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Branco tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Whitte counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dana Whitte dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Branco's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Branco wants to clinch but Whitte slips to the side
and Whitte counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Whitte connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Whitte pushes Branco up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Whitte pushes Branco up against the cage in a clinch.
Branco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Whitte.

Whitte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco needs to keep his hands up - Whitte had a free shot at his head there.

That has opened up Rafael Branco's cut even more.
Branco tries to clinch up

and Whitte counters by clinching up.
Branco tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitte keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Whitte closes the distance and pushes Branco back into the cage.

Whitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Whitte closes the distance and pushes Branco back into the cage.
Whitte wants to break the clinch but can't.

Whitte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Whitte works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitte clinches up against the cage.
Branco misses with a punch on the inside.

Whitte pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whitte is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Branco can do to turn this around?

Whitte forces Branco back against the cage and clinches.

Whitte breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dana Whitte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Whitte has taken the fight to the clinch.

Whitte manages to break the clinch.
Branco tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Whitte counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco misses with a short punch on the inside.

Whitte breaks from the clinch.
Whitte is looking to clinch but Branco is avoiding it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Whitte closes the distance and pushes Branco back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dana Whitte dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Branco's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Whitte listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Branco walks into a left hand.
Whitte circles away from the clinch attempt

and Whitte holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Whitte blocks an uppercut.
Whitte wants to get back to striking at distance but Branco won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Branco has a couple of punches blocked by Whitte.
Whitte wants to break the clinch but can't.
Whitte is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Branco is looking to control Whitte's arms but Whitte gets an underhook and turns him. Now Branco has his back to the cage.

Whitte escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dana Whitte is winning the standup battle so far.
Whitte circles away from the clinch attempt

and Whitte counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

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.
The referee calls for Whitte to work.
Whitte wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Whitte uses good head movement to avoid it.

Branco manages to break the clinch.

Whitte rushes Branco and presses him up against the cage.
Branco tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Whitte's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitte breaks the clinch.
Rafael Branco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Whitte closes the distance and clinches.

Whitte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Branco clinches but Whitte breaks the clinch

and Whitte counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Whitte.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Whitte breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

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.
Branco tries to clinch up

and Whitte moves into the clinch.
Dana Whitte is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Branco misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whitte is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Whitte uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Branco is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dana Whitte showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Whitte 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:25
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dana Whitte!