PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zack Mafusa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Whitley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitley has chosen Pain Killer as his entrance music. Zack Mafusa has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Mafusa
vs
Whitley

190 cm
24
200 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

179 cm
24
211 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Knockout Fight Gear

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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zack Mafusa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mike Whitley!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitley throws a head kick but Mafusa moves out of range.
Whitley shoots in for a double leg but Mafusa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Whitley feints and as Mafusa raises his hands in defense, Whitley changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Mafusa wants to sweep but no luck.
Whitley wants to control from the top but Mafusa keeps moving.
Whitley preventing the sweep.
Mafusa keeping full guard, as Whitley tries to pass.
Whitley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Whitley won't allow Mafusa to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Whitley.
Whitley lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

It looks like Zack Mafusa has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Whitley closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Whitley looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Mafusa tries to roll over but Whitley keeps him under control.
Mafusa trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitley prevents Mafusa from improving his position.

Whitley is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mafusa is looking to improve his position.
Mafusa tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Whitley has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Whitley really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mafusa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mafusa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mafusa working to try and regain half guard.
Whitley controlling from mount.
Mafusa is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Whitley takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mafusa is working to get back to half guard.
Whitley content just to control the position here.
Whitley looking to control but Mafusa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Mafusa is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Whitley dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zack Mafusa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Whitley feints and as Mafusa raises his hands in defense, Whitley changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whitley tries to free his leg and advance position but Mafusa is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mafusa is on top in guard.
Mafusa landing some decent shots from guard.
Mafusa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whitley is keeping the position for now.
Mafusa is working hard here to advance position.
Mafusa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mafusa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Whitley keeping moving, preventing Mafusa from controlling successfully.
Mafusa wants to pass the guard but Whitley is keeping the position.
Mafusa throws a big right hand that misses.
Mafusa will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Whitley shoots in but Mafusa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mafusa sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Mafusa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Whitley counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Mafusa's guard now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Let's hope that Whitley has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Whitley's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mafusa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitley is one step ahead there.
Whitley sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mafusa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Whitley wants to control from the top but Mafusa keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Whitley.
Mafusa misses with a takedown

and Whitley counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Whitley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitley trying to control the position from guard on top but Mafusa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mafusa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mafusa isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Whitley stacks Mafusa on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Whitley!
Whitley working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mafusa is trying to get back to half guard.
Mafusa struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Whitley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Zack Mafusa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Whitley looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Mafusa!
Mafusa is looking to improve his position but Whitley isn't that keen on the idea.
Whitley controlling from the full mount.
Mafusa really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Whitley controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mafusa gets back to half guard.
Mafusa wants to get back to full guard.
Whitley passes into side control, despite Mafusa's attempt to control the position.
Mafusa tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Whitley wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

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.
Whitley working away.
Mafusa tries to bench press Whitley off him but Whitley keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mafusa is letting Whitley control him for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whitley throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Whitley moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Whitley closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mafusa did well to prevent Whitley getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitley is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mafusa is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Whitley is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zack Mafusa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mike Whitley is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mafusa is looking to control Whitley's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mafusa avoid being mounted?
Whitley perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four 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 fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mafusa is looking for a sweep. Whitley is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Mafusa has a hand on Whitley's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Whitley takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Whitley controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Whitley comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Whitley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Whitley!