PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Francis Ford Coppola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jermaine Whittaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ford Coppola
vs
Whittaker

189 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Francis Ford Coppola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermaine Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Coppola closes this distance looking for a takedown but Whittaker circles away.
Whittaker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Coppola.
Whittaker scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Coppola throws a right hand that Whittaker ducks under and follows up with a left that Whittaker also avoids with ease.
Whittaker slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Coppola tests Whittaker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A left and a right from Coppola both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Jermaine Whittaker 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!

Whittaker has managed to clinch.
Coppola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Whittaker has him pressed against the cage.
A short uppercut from Whittaker.
With the fighters up against the cage, Whittaker throws an elbow but misses.
Whittaker throws an elbow but it misses.

Whittaker gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Coppola regains guard.
Coppola throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Coppola looking for a guillotine here but Whittaker defends easily.
Whittaker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker prevents Coppola from getting back to his feet.

Whittaker drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whittaker jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Whittaker tries to stand but Coppola is controlling from the bottom.
Coppola looking for a sweep. Not yet Coppola, not yet.

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

Whittaker got a little sloppy there for a moment and Coppola has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Whittaker has managed to get both his arms back between Coppola's legs - danger averted.
Whittaker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Coppola's guard.
Whittaker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Coppola. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Whittaker is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Coppola sees it coming and defends easily.

Coppola looking for submissions off his back.
Whittaker is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Coppola gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola wants to sweep but no luck.

Whittaker gets to his feet. Coppola looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Coppola fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Whittaker avoids it really well and circles away.

Whittaker closes the distance and clinches.
Whittaker content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Whittaker lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Whittaker throws an elbow but it misses.
Whittaker jumps guard but Coppola stands there with Whittaker around his waist. Whittaker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Whittaker can't get the takedown.
Coppola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Whittaker has him pressed against the cage.
Coppola is trying to break the clinch but Whittaker has him pressed against the cage.
Whittaker fails to pull guard.
Francis Ford Coppola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jermaine Whittaker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Coppola walks away with a smile on his face. Whittaker gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Coppola lands a slapping body shot.
Whittaker looks gassed!
Coppola shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whittaker pinned against the cage. Whittaker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Whittaker on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Whittaker moves out of range as Coppola strikes.
Coppola closes the distance and clinches up with Whittaker, looking for a takedown. Coppola pushes Whittaker against the cage but Whittaker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker slips a jab from Coppola.
Francis Ford Coppola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whittaker tries to close the distance and clinch but Coppola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whittaker has a takedown stuffed.
Coppola dives in and grabs Whittaker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whittaker pushes down on Coppola's head and hops out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Francis Ford Coppola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jermaine Whittaker's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Coppola shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

Whittaker 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.
Coppola wants to sweep here but Whittaker controlling him for the moment.
Coppola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whittaker manages to get himself to full guard.

Coppola is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Whittaker is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Whittaker has escaped and now he's on top!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Coppola working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Coppola trying to keep a closed guard but Whittaker is proving a slippery customer.
Coppola manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whittaker manages to get himself to full guard.

Coppola drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Coppola jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Whittaker had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Coppola defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Coppola has gone for a leg lock! Whittaker slips out almost immediately though and dives into Coppola's guard.
Whittaker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whittaker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Coppola throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Whittaker won't allow Coppola to sweep him here.
Whittaker tries to free his leg and advance position but Coppola is retaining full guard.
Coppola controls Whittaker momentarily but Whittaker frees himself.

Coppola working for a triangle but Whittaker defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker won't allow Coppola to sweep him here.
Coppola keeping moving, preventing Whittaker from controlling successfully.
Coppola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Whittaker decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Coppola, up you get!
Whittaker displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker throws a right hand that Coppola ducks under and follows up with a left that Coppola also avoids with ease.
Francis Ford Coppola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whittaker lands a jab-cross combination.
Whittaker tries to close the distance and clinch but Coppola swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whittaker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Coppola.
A telegraphed right hand from Coppola misses the target.
Whittaker misses with a hook. Coppola ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Coppola.
Whittaker swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Whittaker defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Coppola.
Coppola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whittaker moves away.
Coppola thows a body shot but no joy.
No joy there for Coppola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Whittaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jermaine Whittaker's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Whittaker.
Coppola wants to control but Whittaker postures up.
Coppola tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Whittaker wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Whittaker tries to move to mount but Coppola blocks the move with his legs.
Coppola is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Whittaker stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Coppola to get to his feet.
Francis Ford Coppola is winning the standup battle so far.
Whittaker lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Whittaker closes the distance and clinches.

Whittaker lands a takedown into guard.

Coppola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whittaker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Coppola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Coppola keeping moving, preventing Whittaker from controlling successfully.
Whittaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Coppola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Coppola is trying to keep Whittaker in close.
Whittaker wants to control from the top but Coppola keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Jermaine Whittaker has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Danga de danga de dang - Whittaker scores with a four punch combination!
Coppola dives in and grabs Whittaker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whittaker pushes down on Coppola's head and hops out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Coppola gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Whittaker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Whittaker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Coppola working for a triangle but Whittaker defends it easily.
Whittaker is pushing down on Coppola's leg trying to pass to half guard. Coppola is fighting to maintain full guard but Whittaker has managed to sneak the leg through.

Coppola looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Coppola wants to control but Whittaker is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Whittaker lands a nice short elbow.

Whittaker decides to stand up.
Coppola is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Whittaker.

Whittaker clinches.
Coppola tries to circle away but Whittaker has him pinned against the cage.
Whittaker keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Coppola's efforts to push away.
Whittaker lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Coppola wants to break free but Whittaker has control.
A short body shot lands from Whittaker as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Whittaker's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whittaker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Coppola misses with a combination
and Whittaker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermaine Whittaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Whittaker has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jermaine Whittaker!