PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Whitehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George st nkoi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). st nkoi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by number one. 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.

Whitehead
vs
st nkoi

185 cm
26
170 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

178 cm
26
185 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Bloodsport Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Craig Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, George st nkoi!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
st nkoi shoots for a double leg takedown but Whitehead sprawls well. He's pushed st nkoi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Whitehead throws a head kick but st nkoi moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Whitehead.
Whitehead misses with a looping left.
Whitehead misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Whitehead looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but st nkoi keeps moving.

st nkoi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whitehead is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Whitehead throwing strikes from guard but st nkoi blocks nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitehead is working st nkoi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

st nkoi looking for a guillotine here but Whitehead defends easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whitehead postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

st nkoi is looking for a triangle but Whitehead pushes his legs off easily.
Whitehead has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but st nkoi keeps moving.
st nkoi looking for a sweep. Not yet st nkoi, not yet.

Whitehead avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Whitehead works over st nkoi with some ground and pound from guard.

st nkoi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whitehead doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whitehead manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
st nkoi is trying to control the position but Whitehead postures up.
st nkoi wants to get back to his feet but Whitehead is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Whitehead connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but st nkoi keeps moving.

st nkoi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Whitehead trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitehead throwing strikes from guard but st nkoi blocks nicely.
Whitehead postures up.
st nkoi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehead.
Whitehead lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Whitehead lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Whitehead connects with a couple of short punches.
Whitehead passes st nkoi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Whitehead throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Whitehead seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
st nkoi looks like he's trying to stand up.

st nkoi has one foot on Whitehead's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Whitehead misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from st nkoi.
st nkoi avoids a punch combination nicely.
st nkoi ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
st nkoi ducks under a wild hook from Whitehead.
Whitehead thows a body shot but no joy.
A head kick misses from Whitehead.
st nkoi slaps away a takedown attempt from Whitehead, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Whitehead misses with a head kick.
st nkoi shoots in looking for a takedown but Whitehead manages to keep the fight standing, pushing st nkoi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead connects with a single shot there.
Whitehead lands a nice shot that snaps st nkoi's head back.
Whitehead throws a head kick that half lands.
Whitehead stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
st nkoi tries to move into range but Whitehead moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Whitehead throws a hook but st nkoi avoids it easily.
Whitehead closes the distance and lands a one-two.
st nkoi is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Craig Whitehead seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitehead feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits st nkois jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Whitehead throws an overhand right that lands on st nkoi's shoulder, as st nkoi tries to avoid the shot.

st nkoi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Whitehead's half guard.
st nkoi wants to stand up but Whitehead is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Whitehead dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

st nkoi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Whitehead was covering up waiting for the punch and st nkoi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
st nkoi working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Whitehead's head.
st nkoi wants to stand but Whitehead is controlling his posture from full guard.

Whitehead working for a triangle but st nkoi defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

st nkoi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
st nkoi loads up on a big right hand but Whitehead slips the punch.
st nkoi tries to clinch but Whitehead moves out of range.
st nkoi slips a jab and a cross from Whitehead.
Whitehead ducks down and throws a hook to the body but st nkoi moves away.
Whitehead throws an uppercut from half a mile away. st nkoi sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Whitehead darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Whitehead tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but st nkoi was well out of range. Poor timing from Whitehead.
st nkoi avoids the body shot from Whitehead.
A cross from Whitehead lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
st nkoi dodges the punch combination from Whitehead.
st nkoi takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Whitehead misses the body punch
and st nkoi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Whitehead throws the left hand but st nkoi avoids the punch easily.
Whitehead scores with a one two! st nkoi had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
st nkoi gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Whitehead misses with a hook

and st nkoi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
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!
Whitehead has a closed guard, preventing st nkoi from standing up.
st nkoi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Whitehead looking for subs off his back but st nkoi has passed one foot through into half guard.
George st nkoi has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but st nkoi pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whitehead is refusing to be controlled, as st nkoi sits in half guard.
st nkoi seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Whitehead actively working from the bottom here.
st nkoi not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead gets back to full guard.
st nkoi advances to half guard.
st nkoi missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
st nkoi working Whitehead over with strikes.
Whitehead gets full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
st nkoi wants to stand and escape but instead Whitehead has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whitehead prevents st nkoi from getting back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George st nkoi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

st nkoi takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A jab from Whitehead finds it's way through st nkoi's defenses.
A big right from Whitehead misses.
st nkoi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Whitehead lands a head kick. st nkoi smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Whitehead throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
George st nkoi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
st nkoi swings for the body but Whitehead moves out of range.
Whitehead swats away the attempt to clinch by st nkoi.
st nkoi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice defenses there by st nkoi.
Whitehead uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from st nkoi.
Whitehead thows a body shot but no joy.
Whitehead misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead lands with a slapping head kick.
No luck for st nkoi with that takedown attempt.
st nkoi drops his hands momentarily and Whitehead takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Whitehead plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
st nkoi throws out a leg kick but Whitehead moves out of range and st nkoi only half commits.
st nkoi wants to clinch up but Whitehead keeps it at a distance.
st nkoi takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
st nkoi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Whitehead's waist but Whitehead gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing st nkoi off to one side.
Craig Whitehead has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George st nkoi.
st nkoi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
st nkoi thows a left - swing and a miss!
Whitehead 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.
Whitehead misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from st nkoi. Whitehead does a little dance to reset his feet.
Craig Whitehead is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick from Whitehead lands but st nkoi takes it in his stride.
Whitehead lands with a cross.
Whitehead throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
st nkoi shoots in looking for a takedown. Whitehead tries to sprawl out of it but st nkoi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Whitehead manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Whitehead misses with the combination.
Whitehead throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
st nkoi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
st nkoi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whitehead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
st nkoi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Whitehead tries to bum rush st nkoi with a series of wild strikes but st nkoi uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Whitehead throws an off balance right hand

and st nkoi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

st nkoi has Whitehead pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. st nkoi pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Whitehead tumbling to the mat - st nkoi dives into Whitehead's guard.
st nkoi wants to control from the top but Whitehead keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Whitehead is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! st nkoi rolls with it to try and escape but Whitehead cranks on the arm and st nkoi is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Craig Whitehead!