PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bryant Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grey Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grey Maynard will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Whitaker
vs
Maynard

180 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
24
164 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryant Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Grey Maynard!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Shigeki Sano and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitaker looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Whitaker with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Whitaker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maynard swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Whitaker passes into half guard.
Maynard trying to control but Whitaker postures up.
Ground and pound from Whitaker.

Maynard actively working from the bottom here.
Whitaker working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Maynard trying to control but Whitaker postures up.
Maynard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Whitaker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Maynard taking some punishment here, with Whitaker in his half guard.
Whitaker has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitaker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Whitaker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Whitaker landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker raining down hammerfists from mount.
Maynard is in a horrible position here. Whitaker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Whitaker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Whitaker lands a big shot there that rocks Maynard but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Whitaker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Whitaker raining down hammerfists from mount.
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount and Maynard is in trouble!
Whitaker working the ground and pound effectively.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maynard can't escape the position.
Whitaker connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Whitaker raining down hammerfists from mount.
Maynard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Whitaker raining down hammerfists from mount.
Whitaker landing shots from mount.
Whitaker raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard tries to reverse the position but Whitaker maintains control.
Whitaker lands a nice shot to the head.
Whitaker with good strikes from the mount here!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Maynard is bucking up trying to escape but Whitaker cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Whitaker breaks from Maynard's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Whitaker lands a heavy elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Whitaker cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Maynard tries to hold on but Whitaker postures up.
Maynard tries to reverse the position but Whitaker maintains control.
Maynard looks gassed!
Whitaker raining down shots from the mount!
Maynard keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Whitaker with the ground and pound from mount.
Whitaker scoring with strikes but Maynard is staying in there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maynard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Whitaker dominating with strikes here.
BOOM! Whitaker connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Maynard is wriggling around trying to escape.
Whitaker scoring with strikes but Maynard is staying in there.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Whitaker cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The referee warns Maynard that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Whitaker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maynard hang on?
Whitaker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Whitaker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Maynard working to try and regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whitaker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Maynard is in a horrible position here. Whitaker smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Maynard is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Whitaker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker with good strikes from the mount here!
Whitaker with the ground and pound from mount.
Maynard taking shots to the head.
Whitaker lands a big shot there that rocks Maynard but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Whitaker lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Whitaker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Whitaker lands with some strikes.
Whitaker lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Maynard is in all sorts of trouble here.
Whitaker connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount.
Whitaker with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maynard wants to control but Whitaker is having none of it.
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount.
Whitaker with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryant Whitaker dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Whitaker fails with the takedown
and Maynard counters with a three punch combo that has Whitaker backing up. Whitaker nods at Maynard to acknowledge the strikes.
Whitaker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whitaker fails with the takedown.
Maynard ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Maynard goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

It looks like Bryant Whitaker has been cut.
Whitaker fails with the takedown
and Maynard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryant Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maynard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Whitaker's hands.
Whitaker takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A combination from Maynard does no damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Maynard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard scores with a decent looking hook.
Maynard ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Whitaker misses with a takedown attempt
and Maynard counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Whitaker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maynard can do to turn this around?
Whitaker takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Maynard misses with the combination.
Grey Maynard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maynard scores with a nice right hand.
Maynard throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Maynard shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Whitaker eats them both and turns towards Maynard to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Maynard changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Whitaker looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maynard controls the position.
Bryant Whitaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whitaker is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is looking to regain half guard here but Maynard keeps moving and retains side control.
Whitaker is working hard here to advance position.
Whitaker wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Whitaker gets back to half guard.
Maynard is looking to advance position but Whitaker won't allow it.
Maynard is looking to take a break and control but Whitaker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Maynard wants to work for an arm triangle but Whitaker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maynard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maynard's back!
Whitaker is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Whitaker gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Whitaker gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Whitaker apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Maynard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Whitaker trying to control from the bottom.
Maynard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Whitaker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Maynard is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Maynard wants to work for an arm triangle but Whitaker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Maynard is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Whitaker defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Maynard trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitaker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitaker pulls Maynard in to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grey Maynard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bryant Whitaker'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!

Maynard connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Whitaker's hands.
Whitaker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maynard.
Whitaker throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maynard's waist but Maynard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Whitaker off to one side.

Whitaker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Maynard's guard.

Maynard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whitaker doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whitaker manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whitaker connects with a couple of short punches.
Whitaker advances position into side control!
Maynard is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Whitaker is chipping away with strikes.
Whitaker is working Maynard over with some ground and pound from side control.
Whitaker moves into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker cracks Maynard with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Maynard is wriggling around trying to escape.
Whitaker fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Whitaker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Whitaker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Maynard can't escape the position.
Maynard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Whitaker unloading with bombs!
Maynard is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Whitaker working the ground and pound effectively.
Whitaker with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker breaks from Maynard's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Whitaker punishing his opponent with strikes.
Whitaker punishing his opponent with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maynard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Whitaker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maynard hang on?
Whitaker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Whitaker lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Whitaker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Whitaker scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount and Maynard is in trouble!
Whitaker lands with some strikes.
Maynard can't escape the position.
Whitaker with shots to the head and body - Maynard looks very uncomfortable down there.
Whitaker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Whitaker looking to finish Maynard with some ground and pound. This is bad for Maynard!
Whitaker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is bucking up trying to escape but Whitaker cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Maynard is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Whitaker with good strikes from the mount here!
Maynard working to try and regain half guard.
Whitaker putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Maynard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitaker raining down hammerfists from mount.
Whitaker connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Whitaker lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Whitaker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Maynard hang on?
Maynard working to try and regain half guard.
Whitaker looking to finish Maynard with some ground and pound. This is bad for Maynard!
Maynard is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Maynard can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
BOOM! Whitaker connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitaker looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Maynard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Maynard really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Whitaker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Whitaker with the ground and pound from mount.
Whitaker looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Whitaker with good strikes from the mount here!
Maynard wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Whitaker.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Whitaker unloads with some shots from mount but Maynard bucks and avoids them well.
Whitaker in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Whitaker punching from mount but Maynard doing a good job of avoiding damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryant Whitaker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Whitaker has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryant Whitaker!