PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Whilton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daryl Schillaci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whilton's entrance music is Fuel-Metallica. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Schillaci's choice of entrance music: War Machine By Kiss. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Whilton
vs
Schillaci

185 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Whilton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Daryl Schillaci!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whilton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Schillaci keeping moving, preventing Whilton from controlling successfully.
Whilton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Whilton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Schillaci's guard.
Whilton stalling.
Schillaci pushes Whilton off looking to stand but Whilton dives back in and keeps control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schillaci is not content to let Whilton control the position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Whilton connects with a nice short shot to Schillaci's temple.

Schillaci looking for a kimura from the bottom but Whilton passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schillaci is looking to regain half guard here but Whilton keeps moving and retains side control.
Whilton working the head and body with strikes.
Schillaci is looking for a sweep.
Whilton landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Whilton trying to control the position but Schillaci is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whilton tries to move into full mount but can't pass Schillaci's legs.
Whilton knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Schillaci on the ground.
Whilton taking a breather here.
Whilton in side control lands a decent elbow.

Whilton decides to stand back up. Whilton steps back and let's Schillaci get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Schillaci shoots in for a double leg but Whilton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Whilton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whilton throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Schillaci looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Whilton tries to free his leg and advance position but Schillaci is retaining full guard.
Whilton wants to control from the top but Schillaci keeps moving.
Whilton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whilton is breathing heavily.
Whilton is pushing down on Schillaci's leg trying to pass to half guard. Schillaci is fighting to maintain full guard but Whilton has managed to sneak the leg through.
Schillaci regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Whilton.

Schillaci has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whilton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whilton throws a big elbow that misses.
Whilton looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Whilton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Schillaci isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Whilton stacks Schillaci 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 Whilton!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Whilton stands up and beckons Schillaci to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Whilton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Schillaci misses with a takedown

and Whilton counters with a shoot takedown. Schillaci fights it but they end up in guard.
Schillaci lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Whilton!
You get the feeling that Whilton really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Schillaci lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Schillaci throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Whilton because Schillaci loaded up on that one.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Schillaci misses with a head shot.
Whilton on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Whilton tries to get out of the position.
Schillaci misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Schillaci swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Whilton is now in Schillaci's guard. A big mistake from Schillaci there, giving up the dominant position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schillaci keeping moving, preventing Whilton from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whilton stops Schillaci from standing up.
Whilton chips away with some ground and pound.
Schillaci can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Whilton controls the pace.
Schillaci has momentary wrist control but Whilton slips an elbow through the middle.
Whilton landing some decent shots from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whilton wants to control from the top but Schillaci keeps moving.
Whilton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whilton is working Schillaci over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Whilton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Schillaci working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Whilton has passed into half guard!
Whilton is looking to take a break and control but Schillaci is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whilton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Schillaci with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Whilton 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.
Whilton winds up and cracks Schillaci with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Whilton is looking to advance position but Schillaci won't allow it.
Whilton looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Schillaci looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Whilton there.
Whilton controlling the action here.
Whilton wants to take a breather but Schillaci is having none of it.
Whilton misses with a head shot. Schillaci uses the momentum to regain guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whilton lands a couple of digs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Whilton dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Schillaci.
Schillaci stuffs the takedown attempt from Whilton. Whilton gets slowly back to his feet.
Whilton shoots for a takedown but Schillaci saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Whilton stuffs the takedown.
Schillaci gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Whilton counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James Whilton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Daryl Schillaci.
Whilton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Whilton trying to control the position from guard on top but Schillaci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whilton looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whilton slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Schillaci is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Whilton defends well.
James Whilton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whilton landing with the ground and pound.
Whilton sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whilton trying to control but Schillaci is working from the bottom.

Schillaci looking for a guillotine here but Whilton defends easily.
Whilton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whilton controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. James Whilton wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Whilton throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Schillaci's waist but Schillaci gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Whilton off to one side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schillaci shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Whilton sprawls well. Whilton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Schillaci gets slowly back to his feet.
Whilton leaves Schillaci with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Whilton closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Schillaci to the mat! Schillaci manages to get full guard.
Whilton scoring with some ground and pound.

Whilton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Schillaci has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Whilton has managed to get both his arms back between Schillaci's legs - danger averted.
Whilton 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.
Whilton landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whilton is working Schillaci over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Daryl Schillaci has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Whilton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whilton trying to control but Schillaci is working from the bottom.
Whilton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Schillaci can do to turn this around?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Schillaci looking for subs off his back but Whilton has passed one foot through into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Whilton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Whilton 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Whilton!
A relieved looking James Whilton thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.