PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Julio Paulo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Whitney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Whitney has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Paulo
vs
Whitney

210 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Julio Paulo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Whitney!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitney shoots in for a double leg but Paulo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Whitney looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Paulo rushes Whitney and presses him up against the cage.
Paulo taking a breather.
Nice elbow from Paulo.
Paulo is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Whitney is defending well.
Paulo goes for a takedown in the clinch but Whitney prevents it.

Paulo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paulo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Paulo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A looping hook to the body misses from Paulo. Whitney does a little dance to reset his feet.

Paulo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Whitney, pushing him back against the cage.

Paulo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paulo lands a body shot.
Paulo looks for a takedown but Whitney sprawls well.

Paulo clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Whitney with that takedown attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Paulo is looking to take this one to the mat.

Paulo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Whitney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Paulo defends it nicely.

Paulo rushes Whitney and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Paulo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paulo shoots for a double leg takedown but Whitney sprawls well. He's pushed Paulo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Paulo goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitney stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Whitney wants it to stay on the feet.
Paulo misses with a wild body shot.

Paulo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Paulo breaks the clinch.
Paulo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whitney moves away.
Paulo shoots in for a takedown but Whitney shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Paulo has closed the distance and engaged Whitney in a clinch.

Paulo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paulo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Paulo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Paulo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whitney swivels and escapes.
Whitney looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Paulo is fending him off so far but Whitney persists. Nope, Paulo circles away and we're back to standing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Paulo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Whitney closes the distance and clinches.

Paulo's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Paulo tries for a takedown but Whitney sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Paulo is looking to wear down Whitney with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Whitney.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Whitney goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Paulo has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Whitney but great work by Paulo.
Paulo tries to stand but Whitney is controlling his head.
Whitney is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Paulo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Whitney tries to get to full guard but Paulo has control of the leg.
Paulo not doing much here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Paulo dominated that round.
That's time! Paulo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Paulo throws a right hand that Whitney ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitney also avoids with ease.

Paulo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Paulo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Whitney shoots in looking for a takedown. Paulo tries to sprawl out of it but Whitney keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Paulo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Paulo has taken the fight to the clinch.

Paulo breaks the clinch.
Paulo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Whitney's waist but Whitney gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Paulo off to one side.
Paulo fakes the leg kick and cracks Whitney in the body.
Whitney is breathing heavily.
Paulo dives in and grabs Whitney's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whitney pushes down on Paulo's head and hops out.

Whitney tries to keep at a distance but Paulo has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paulo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Paulo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whitney pinned against the cage. Whitney gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julio Paulo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitney takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Julio Paulo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Paulo clinches up with Whitney and pushes him back against the cage.

Paulo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paulo tries to clinch but Whitney moves away

and Whitney counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Whitney.
Whitney postures up in Paulo's guard and throws a big left but Paulo blocks it.
Whitney throws a big right hand that misses.

Whitney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Paulo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Paulo has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Paulo wants to control from the top but Whitney keeps moving.
Paulo wanted to stand there but Whitney had control of the position.
Paulo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Paulo wants to stand and escape but instead Whitney has hit a sweep and he's now on top in 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.

Whitney 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.
Whitney trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Whitney drops back, looking for a kneebar! Paulo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Paulo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Paulo!
Whitney is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulo throws an elbow but Whitney slips to the side and avoids it well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Whitney can't do much from the bottom here.

Paulo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Julio Paulo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Paulo misses with a takedown attempt - Whitney sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Whitney closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paulo circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julio Paulo dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Whitney tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Paulo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Julio Paulo is winning the standup battle so far.
Paulo misses with a two punch combination.
Paulo dives in and grabs Whitney's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whitney pushes down on Paulo's head and hops out.
Whitney fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Paulo is looking to slow Whitney down with leg kicks.

Paulo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Paulo gets underhooks to prevent Whitney's takedown attempt.

Paulo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Paulo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Whitney but Whitney pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Paulo slaps away a takedown attempt from Whitney, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Julio Paulo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Whitney.

Paulo takes the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulo tries for a takedown. No joy.
Paulo wants to stall.

Paulo manages to break the clinch.
Paulo doesn't manage to clinch there - Whitney circles away.
Whitney takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Whitney shoots in and gets a takedown into Paulo's guard.

Whitney is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Paulo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Paulo has escaped and now he's on top!
Paulo trying to control but Whitney is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paulo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Whitney shoots for a takedown but Paulo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Paulo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Whitney stuffs the takedown attempt from Paulo. Paulo gets slowly back to his feet.
Whitney keeps the fight on the outside.
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!
Whitney avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whitney misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paulo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Paulo moves into the clinch.
Paulo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Paulo wants to break free but Whitney has control.
Whitney keeps control of Paulo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Whitney decides to pull guard.
Whitney keeping moving, preventing Paulo from controlling successfully.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Whitney avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whitney is trying to control the position but Paulo postures up.
Joe Whitney has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Julio Paulo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Paulo would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julio Paulo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Paulo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio Paulo!