PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Learned Astronomer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Whales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Astronomer
vs
Whales

189 cm
22
199 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
193 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Learned Astronomer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Patrick Whales!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Astronomer misses with a low kick.
Astronomer connects with a body shot that sends Whales's belly button to the back.
Astronomer throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Whales stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Whales fails with a takedown attempt.
A lazy left from Whales finds it's target.
Whales tries to clinch up.

Astronomer closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Whales is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Astronomer off and has taken his back!
Whales punches the canvas rather than the man.
Astronomer holding on to Whales's left wrist, preventing the choke.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whales wants to control the position but Astronomer frees himself and scrambles - Whales manages to regain control in side control.
Whales fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whales wants to control but Astronomer is keeping him busy.
Astronomer struggling a bit here.
Whales wants to lay and pray for a moment but Astronomer keeps working.
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.
Sloppy strikes there by Whales.
Whales throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Whales in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Whales has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Whales throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whales trying to control the position but Astronomer is working away.
Astronomer is holding Whales down, trying to stall.
Astronomer gets back to half guard.
Whales is trying to control. Astronomer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Whales missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Astronomer trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whales missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Whales tries to pass to full mount but Astronomer defends it.
Whales not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Astronomer trying to control from the bottom.
Astronomer has hold of Whales's hands but Whales slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Astronomer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Whales's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Whales's back!
Whales breaks Astronomer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Whales's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Astronomer looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Whales passes Astronomer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer tries to roll over but Whales keeps him under control.
Whales looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Whales is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Astronomer is trying to maintain the position but Whales is very close to passing his half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whales looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whales slows the pace down in half guard.
Whales scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrick Whales dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Whales looks to score with a jab to the body but Astronomer is just out of range.
Astronomer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Whales.
Astronomer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Astronomer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Astronomer throws a nice looking combination but Whales bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Whales crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Astronomer - the referee stops the clock and Whales gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Astronomer. Whales manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Astronomer misses with a combination
and Whales cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Astronomer takes a swing at Whales's ribcage but misses.
Astronomer throws a lazy right hand but Whales sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Whales just misses with a punch to the body.
Whales throws a jab but it's blocked by Astronomer.
Whales keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whales connects with a right hand. Astronomer shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whales moves out of range of the body kick.
Astronomer missing with a left hand there. Whales was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Whales misses with a jab to the body
and Astronomer counters with a straight right hand.
Astronomer scores with a nice body kick.
Whales misses with an uppercut. Astronomer saw that one coming.
Astronomer throws a head kick but Whales moves out of range.
Astronomer is looking to land body kicks.
Astronomer stuns Whales with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Whales scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Whales lands a body shot.
A big left from Astronomer misses.
Whales with a lazy takedown attempt
and Astronomer makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Whales misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Astronomer. No joy for Whales on that attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Astronomer dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Astronomer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whales was well out of range. Poor timing from Astronomer.
Whales wants to clinch
and Astronomer counters with a solid body kick.
Whales thows a body shot but no joy.
Patrick Whales seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whales fails with a takedown attempt.
Learned Astronomer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Whales.
Whales misses with a wild body shot.
Astronomer dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Whales. That did some damage!
Astronomer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Whales.
Whales misses with a left hand
and Astronomer counters with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer lands a leg kick that knocks Whales off balance momentarily.
Astronomer tries to score with a low kick but Whales moves his leg out of the way.
Astronomer fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Whales.
Whales slips under a jab.
Astronomer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Astronomer shoots in for a double leg but Whales sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Astronomer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Whales scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Whales is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Astronomer wants to control but Whales is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Whales.
Astronomer wants to get back to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
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. Whales connects with a nice short shot to Astronomer's temple.
Astronomer wants to control but Whales is keeping busy.
Whales lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Astronomer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whales is working away from the top position though.
Whales trying to control from half guard but Astronomer is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whales is stalling here. Astronomer is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Whales seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Astronomer has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Learned Astronomer will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Whales throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Whales moves away from the strike by Astronomer.
Whales throws a jab but it's blocked by Astronomer.
Whales with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Astronomer to score with a decent uppercut.
Whales lands a nice looking body shot.
Whales shoots for a double leg takedown but Astronomer sprawls well. He's pushed Whales's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Astronomer looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Astronomer keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Whales.
Astronomer throws a hook to the side of Whales's head but Whales sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Whales takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A looping hook to the body misses from Astronomer. Whales does a little dance to reset his feet.
Astronomer is looking to score with low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Whales catches Astronomer right on the button with a cross.
Whales dips to his left and cracks Astronomer with an uppercut!
Whales works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Astronomer takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A jab from Whales misses.
Whales wants to clinch but Astronomer slips to the side
and Astronomer counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Whales tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Astronomer was well out of range. Poor timing from Whales.
Whales looks to score with a jab to the body but Astronomer is just out of range.
Whales tries to close the distance and clinch up but Astronomer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Astronomer is looking to land body kicks.
Astronomer misses with a body kick.
Astronomer slaps away a takedown attempt from Whales, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whales throws a body punch but Astronomer moves out of range.
Whales tries to bum rush Astronomer with a series of wild strikes but Astronomer uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Whales swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Astronomer counters with a good, hard body kick but Whales shrugs it off.
Whales takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whales throws out a loose jab but Astronomer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Whales misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Learned Astronomer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Whales.
Astronomer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whales.

Whales drives through and clinches with Astronomer against the cage.
Whales keeps control of Astronomer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Whales.
Astronomer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Astronomer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astronomer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Astronomer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whales ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Astronomer moves away.
Astronomer throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice body punch from Astronomer.
A thudding body kick lands there by Astronomer!
Sloppy strikes from Astronomer. Those never looked like landing.
Whales swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Astronomer tried to score with a low kick but Whales checks it.
Whales shoots in looking for a takedown. Astronomer tries to sprawl out of it but Whales keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Astronomer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Whales moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whales misses with some punches.
Whales lands a left hand that snaps the head of Astronomer backwards.
Whales throws a head punch that misses.

Whales turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
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!
Whales throws a strike aimed at the side of Astronomer's head but Astronomer avoids it well.
Whales wants to lay and pray for a moment but Astronomer keeps working.
Astronomer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Whales seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whales trying to mount his opponent but Astronomer defends it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Patrick Whales.
I think Whales 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrick Whales!