PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Bridge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Whittaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whittaker has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Bridge
vs
Whittaker

175 cm
18
185 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

180 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, John Bridge!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gary Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bridge shoots in but Whittaker avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bridge fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bridge showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Whittaker.
Whittaker throws a nice looking combination but Bridge bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Gary Whittaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Whittaker gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Whittaker.
Bridge looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bridge is breathing heavily.
Whittaker's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Bridge changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Whittaker fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bridge fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Whittaker, pushing him back against the cage.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.

Whittaker breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Whittaker.
Bridge blocks a head kick by Whittaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bridge fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bridge shoots in and drives through. Whittaker sprawls well.
Whittaker misses with a kick to the body.
Whittaker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Whittaker misses with a series of wild punches.
Whittaker scores with a jab. Bridge acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whittaker rushes Bridge and presses him up against the cage.
Whittaker looking to slow down the pace here.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bridge misses with a takedown attempt - Whittaker sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Whittaker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
No luck for Whittaker with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Whittaker tries to clinch

and Bridge counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Whittaker has hold of Bridge's hands but Bridge slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Bridge stands up and beckons Whittaker to join him on the feet.
Whittaker closes the distance looking to clinch

and Bridge counters by moving into the clinch.

Bridge has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Whittaker uses from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bridge 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.

Bridge will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
John Bridge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Whittaker clinches with his opponent.
Bridge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Whittaker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Whittaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bridge closes the distance and clinches.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Whittaker.
Whittaker gets underhooks to prevent Bridge's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bridge drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Whittaker lands a body shot in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whittaker manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker fails with the takedown

and Bridge counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Whittaker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bridge is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bridge has Whittaker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Whittaker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The is referee keeping an eye on Whittaker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Bridge has hold of one of Whittaker's legs. Whittaker is fighting the takedown attempt but Bridge gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Bridge passes into half guard.
Bridge 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Whittaker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bridge.
Bridge keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bridge is looking to take a break and control but Whittaker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bridge thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Whittaker to regain full guard.
Whittaker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Whittaker throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Whittaker is looking to stand up but Bridge isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bridge closes the distance and clinches up with Whittaker, looking for a takedown. Bridge pushes Whittaker against the cage but Whittaker circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker misses with a combination

and Bridge counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bridge slips nicely into half guard.
Whittaker is trying to stand back up but Bridge is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bridge is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ground and pound from Bridge.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bridge stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Whittaker scores with a leg kick.
Bridge fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Whittaker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bridge with a poor takedown

and Whittaker moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bridge dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bridge shoots for a double leg takedown but Whittaker sprawls well. He's pushed Bridge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Whittaker tries to clinch up.
Whittaker looks to land a combination but Bridge avoids it well.
Bridge changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whittaker tries to avoid it but Bridge manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whittaker to the ground. Whittaker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bridge misses with a series of wild punches.
Whittaker tries to clinch but Bridge is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bridge shoots for a double leg takedown but Whittaker sprawls well. He's pushed Bridge's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Bridge. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whittaker displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Whittaker.
Whittaker pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bridge closes this distance looking for a takedown but Whittaker circles away.
Bridge tries to clinch there but Whittaker circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bridge closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bridge lands in his opponent's guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Whittaker can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bridge trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bridge trying to control but Whittaker is working from the bottom.
Whittaker is looking to stand up but Bridge isn't so interested in that idea.
Bridge looking to sit in guard and control but Whittaker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Whittaker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Whittaker stands up from Bridge's guard - Whittaker perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bridge rushes Whittaker and presses him up against the cage.
Bridge is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Whittaker gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bridge prevents Whittaker from breaking the clinch.
Whittaker prevents a takedown attempt there.
Whittaker is trying to break the clinch but Bridge has him pressed against the cage.
Whittaker prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Whittaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Whittaker misses with the head strike.
Bridge on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bridge wants a takedown but no success here.
Whittaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Bridge won't allow it.
Whittaker tries to pull guard but Bridge won't allow it.
Whittaker trying to stall but Bridge improves his position.
Whittaker stalls.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Whittaker breaks from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Whittaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bridge 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Bridge!