PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Waine Bitterhall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billie Bourne (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.

Bitterhall
vs
Bourne

170 cm
19
265 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

170 cm
19
265 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Waine Bitterhall!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Billie Bourne!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Steve Erwin and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bourne looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bitterhall wants to control but Bourne is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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

Bitterhall is defending against the submission attempts here by Bourne.

Bitterhall is defending against the submission attempts here by Bourne.
Bitterhall wants to get back to full guard.

Bitterhall looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bourne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bourne is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Bourne is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bitterhall is just riding it out for now. Bourne eventually gives up the hold.

Bourne is working for a submission of some sort.

Bourne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bourne is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bitterhall sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bourne is working for a kimura but Bitterhall is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bitterhall is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bourne pulls his head out easily.

Bourne is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bourne is trying to work for a kimura but Bitterhall is defending well.
Bourne looks winded!

Bourne is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bitterhall is just riding it out for now. Bourne eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bitterhall is pressing down on Bourne's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourne is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bitterhall is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bourne fails with the takedown

and Bitterhall counters by clinching up.
Bourne is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bourne goes for a takedown attempt but Bitterhall pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Waine Bitterhall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billie Bourne.
Bourne stuffs the takedown.
Bourne fails with the takedown

and Bitterhall counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bitterhall wants to stand and escape but instead Bourne has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Bourne has gone for a leg lock! Bitterhall slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bourne's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bourne wants to stand but Bitterhall is controlling the position.
Bourne is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitterhall works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bourne trying to control here.

Bitterhall is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bourne is just riding it out for now. Bitterhall eventually gives up the hold.
Bitterhall trying to control the action but Bourne is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitterhall is thwarting Bourne's attempts to control the position.

Bourne makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourne with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bitterhall counters with a takedown into side control.
Bitterhall is looking to take a break and control but Bourne is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Waine Bitterhall overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bitterhall tries to score with some ground and pound. Bourne controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Bourne throws Bitterhall to one side and escapes!
Bitterhall could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bourne fails with the takedown
and Bitterhall counters with a nice uppercut.
Bitterhall leaves Bourne with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bourne swats away the attempt to clinch by Bitterhall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitterhall shoots in and drives through. Bourne sprawls well.
Bourne fails with a takedown attempt.
Bourne tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bitterhall sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bourne somewhat.
Bourne shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bitterhall pinned against the cage. Bitterhall gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bitterhall closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bourne quickly recovers to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bitterhall is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Bitterhall decides to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bourne enables Bitterhall to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bourne manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Bourne kicks Bitterhall off and gets to his feet.
Waine Bitterhall is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bitterhall misses with a takedown attempt - Bourne sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bourne has a takedown stuffed.

Bourne scores with a takedown into Bitterhall's guard.

Bourne postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bitterhall is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bourne, into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bitterhall stands up and waves to Bourne to follow him.
Bourne takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitterhall tries to clinch up but Bourne circles away and keeps his distance.
Bourne shoots in looking for a takedown. Bitterhall tries to sprawl out of it but Bourne keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bitterhall manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bourne misses with a takedown
letting Bitterhall counter with a right hand.
Waine Bitterhall has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Billie Bourne.
Bitterhall lands a nice shot to the body.
Bitterhall tries to clinch up.
Bourne tries for a takedown but Bitterhall circles away easily

and Bitterhall decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bourne's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bitterhall's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bitterhall wants to control from the top but Bourne keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitterhall is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bourne is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Waine Bitterhall just wasn't active enough.
Bitterhall will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bourne looks for a takedown but Bitterhall sprawls well.
Bitterhall shoots in and drives through. Bourne sprawls well.
Bitterhall fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bourne shoots for a double leg takedown but Bitterhall sprawls well. He's pushed Bourne's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bitterhall misses with a low kick.

Bourne shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bitterhall is trying to defend but Bourne finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Bitterhall moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bourne wants to pass the guard but Bitterhall is keeping the position.

Bourne drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bitterhall manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bourne has Bitterhall in his guard.
Bitterhall working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bourne controls Bitterhall momentarily but Bitterhall frees himself.
Bitterhall wants to pass the guard but Bourne is keeping the position.
Bourne is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bourne is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Waine Bitterhall showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bitterhall 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Waine Bitterhall!