PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Israel Whetu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Asa Du (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whetu
vs
Du

193 cm
21
246 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Israel Whetu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Asa Du!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Du keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whetu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Du.
Whetu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Du counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Whetu thinking.
Du showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Whetu.
Whetu throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Du.
Du doesn't manage to clinch there - Whetu circles away.
Whetu scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Du shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Whetu defends it nicely.
Du fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whetu falls off balance throwing a combination

and Du holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Du is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Whetu is trying to push Du away but Du has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Whetu working hard to break the clinch.
Du keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Whetu's efforts to push away.
I was talking to Whetu's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du has Whetu pressed against the cage, preventing Whetu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short left from Whetu.
Du dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Whetu prevents the takedown attempt.
Whetu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Whetu avoiding damage as Du throws knees to the body.
Whetu tries to break the clinch but Du is controlling the position.
Whetu scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Asa Du has been cut.
Nice elbow from Du.

Whetu pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whetu throws a right and a left that Du avoids nicely.
Whetu closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Jab by Whetu.
Du tries to clinch but Whetu is having none of it.
Whetu swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whetu throws a series of punches but Du moves out of range.

Du clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whetu managing to block the knees to the body from Du.
Whetu is trying to break the clinch but Du is controlling him.
Whetu wants to get back to striking at distance but Du won't allow it.

Du breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Whetu scores with a nice head shot.
Du dodges the punch combination from Whetu.
Whetu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Whetu has managed to clinch.
Whetu wants to get back to striking at distance but Du won't allow it.
Whetu tries to circle away but Du has him pinned against the cage.
Du should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Du tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Du drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Israel Whetu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Asa Du.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whetu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Du dodges the punch combination from Whetu.
Whetu looks to land a combination but Du avoids it well.
Israel Whetu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Whetu misses.
Whetu misses with a series of wild punches.
Whetu works over Du's head and body with a nice combination.
Whetu is breathing heavily.
Du tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Whetu manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Du blocks a jab.
Du tries to clinch there but Whetu circles away.
Whetu throws a series of punches but Du avoids them all with ease.
Whetu lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Whetu.
Du tries to clinch there but Whetu circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whetu throws a series of punches but Du avoids them all with ease.
Du dodges the punch combination from Whetu.
Du misses with a takedown attempt - Whetu sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Du takes the fight into the clinch.
Du throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Whetu fails to land.
Whetu wants to break free but Du has control.
Du keeps control of Whetu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Du lands an elbow just above Whetu 's eye.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whetu tries to break free but Du pushes him back against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Du.
Du is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whetu is defending well for now.
Du is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whetu is defending well for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Whetu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Asa Du's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Du is looking to clinch but Whetu is avoiding it.
Du misses with a body kick.
Du shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Whetu connects with a right hand. Du shakes it off.
Whetu lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Du circles away quickly and effectively.
Whetu's jab looks to have found its range, popping Du under the eye.
Some wild striking there from Whetu.

Du instigates a clinch.

Whetu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Whetu here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Du walks into a left hand.
Du tries to clinch there but Whetu circles away.
Good exchange - Whetu coming out on top.
Du slips a jab and a cross from Whetu.
Whetu swinging wildly here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whetu scores with a jab to the head.
Whetu tries to bum rush Du with a series of wild strikes but Du uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Du fakes the leg kick and cracks Whetu in the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A punch combination from Whetu misses.
Whetu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Du tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Du tries to clinch but Whetu is having none of it.
Whetu throws a series of punches but Du avoids them all with ease.
Israel Whetu is winning the standup battle so far.
Du tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Whetu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Du tries to clinch up but Whetu circles away and keeps his distance.
Du attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Whetu misses with a looping left.
Du tries to close the distance and clinch but Whetu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whetu displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Du.
Whetu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Du tries to close the distance and clinch up but Whetu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Sloppy strikes from Whetu. Those never looked like landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du shoots in but no luck this time.
Whetu keeps the fight on the outside.
Whetu throws a lazy uppercut

and Du moves into the clinch.
Du prevents Whetu from breaking the clinch.

Whetu breaks the clinch.
Whetu looks to land a combination but Du avoids it well.
Du uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Whetu.
Du is looking to clinch but Whetu is avoiding it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Whetu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Du moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Some wild striking there from Whetu.
Du changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whetu tries to avoid it but Du manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whetu to the ground. Whetu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Israel Whetu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Asa Du.
Du tries to clinch but Whetu is having none of it.
Du tries to clinch but Whetu moves out of range.
No luck for Du with that takedown attempt.
Du is trying desperately to land a takedown but Whetu is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Du.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du doesn't manage to clinch there - Whetu circles away.
Whetu throws a nice looking combination but Du bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whetu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Whetu misses with a series of wild punches.
Whetu fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Du looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Du closes the distance and clinches.
Whetu blocks a body shot from Du.
A head punch on the inside from Du fails to land.
Asa Du seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Whetu is trying to break the clinch but Du is controlling him.

Whetu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Whetu will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Du avoids a punch combination nicely.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Whetu.
Whetu keeps the fight on the outside.
Du is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Whetu cracks Du with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Du showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Whetu.
Whetu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Du is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Du tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Whetu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Du darts in trying to clinch
and Whetu counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Israel Whetu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Asa Du's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Du is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Whetu throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Du fails in his attempt to clinch.
Du fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whetu avoids the body shot from Du.
Whetu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whetu moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Whetu finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Whetu throws a leg kick that is checked
and Du counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A nice inside leg kick there by Du. That's going to slow Whetu down.
Whetu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Du is looking to clinch but Whetu is avoiding it.
Du throws a sloppy head kick
and Whetu counters with a one-two to the body.
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!
Whetu misses with the combination.
Whetu misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whetu gets a clinch.
Whetu is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Du goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Du tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Whetu just stands there and leans against the cage.
Whetu lands an uppercut.

Du breaks the clinch.
Du takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whetu cracks Du with a good jab.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Whetu!

Whetu decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Whetu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Du's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whetu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Du defending well though.
Nice strikes from Whetu there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Du is looking to get back to full guard here but Whetu has managed to pass to side control instead.
You can see the frustration on Du's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Whetu scores with a couple of short elbows.
Whetu working the body and head with strikes.
Whetu creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Du sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Du is trying to control Whetu's posture but Whetu avoids it.
Du defending against the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Du struggling a bit here.
Whetu misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Whetu looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Du is avoiding damage well.
Whetu in side control, throwing shots but Du defends.
Whetu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Du manages to work his way to half guard, despite Whetu's best efforts.
Du is trying to control but can't.
Whetu tries to pass to full mount but Du defends it.
Asa Du has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whetu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Du's head.
Whetu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Israel Whetu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Whetu trying to control the action but Du is working from the bottom.
Whetu is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Du taking some punishment here, with Whetu in his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whetu working Du over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Israel Whetu showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Whetu, 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Israel Whetu!
Israel Whetu thanked the fans post fight for their support.