PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Whitehope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Ignatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whitehope
vs
Ignatov

179 cm
21
184 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

186 cm
24
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Whitehope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Ignatov!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ignatov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ignatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Whitehope tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ignatov counters with a left to the body.
Ignatov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whitehope slips under a jab from Ignatov.
A big right from Whitehope misses.
Whitehope tries to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ignatov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Whitehope moves to clinch but Ignatov breaks away
and Ignatov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A slow jab from Ignatov misses its intended target.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ignatov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ignatov thows a left - swing and a miss!

Whitehope forces Ignatov back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov swings wildly with an uppercut but Whitehope uses good head movement to avoid it.
Whitehope prevents Ignatov from breaking the clinch.
Whitehope looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ignatov lands a body shot.
Whitehope prevents a body shot from Ignatov.
Whitehope fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ignatov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whitehope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ignatov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Ignatov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mark Whitehope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whitehope tries to move into range but Ignatov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Whitehope misses with a straight left.
Whitehope ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.
Ignatov lands a nice shot that snaps Whitehope's head back.
Whitehope wants to clinch.
Ignatov misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ignatov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Whitehope is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Whitehope tries to clinch up.
Whitehope looks to clinch
and Whitehope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ignatov stuns Whitehope with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitehope keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Whitehope wants to clinch.
Ignatov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Whitehope is looking to clinch but Ignatov is avoiding it.
Whitehope throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ignatov swats away the attempt to clinch by Whitehope.
Ignatov lands with a good body shot.
Whitehope uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ignatov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope tries to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a straight right hand.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch but Ignatov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ignatov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov is having none of it.
Ignatov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Whitehope's head.
Ignatov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Whitehope moves to clinch but Ignatov breaks away
and Ignatov counters with a left and a right that stings Whitehope.
A swing and a miss from Ignatov.
Ignatov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ignatov misses with a straight left.
Whitehope tries to clinch up but Ignatov circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whitehope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Whitehope misses with a body shot.
Ignatov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Whitehope had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Ignatov lands a slapping body shot.
Whitehope with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ignatov to score with a decent uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitehope gets a clinch.
Whitehope throws a head punch that misses.
Ignatov keeps control of Whitehope as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Whitehope swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ignatov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Whitehope takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Whitehope throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Whitehope tries to clinch up but Ignatov circles away and keeps his distance.
Ignatov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Whitehope.
Ignatov misses with a straight right.
Whitehope takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ignatov avoids a kick to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitehope throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Whitehope moves into the clinch.
Whitehope throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ignatov misses with a punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Whitehope tries to clinch there but Ignatov circles away.

Whitehope moves into the clinch.
Ignatov misses with the head strike.

Ignatov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ignatov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Whitehope at a distance.
Whitehope fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whitehope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ignatov throws a hook to the side of Whitehope's head but Whitehope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ignatov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ignatov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ignatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Whitehope wants to clinch up but Ignatov keeps it at a distance.
Whitehope throws a looping overhand right but Ignatov ducks down to avoid it.
Ignatov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ignatov throws a lazy uppercut
and Whitehope counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Whitehope wants to clinch up but Ignatov keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov with a hook.
Whitehope steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ignatov.
Whitehope slips a jab from Ignatov.
Whitehope takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Whitehope fails in his attempt to clinch.
A decent looking cross lands there for Ignatov.
Whitehope looks to land a right hand but Ignatov moved out of range.
Ignatov misses with an uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Whitehope misses the target.

Whitehope drives through and clinches with Ignatov against the cage.
Ignatov is trying to break free.
Whitehope misses with a hook to the ribs.

Whitehope escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Whitehope moves in looking to clinch but Ignatov pushes him off.
Whitehope misses with a low kick.
Whitehope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ignatov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope moves to clinch but Ignatov breaks away
and Ignatov counters with a nice uppercut.
Ignatov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitehope tries to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a nice uppercut.
Ignatov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Whitehope.
Ignatov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Whitehope doesn't seem bothered though.
Ignatov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whitehope.
Whitehope is looking to clinch.
Whitehope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ignatov.
Whitehope doesn't manage to clinch there - Ignatov circles away.
Decent striking displayed by Whitehope there.
Whitehope fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Whitehope looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whitehope is looking to clinch.
Ignatov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vladimir Ignatov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ignatov.
Whitehope doesn't manage to clinch there - Ignatov circles away.
Whitehope darts in trying to clinch
enabling Ignatov to counter with a crisp jab.
Whitehope wants to clinch
and Ignatov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ignatov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ignatov swats away the attempt to clinch by Whitehope.
Ignatov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whitehope tries to clinch up.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov moves out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Ignatov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Whitehope has a takedown stuffed.
Whitehope tries to clinch but fails miserably
enabling Ignatov to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope misses the jab.
Ignatov stuns Whitehope with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Whitehope on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ignatov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Whitehope wants to clinch
and Whitehope takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ignatov slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Whitehope looks to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Whitehope darts in trying to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fight stays on the outside here - Whitehope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Whitehope misses with a wild body shot.
Ignatov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ignatov counters with a stiff right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Ignatov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Whitehope is looking to clinch.
Ignatov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whitehope was well out of range. Poor timing from Ignatov.
Ignatov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ignatov misses with a straight left.
Whitehope tries to clinch up but Ignatov circles away and keeps his distance.
Whitehope throws a nice looking combination but Ignatov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whitehope looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ignatov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ignatov slips under a jab from Whitehope.
Ignatov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ignatov jabs Whitehope to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Whitehope wants to clinch.
Whitehope fails in his attempt to clinch.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Whitehope avoids a punch combination nicely.
Whitehope wants to clinch up but Ignatov keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope defending well as Ignatov loads up on a big left hand.

Ignatov tries to keep at a distance but Whitehope has taken the fight into the clinch.
Whitehope blocking some punches.

Whitehope breaks from the clinch.
Whitehope wants to clinch.
Ignatov needs to keep his hands up - Whitehope had a free shot at his head there.
Ignatov connects with a nice looking jab.
Whitehope is looking to score with low kicks.
Whitehope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Whitehope swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope looks to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Whitehope misses with a body punch
and Ignatov counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitehope lands a nice looking body shot.
Whitehope throws a hook but Ignatov avoids it easily.
Ignatov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Whitehope decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Whitehope controlling the pace.
Ignatov trying to control from the bottom.
Whitehope not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ignatov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Whitehope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitehope in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whitehope throws a strike but Ignatov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ignatov manages to pass to side control.

Ignatov decides to stand up.
Ignatov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Whitehope tries to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Whitehope takes one to the side of the head.
Whitehope loads up on a big right hand but Ignatov slips the punch.
Whitehope moves in looking to clinch but Ignatov pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whitehope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Mark Whitehope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ignatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Ignatov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ignatov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Whitehope throws a nice looking combination but Ignatov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whitehope tries to clinch up but Ignatov circles away and keeps his distance.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov is having none of it.
Whitehope tries to clinch up.
Nice uppercut there from Whitehope.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitehope closes the distance but Ignatov moves to the side
and Ignatov counters with a left and a right that stings Whitehope.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ignatov digs a good body shot into Whitehope's ribs.
Ignatov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Whitehope missing with a left hand there. Ignatov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ignatov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Whitehope. Whitehope circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Whitehope.
I think Ignatov 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Ignatov!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Vladimir Ignatov made sure he mentioned //buriedALIVE// Fight Gear, along with how happy he was to win his fight.