PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Douglass Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Miguel Guardinho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Whitaker
vs
Guardinho

187 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

182 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Douglass Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Miguel Guardinho!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Leandro Rodrigues and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitaker takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Guardinho lands a jab to Whitaker's midsection.
Whitaker tries to clinch there but Guardinho circles away.

Guardinho scores with a takedown into Whitaker's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Whitaker 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.
Whitaker trying to keep a closed guard but Guardinho is proving a slippery customer.
Guardinho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Guardinho throws a big right hand that misses.
Guardinho stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whitaker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Whitaker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Guardinho.
Guardinho sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Whitaker's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Guardinho with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Guardinho has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Whitaker is looking for a sweep. Guardinho is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker trying to control here.
Guardinho is pressing down on Whitaker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Whitaker is holding on for now.
Guardinho is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Guardinho is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Whitaker is just riding it out for now. Guardinho eventually gives up the hold.
Guardinho not doing much here.

Guardinho decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker wants to clinch up but Guardinho keeps it at a distance.

Guardinho shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Guardinho wants to take a breather but Whitaker is having none of it.
Whitaker trying to control but Guardinho postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Still in half guard, Guardinho seems content to control.
Whitaker is looking to control Guardinho's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Whitaker avoid being mounted?
Whitaker holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Douglass Whitaker has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Whitaker doesn't manage to clinch there - Guardinho circles away.
Whitaker wants to clinch but Guardinho slips to the side

and Guardinho counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is looking to take this one to the mat.
Whitaker tries to circle away but Guardinho has him pinned against the cage.

Guardinho breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Guardinho swats away the attempt to clinch by Whitaker.

Guardinho closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Whitaker quickly recovers to half guard.
Guardinho takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Guardinho is trying to work for a kimura but Whitaker is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Guardinho throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Guardinho is trying to control. Whitaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Guardinho.
Guardinho tries to pass to full mount but Whitaker defends it.
Guardinho is trying to control. Whitaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Miguel Guardinho.
Whitaker fails in his attempt to clinch.

Guardinho dives in and scores a takedown into Whitaker's guard.
Guardinho looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Guardinho stays in close to Whitaker's body and controls the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitaker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Guardinho postures up in Whitaker's guard and throws a big left but Whitaker blocks it.
Guardinho preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Guardinho dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Guardinho manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Whitaker on his heels. He'll look to pass Whitaker's guard now, I'm sure.
Guardinho is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Whitaker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Guardinho is controlling him.
Guardinho in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Guardinho postures up.
Guardinho is looking to work some ground and pound but Whitaker has wrist control.
Whitaker is trying to control the position but Guardinho postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Guardinho looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Whitaker tries to clinch but Guardinho is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guardinho misses with a series of wild punches.
Whitaker tries to clinch but Guardinho moves away

and Guardinho counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Guardinho gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Guardinho postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Whitaker to stand up.
Whitaker tries to clinch up but Guardinho circles away and keeps his distance.

Guardinho moves into range and clinches up with Whitaker.
Whitaker is looking to take this one to the mat.
Whitaker is trying to stall.
A short uppercut from Guardinho.

Guardinho gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Whitaker has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Guardinho has passed into side control.
Whitaker struggling a bit here.
Who's going to make the next move?
Whitaker manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Guardinho perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Guardinho stands up from half guard.
Miguel Guardinho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Guardinho is breathing heavily.
Guardinho tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Whitaker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Guardinho has Whitaker up against the cage in a clinch.
Whitaker has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Guardinho avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Guardinho pulls Whitaker into guard.
Guardinho has Whitaker pulled in close to control his posture.
Guardinho not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Guardinho has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whitaker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Whitaker throws a big right hand that misses.
Guardinho is adopting a defensive guard.
Miguel Guardinho has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whitaker throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitaker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Guardinho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Guardinho working a defensive guard here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Whitaker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Guardinho's head.
Whitaker is working Guardinho over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Whitaker throws a big right hand that misses.
Guardinho seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitaker trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitaker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Guardinho wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Miguel Guardinho showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Guardinho scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Guardinho working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
I wouldn't like to be where Whitaker is right now.
Guardinho working away.
Guardinho looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Whitaker is avoiding damage well.
Guardinho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitaker keeps working.
Whitaker manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Guardinho takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Guardinho defending well though.
Guardinho regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Whitaker.
Guardinho trying to strike off his back.
Whitaker preventing the sweep.
Whitaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Guardinho looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Guardinho trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Guardinho utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Whitaker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Whitaker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Guardinho working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitaker.
Whitaker working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Guardinho's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker lands a couple of elbows.
Guardinho is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Guardinho will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitaker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Whitaker is in close to Guardinho's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Guardinho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whitaker throws an elbow that misses. Guardinho uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Whitaker's guard. Nice move by Guardinho!
Whitaker 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.
Guardinho working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker is working an open guard so Guardinho takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Whitaker tries to close the distance and clinch but Guardinho swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Guardinho closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Whitaker tries to bench press Guardinho off him but Guardinho keeps the position.

Guardinho is trying to get an arm triangle but Whitaker is defending well.
Whitaker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Guardinho tries to score with some ground and pound. Whitaker controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Whitaker struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker tries to bench press Guardinho off him but Guardinho keeps the position.
Whitaker is letting Guardinho control him for a moment.
Guardinho in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Guardinho wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitaker keeps working.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitaker seems a little lost for a moment, as Guardinho dominates the positioning.
Whitaker prevents Guardinho from improving position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Guardinho taking a break here but Whitaker is having none of it and regains half guard.
Douglass Whitaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Miguel Guardinho is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Whitaker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Miguel Guardinho comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Guardinho has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Miguel Guardinho!