PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tad Whitney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Will Sabu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tad Whitney has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Whitney
vs
Sabu

187 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

169 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tad Whitney!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Will Sabu!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabu misses with a takedown attempt

and Whitney holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sabu tries for a takedown. No joy.
Whitney looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Whitney prevents the takedown attempt.
Tad Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sabu.

Whitney has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sabu clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Sabu has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Whitney.
What can Sabu do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whitney tightening his grip on Sabu, looking for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitney really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Sabu.
Sabu 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.
Whitney lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Whitney trying to control momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Whitney controlling the positon.
Whitney is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Sabu. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
I would not like to be Sabu right now.
Whitney's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sabu staying busy and making it hard for Whitney to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Sabu is looking for a way out.
Whitney misses with punches from the back.
Whitney trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Whitney has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Sabu's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitney punishes Sabu with strikes from the back mount.

Sabu defends a prolonged rear naked choke attempt and turns nicely into his opponent's guard.
Whitney looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitney, not yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sabu drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Whitney dives on top into guard.
Whitney trying to control but Sabu is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sabu doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Whitney counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Whitney slaps away a takedown attempt from Sabu, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Whitney closes the distance and pushes Sabu back into the cage.
Sabu managing to block the knees to the body from Whitney.
Whitney trying to stall but Sabu improves his position.

Whitney breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sabu closes the distance and clinches up with Whitney, looking for a takedown. Sabu pushes Whitney against the cage but Whitney circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tad Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sabu.
Sabu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Whitney moves into the clinch.
Whitney is looking to break free of the clinch but Sabu has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabu has Whitney pressed against the cage, preventing Whitney from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Whitney lands a takedown into guard.
Sabu keeping moving, preventing Whitney from controlling successfully.

Sabu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whitney can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Whitney postures up in Sabu's guard and throws a big left but Sabu blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitney missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whitney sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Tad Whitney wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sabu misses with a takedown

and Whitney holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Sabu has Whitney pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Whitney manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Whitney is pressed up against the cage. Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Whitney down to the mat. Whitney avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sabu has his takedown stuffed

and Whitney counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitney wants to get back to striking at distance but Sabu won't allow it.

Whitney has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Sabu is trying to keep an underhook but Whitney manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Whitney lands with a punch from half guard.
Whitney with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Sabu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sabu is breathing heavily.
Whitney throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitney performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nice strikes from Whitney there.
Whitney perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Whitney has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tad Whitney dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sabu with a poor takedown

and Whitney counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sabu is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Whitney stops a takedown attempt from Sabu.
Tad Whitney has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Will Sabu.
Whitney has Sabu pushed against the cage.
Sabu has Whitney pressed against the cage, preventing Whitney from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sabu tries to score a body lock takedown but Whitney shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Whitney tries to circle away but Sabu has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whitney lands a takedown into guard.

Whitney gets to his feet. Sabu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sabu tries for a takedown but Whitney circles away easily

and Whitney counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Whitney fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Stalling in the clinch from Whitney.
Whitney has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Whitney is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitney turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Whitney manages to end up in side control.
Sabu taking a bit of punishment here - Whitney scoring with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Whitney stands up and beckons Sabu to his feet.
Sabu gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Whitney counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Sabu tries to score a body lock takedown but Whitney shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Whitney is pressed up against the cage. Sabu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Whitney down to the mat. Whitney avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sabu takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabu fails with the takedown.

Sabu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Whitney sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Whitney wants to control but Sabu is keeping busy.
Whitney gets full guard.
Whitney wants to hit a switch here but Sabu passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Whitney there!
Whitney bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabu can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Whitney controls the pace.
Will Sabu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tad Whitney is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sabu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tad Whitney showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Whitney, 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tad Whitney!