PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Blanco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Whitehope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roberto Blanco could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Whitehope's chin.

Blanco
vs
Whitehope

178 cm
23
170 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

179 cm
26
184 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roberto Blanco!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Whitehope!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blanco avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A big right from Blanco misses.
Blanco throws an overhand right that lands on Whitehope's shoulder, as Whitehope tries to avoid the shot.
Blanco throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Whitehope.

Blanco rushes Whitehope and presses him up against the cage.
Whitehope comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Roberto Blanco has been cut.

Whitehope breaks the clinch.
Blanco connects with a right hand. Whitehope shakes it off.

It looks like Mark Whitehope has been cut.
A telegraphed right hand from Blanco misses the target.
Blanco misses with a straight left.
Blanco fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Whitehope looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Blanco!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Whitehope lands a decent elbow from side control.

Whitehope is trying to get an arm triangle but Blanco is defending well.
Whitehope has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Whitehope looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Blanco is avoiding damage well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco dodges the ground and pound from Whitehope.
Whitehope sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Blanco is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Whitehope working the strikes but Blanco uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Blanco regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Whitehope.
Whitehope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whitehope postures up in Blanco's guard and throws a big left but Blanco blocks it.
Blanco utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Whitehope is working Blanco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Whitehope throws a big right hand that misses.
Whitehope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitehope drops back looking for a leg! Blanco is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Blanco manages to kick Whitehope off! Whitehope jumps back into Blanco's guard.
Whitehope distracts Blanco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Whitehope throwing strikes from guard but Blanco blocks nicely.
Whitehope is working Blanco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Whitehope throwing strikes but missing.
Whitehope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Blanco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Whitehope postures up in Blanco's guard and throws a big left but Blanco blocks it.
Whitehope postures up in Blanco's guard and throws a big left but Blanco blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whitehope lands a lovely overhand right.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch but Blanco swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Blanco throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Blanco throws an overhand right that lands on Whitehope's shoulder, as Whitehope tries to avoid the shot.

Whitehope has managed to clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blanco.

Whitehope manages to break the clinch.
Blanco looks to land a right hand but Whitehope moved out of range.
Whitehope ducks under a wild hook from Blanco.

Whitehope rushes Blanco and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Whitehope blocks an uppercut.

Whitehope breaks from the clinch.
Blanco throws a jab when Whitehope was well out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanco throws the left hand but Whitehope avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Whitehope.
We've been told by Blanco's head coaches at Elite Dojo [21 Coaches / 54 cap] that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Whitehope clinches up with Blanco and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Blanco fails to land.
Whitehope lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Whitehope lands a damaging elbow.
Blanco throws a head punch that misses.
Blanco takes an elbow to the forehead.

Blanco is fighting off a takedown attempt but Whitehope is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Blanco to the mat. Blanco regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Whitehope advances to half guard.
Whitehope looks to land a strike but Blanco avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Whitehope drops back, looking for a kneebar! Blanco looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Blanco looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Blanco!

Whitehope is looking to regain half guard here but Blanco keeps moving and retains side control.
Whitehope is trying to control Blanco's posture but Blanco avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Whitehope dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Blanco misses with a hook. Whitehope ducked under it nicely.
Whitehope lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Whitehope misses with a body kick.
Blanco misses with a looping right.

Whitehope closes the distance and pushes Blanco back into the cage.
Blanco working aggressively here.
Whitehope blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Blanco.

Whitehope manages to break the clinch.
Blanco is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Blanco throws a lazy right hand but Whitehope sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Whitehope defending well as Blanco loads up on a big left hand.
Roberto Blanco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whitehope slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
A looping hook to the body misses from Whitehope. Blanco does a little dance to reset his feet.
Blanco throwing a counter right hand but Whitehope manages to avoid it.

Whitehope gets a takedown into half guard.

Whitehope is looking for a kimura here.
Whitehope seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope is keen to just control but Blanco is a slippery customer.
Whitehope throwing shots but Blanco is blocking nicely.

Whitehope seems to be working for a kimura but Blanco defends the submission attempt.
Whitehope is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Whitehope thows a huge punch but Blanco dodges it nicely.

Whitehope is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Blanco has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blanco avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Whitehope.
Mark Whitehope has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blanco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Whitehope throws a strike but Blanco avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Blanco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Whitehope scoring with some ground and pound.
Whitehope working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Blanco keeping moving, preventing Whitehope from controlling successfully.
Whitehope distracts Blanco with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehope drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Blanco dives on top into guard.

Whitehope looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whitehope can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Blanco controls the pace.

Whitehope looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Blanco has picked Whitehope up and slammed him! Whitehope can't keep hold of the triangle and Blanco manages to pass to side control!
Whitehope is trying to control Blanco's posture but Blanco avoids it.
Whitehope tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Blanco wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Whitehope manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Well, if Blanco is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Whitehope looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blanco wants to take a breather but Whitehope is having none of it.
Whitehope flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Whitehope is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Blanco pulls his head out easily.

Whitehope looking for submissions off his back.
Blanco sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blanco is trying to control the action in half guard but Whitehope is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Whitehope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Whitehope instigates a clinch.
Whitehope throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Whitehope gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Blanco is defending against the submission attempts here by Whitehope.
Whitehope looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blanco with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Whitehope seems to be looking for submissions.
Whitehope has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehope working the head and body with strikes.
Whitehope takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope is stalling here. Blanco is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Whitehope seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Blanco has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Whitehope tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Whitehope is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Blanco is chipping away with strikes.
Whitehope struggling a bit here.
Blanco wants to control but Whitehope is keeping him busy.
Whitehope tries to strike from the bottom but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blanco working away.
Whitehope is trying to get back to half guard.
Blanco working away.
Blanco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitehope keeps working.
Whitehope tries to bench press Blanco off him but Blanco keeps the position.
Whitehope manages to get back to half guard.
Whitehope is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Whitehope tries to get to full guard but Blanco has control of the leg.

Whitehope looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Whitehope looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope is looking for a sweep. Blanco is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whitehope is trying to control but can't.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Whitehope.
Whitehope lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Blanco circles away quickly and effectively.

Whitehope closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Blanco quickly recovers to half guard.
Blanco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Blanco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Whitehope slips a nice elbow through Blanco's hands, connecting with Blanco's forehead.
Whitehope thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Whitehope has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Whitehope has control of Blanco's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Blanco regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Whitehope throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitehope throwing strikes here but Blanco is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Whitehope landing strikes from the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Whitehope really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Whitehope tries to clinch up.
Blanco tries to move into range but Whitehope moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Blanco throws a hook to the side of Whitehope's head but Whitehope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Blanco on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A jab from Blanco misses.
Whitehope steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Blanco pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Blanco misses with a hook
and Whitehope counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Blanco thinking.
Blanco gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Blanco lands a lovely overhand right.
Blanco misses with a straight right.
Blanco misses with a hook.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Blanco is having none of it.

Whitehope fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Blanco sprawls well initially but Whitehope persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitehope missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Whitehope with the ground and pound but Blanco uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Whitehope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitehope scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blanco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whitehope throws a strike but Blanco rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Whitehope throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Blanco trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Whitehope is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Whitehope looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Whitehope is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Blanco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Whitehope is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Whitehope trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Whitehope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Blanco.

Whitehope has his foot on Blanco's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blanco works his way back into a safe position though.
Blanco has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Whitehope is proving hard to escape from.
Blanco trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Whitehope is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Blanco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blanco stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whitehope swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Whitehope is looking for a triangle but Blanco pushes his legs off easily.
Blanco is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Blanco wants to control from the top but Whitehope keeps moving.
Blanco content to stall in guard here.
Blanco stopping the sweep attempt from Whitehope.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blanco throws a looping overhand right but Whitehope ducks down to avoid it.

Blanco scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Whitehope is looking for a sweep.
Whitehope is still trying to improve position.
Whitehope wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Whitehope tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Whitehope gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Blanco is looking to take a break and control but Whitehope is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Mark Whitehope will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Blanco connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Whitehope's hands.
Blanco swings widly with a right hand
and Whitehope cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Whitehope feints and as Blanco raises his hands in defense, Whitehope changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whitehope is looking to work some ground and pound but Blanco has wrist control.
Blanco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Blanco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Blanco has Whitehope pulled in close to control his posture.
Whitehope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehope lands a couple of digs.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Whitehope wants to clinch up but Blanco keeps it at a distance.
Whitehope keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Blanco.
Blanco misses with a hook.

Blanco is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Whitehope's half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

Whitehope looking for submissions off his back.
Whitehope missing with punches from the bottom.

Whitehope looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Whitehope won't allow Blanco to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitehope looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Whitehope looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Blanco missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Whitehope looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Blanco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitehope keeps working.

Whitehope looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehope actively working from the bottom here.
Blanco trying to control from half guard but Whitehope is working away.

Whitehope looking for submissions off his back.
Blanco is thwarting Whitehope's attempts to control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Blanco not doing much here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Blanco looks to land a left hand but Whitehope moved out of range nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whitehope looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Blanco misses with a looping left.
Blanco scores with a nice strike.

Whitehope shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Whitehope throwing strikes but missing.

Whitehope decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Mark Whitehope is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Blanco throws out a loose jab but Whitehope uses good head movement to avoid it.

Whitehope closes the distance and pushes Blanco back into the cage.
Whitehope drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Blanco gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Whitehope has Blanco pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Blanco manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blanco misses with some punches.
Roberto Blanco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Whitehope has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Blanco after a bit of a struggle.
Roberto Blanco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Whitehope.
Whitehope is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Blanco is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Whitehope.
I've got Whitehope winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 46:50
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 46:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 46:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Whitehope!
Mark Whitehope is the new welterweight champion!
A very excited looking Mark Whitehope rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.