PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Grimwald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pernell Whitaker Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Grimwald comes to the cage accompanied by NoMeansNo - Mr. In Between. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Grimwald
vs
Whitaker Jr

173 cm
28
163 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

177 cm
25
167 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Kaotik Energy

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gustav Grimwald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Pernell Whitaker Jr!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Grimwald stuns Whitaker Jr with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Whitaker Jr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Pernell Whitaker Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Grimwald pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grimwald keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Whitaker Jr.
Whitaker Jr throws a nice head kick!
Grimwald changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Whitaker Jr thows a leg kick but Grimwald checks it
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Grimwald blocks the leg kick.
Nice body kick from Whitaker Jr.
Grimwald slips under a jab from Whitaker Jr.
Grimwald swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Whitaker Jr misses with a hook
and Grimwald counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Grimwald takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A shot to the body from Whitaker Jr misses
and Grimwald counters with a one-two to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Whitaker Jr on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Whitaker Jr on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Grimwald lands with an uppercut that bounces Whitaker Jr off the cage and back into range.
Whitaker Jr connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Grimwald does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Pernell Whitaker Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grimwald drives through with a takedown into guard.
Grimwald trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitaker Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Grimwald trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whitaker Jr keeping moving, preventing Grimwald from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker Jr pulls Grimwald in to control the position.
Let's hope that Whitaker Jr has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Grimwald missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Grimwald prevents Whitaker Jr from getting back to his feet.
Whitaker Jr preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
Whitaker Jr tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Whitaker Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Grimwald counters with a nice body shot.
Grimwald scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Whitaker Jr misses with a wild combination.
Whitaker Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
Whitaker Jr feints a counter leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Grimwald, as that shot connected.
Whitaker Jr pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Grimwald scores with a leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Whitaker Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Grimwald moves away.
Whitaker Jr lands a nice leg kick that just misses Grimwald's sensitive parts.
Grimwald misses with a series of wild punches.
Grimwald smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr throws a solid leg kick but Grimwald takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Whitaker Jr.
A cross from Whitaker Jr lands.
Whitaker Jr looks to land a right hand but Grimwald moved out of range.
Grimwald with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Whitaker Jr throws a combination that misses

and Grimwald counters with a nice double leg into side control. Whitaker Jr won't be happy with that.
Grimwald misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Grimwald in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Whitaker Jr is not content to let Grimwald control the position.
The ground and pound from Grimwald seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sloppy strikes there by Grimwald.
Grimwald is looking to take a break and control but Whitaker Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Grimwald.
Grimwald sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Whitaker Jr is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Whitaker Jr is letting Grimwald control him for a moment.
Whitaker Jr tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Grimwald wants to control but Whitaker Jr is keeping him busy.
Whitaker Jr is looking for a sweep.
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!
Grimwald tries to advance to mount but Whitaker Jr denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Whitaker Jr misses with a wild body shot.
Good work by Whitaker Jr as he checks the leg kick.
Whitaker Jr lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Grimwald fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Whitaker Jr looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Whitaker Jr connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Grimwald wants to slow Whitaker Jr down by chopping away at his legs.
Nice cross by Whitaker Jr.
Whitaker Jr steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr throws a hook but Grimwald avoids it easily.
Whitaker Jr throws an overhand right that lands on Grimwald's shoulder, as Grimwald tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Grimwald misses with an attempted mid kick.
Grimwald with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Whitaker Jr misses with an uppercut.
Whitaker Jr lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Grimwald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whitaker Jr can do to turn this around?
Grimwald ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A little feinted left hand from Grimwald on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr misses with a wild body shot.
The fighters circling - Whitaker Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Whitaker Jr feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Grimwald's calf.
Grimwald throws a low kick but it's checked well by Whitaker Jr.
A jab from Grimwald finds it's way through Whitaker Jr's defenses.
Whitaker Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Whitaker Jr takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Grimwald scores with a nice right hand.
Grimwald pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Whitaker Jr throws an off balance right hand
and Grimwald counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Grimwald fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Whitaker Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Grimwald throwing a counter right hand but Whitaker Jr manages to avoid it.
Whitaker Jr swings for the body but Grimwald moves out of range.
Whitaker Jr lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grimwald fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Whitaker Jr manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr tries to land a leg kick but Grimwald saw it coming and moves away.
Gustav Grimwald is winning the standup battle so far.
Whitaker Jr lands with a slapping head kick.
Grimwald misses with a few strikes there.
Grimwald throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Grimwald checks a leg kick nicely.
Grimwald tries to work over Whitaker Jr's front leg with a kick but Whitaker Jr checks it.
Whitaker Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Whitaker Jr moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Whitaker Jr blocks a leg kick.
Whitaker Jr swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Grimwald takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Whitaker Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grimwald was well out of range. Poor timing from Whitaker Jr.
Whitaker Jr misses with a lunging right hand
and Grimwald makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr moves out of range of the body kick.
Grimwald connects with a leg kick. Whitaker Jr looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Whitaker Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grimwald manages to avoid it.
Grimwald fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Whitaker Jr has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
It looks like Grimwald has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Whitaker Jr throws a head kick but Grimwald moves out of range.
Whitaker Jr swings for the body but Grimwald moves out of range.
Whitaker Jr lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Grimwald at a distance.
Grimwald misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Grimwald throws a hook but Whitaker Jr avoids it easily.
Whitaker Jr throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Grimwald's head.
Whitaker Jr swings for the body but Grimwald moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Whitaker Jr. That's going to slow Grimwald down.
Grimwald feints and then cracks Whitaker Jr's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Whitaker Jr down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A clash of legs there as Whitaker Jr blocks the low kick.
Whitaker Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Grimwald works Whitaker Jr's body with a nice hook.
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 Jr misses with a low kick.
Grimwald throws an overhand right that lands on Whitaker Jr's shoulder, as Whitaker Jr tries to avoid the shot.
Grimwald lands a high kick!

It looks like Pernell Whitaker Jr has been cut.
A combination from Whitaker Jr does no damage.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Whitaker Jr.
Whitaker Jr throws a lazy uppercut
and Grimwald connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Whitaker Jr scores with a sloppy right hand. Grimwald should have avoided that one.
Whitaker Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Grimwald was well out of range. Poor timing from Whitaker Jr.
Nice uppercut lands for Grimwald. That snapped Whitaker Jr's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Pernell Whitaker Jr will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Pernell Whitaker Jr's cut.
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!

Whitaker Jr takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Grimwald lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Grimwald shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Whitaker Jr eats them both and turns towards Grimwald to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Grimwald connects with an inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whitaker Jr looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Grimwald throws a chopping leg kick but Whitaker Jr manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Whitaker Jr scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Whitaker Jr throws a leg kick but Grimwald sees it coming and moves out of range.
Grimwald throws a series of punches but Whitaker Jr moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
As Whitaker Jr backs away, Grimwald returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Grimwald throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Whitaker Jr counters with a straight right hand.
Whitaker Jr checks the leg kick.
Grimwald takes a swing at Whitaker Jr's ribcage but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch lands to the side of Whitaker Jr 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Grimwald lands a nice leg kick that just misses Whitaker Jr's sensitive parts.
Grimwald checks a low kick from Whitaker Jr.
A low kick from Whitaker Jr misses
and Grimwald counters with a thumping low kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Whitaker Jr checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Whitaker Jr takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Whitaker Jr gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Grimwald fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Whitaker Jr checks it well.
A jab from Whitaker Jr misses.
As Whitaker Jr looks to move away, Grimwald throws a big counter combo bu Whitaker Jr just gets out of the way.
Grimwald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Whitaker Jr tries to counter with a clinch but Grimwald shakes him off and moves away.
Whitaker Jr scores with a jab. Grimwald acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Grimwald ducks right into an uppercut from Whitaker Jr.
Grimwald connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitaker Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Grimwald wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Good work by Whitaker Jr as he checks the leg kick.
Grimwald connects with a crisp jab.
Whitaker Jr throws a jab but it's blocked by Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Whitaker Jr moves out of range of the leg kick from Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr wants to counter the offense by Grimwald and move into the clinch position.
Grimwald moves out of range of the strikes.
Grimwald looks to score with a jab to the body but Whitaker Jr is just out of range.
Whitaker Jr counters with a body kick.
Whitaker Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Grimwald.
Whitaker Jr throws out a leg kick but Grimwald moves out of range and Whitaker Jr only half commits.
Whitaker Jr will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Grimwald feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Grimwald checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Grimwald lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Grimwald checks a leg kick nicely.
Whitaker Jr misses with a lunging right hand
and Grimwald counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grimwald throws a shot to the body.
Grimwald thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Whitaker Jr if he has to take too many more of those.
Grimwald scores with a crisp jab that stopped Whitaker Jr in his tracks.
Whitaker Jr throws a right hand that misses
and Grimwald makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Grimwald fakes the leg kick and cracks Whitaker Jr in the body.
Good leg kick by Whitaker Jr there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Whitaker Jr misses with a straight right.
Grimwald changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whitaker Jr tries to avoid it but Grimwald manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whitaker Jr to the ground. Whitaker Jr escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Whitaker Jr lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Grimwald is looking to score with low kicks.
Whitaker Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Whitaker Jr lands a leg kick that knocks Grimwald off balance momentarily.
Whitaker Jr tries to score with a low kick but Grimwald moves his leg out of the way.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Grimwald manages to avoid it.
Grimwald was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Whitaker Jr lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Grimwald connects with a solid leg kick.
Whitaker Jr swings widly with a right hand
and Grimwald counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Grimwald is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Whitaker Jr.
Good work by Grimwald as he checks the leg kick.
Whitaker Jr's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Grimwald fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Grimwald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Whitaker Jr.
Grimwald misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Whitaker Jr takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Whitaker Jr scores with a leg kick.
Whitaker Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Whitaker Jr throws a good cross that connects.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Grimwald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Grimwald has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustav Grimwald!
An out of breath Gustav Grimwald thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.