PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lynn Oneal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Whelan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Oneal
vs
Whelan

176 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lynn Oneal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Whelan!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oneal scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Oneal tries to move to mount but Whelan blocks the move with his legs.
Whelan tries to buck Oneal off but Oneal is having none of it.
Oneal landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Oneal controlling from side mount.
Whelan is trying to control Oneal's posture but Oneal avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oneal scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Whelan to see if he's OK.
Whelan tries to bench press Oneal off him but Oneal keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oneal throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Oneal controlling the position from side mount.
Oneal lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Whelan down.
Oneal is looking to take a break and control but Whelan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
You can see the frustration on Whelan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Oneal misses with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Whelan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Oneal wants to control but Whelan is keeping him busy.
Whelan trying his best to control but Oneal has mounted him.
Oneal content just to control the position here.
Whelan just holding on.
Whelan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whelan tries to hold on but Oneal pushes him away.
Oneal trying to control but Whelan is having none of it.
Oneal content just to control the position here.
Oneal looking to control but Whelan is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Whelan regains half guard.
Oneal is just content to waste time from the top position. Whelan takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneal postures up and lands a big shot to Whelan's brow.
Oneal won't allow Whelan to sweep him here.
Whelan keeps trying to improve his position.
Whelan trying to keep a closed guard but Oneal is proving a slippery customer.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Oneal working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Whelan looking for a sweep. Not yet Whelan, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Whelan scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Oneal desperately trying to maintain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Oneal looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Oneal wants to stand up but Whelan is controlling the position.
Oneal seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Whelan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oneal prevents Whelan from standing back up.
Oneal is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Oneal is trying to control. Whelan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Whelan is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whelan is pressing down on Oneal's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Oneal throws a big right hand that misses.
Whelan keeping moving, preventing Oneal from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Oneal advances position into side control!
Whelan tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Oneal presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Oneal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oneal lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Whelan hang on?
Oneal is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whelan can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oneal lands a heavy elbow.
Whelan is squirming around, avoiding Oneal's attempts to control the action.
Whelan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Oneal is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Whelan dives into side control.
Oneal has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Whelan decides to stand back up.
Whelan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Oneal as he avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whelan tries to score a power double leg takedown but Oneal sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whelan somewhat.
Nice sprawl there from Oneal as Whelan shoots in.
Oneal throws a counter high kick but Whelan was just alert enough to avoid it.
Lynn Oneal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Whelan.
Whelan is breathing heavily.
Oneal looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whelan moves in looking to clinch but Oneal pushes him off.
No luck for Oneal with that takedown attempt.
Whelan feints the counter takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whelan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Whelan swinging wildly here.
Oneal went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Lynn Oneal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whelan throws a right and a left that both miss.
No luck for Whelan with that takedown attempt.
Oneal throws a big counter combination but Whelan scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Oneal scores with a takedown into Whelan's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lynn Oneal dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Oneal shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Whelan defends it nicely.
Oneal misses with a takedown attempt

and Whelan counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Whelan.

Oneal is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Whelan can't fight it off and eventually Oneal manages to take the fight to the floor. Whelan looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Oneal chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oneal wants to stand but Whelan has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Whelan is trying to hold Oneal in close to prevent damage but Oneal has managed to pass into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whelan trying to control but Oneal postures up.
Oneal not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lynn Oneal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whelan is trying to maintain the position but Oneal is very close to passing his half guard.
Whelan is not content to let Oneal control the position.
Oneal controlling the action here.
Oneal thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Whelan's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Oneal is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Whelan is trying to maintain the position but Oneal is very close to passing his half guard.
Whelan is looking for a sweep. Oneal is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oneal slaps away a takedown attempt from Whelan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice takedown defense from Whelan. No joy for Oneal on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lynn Oneal. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whelan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oneal is fending him off so far but Whelan persists. Nope, Oneal circles away and we're back to standing.
Oneal dives in for a single leg takedown but Whelan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Whelan misses with a takedown attempt
and Oneal counters with a two punch combo.
Whelan takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whelan is looking to clinch but Oneal is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Oneal.

Oneal is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Whelan's half guard.
Oneal throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Whelan is trying to maintain the position but Oneal is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oneal missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Oneal looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Oneal winds up and cracks Whelan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Oneal is controlling the pace.
Oneal thows a huge punch but Whelan dodges it nicely.
John Whelan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lynn Oneal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Oneal not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lynn Oneal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Oneal, 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lynn Oneal!