PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Owen Whipple (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sotiro Poulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sotiro Poulos is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Whipple
vs
Poulos

190 cm
26
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
20
163 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Owen Whipple!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sotiro Poulos!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whipple shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Whipple showed some decent athleticism there.
Whipple is trying to control the action in half guard but Poulos is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Poulos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Whipple will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whipple wants to control from the top but Poulos keeps moving.

Poulos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whipple can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Poulos has control of Whipple's left arm, preventing Whipple from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whipple looking to sit in guard and control but Poulos gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whipple being controlled here, momentarily.
Poulos stopping the sweep attempt from Whipple.
Poulos slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whipple controls Poulos momentarily but Poulos frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Whipple fails with a takedown attempt.
Poulos checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Whipple looks for a takedown but Poulos sprawls well.
Poulos blocks a low kick nicely.
Whipple goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Whipple moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Whipple keeps Poulos at a distance using the push kick.
Owen Whipple seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Poulos darts in looking for a takedown but Whipple gets double underhooks and turns Poulos into the cage.
Whipple looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Whipple fakes the leg kick and cracks Poulos in the body.
Whipple fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Poulos has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Whipple moves to clinch but Poulos breaks away

and Poulos counters with a single leg into guard. Whipple didn't expect that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulos is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Whipple looking for a sweep. Not yet Whipple, not yet.
Poulos is stalling in the full guard.

Whipple working for a triangle but Poulos defends it easily.
Poulos passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Poulos is controlling the pace.
Whipple is looking to improve his position.
Whipple manages to get to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Poulos sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Owen Whipple dominated that round.
That's time! Whipple's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Whipple fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Poulos avoids it really well and circles away.
Poulos changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Poulos.

Poulos goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Whipple has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Poulos but great work by Whipple.
Whipple is looking to take a break and control but Poulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Whipple is really struggling to control Poulos but he's trying to hold on to the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poulos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulos keeping hold of Whipple's head, controlling as best he can.
Whipple wants to take a breather but Poulos is having none of it.
Sotiro Poulos has got the better of the ground game so far.

Whipple is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Poulos doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Whipple.
Whipple really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Poulos is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Whipple stalling away here and it's allowed Poulos to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Poulos wants to sweep but no luck.

Poulos working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Whipple has passed into half guard!
Whipple wants to control but Poulos is keeping him busy.
Poulos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Whipple's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Whipple's back!
Poulos controlling from the back.
Will Poulos go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poulos is landing with strikes from the back.
Whipple rolls, trying to escape but Poulos keeps control of the position.
Poulos doesn't have the hooks in and Whipple manages to turn into his guard.
Whipple trying to control but Poulos is working from the bottom.
Poulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Poulos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whipple manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whipple is trying to keep Poulos in close.
Poulos wants to pass the guard but Whipple is keeping the position.

Whipple escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Poulos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poulos trying to control but Whipple is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sotiro Poulos 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!

Whipple changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Poulos tries to avoid it but Whipple manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Poulos to the ground. Poulos escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sotiro Poulos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Poulos leaves Whipple with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Poulos keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Poulos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Poulos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Whipple defends it nicely.
Whipple connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Whipple scores with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Poulos tries to sprawl but Whipple drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Whipple is trying to work for a kimura but Poulos is defending well.
Poulos manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whipple trying to control the position from guard on top but Poulos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Poulos seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Poulos looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Poulos is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Poulos's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Whipple wants to control from the top but Poulos keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whipple lands a nice leg kick that just misses Poulos's sensitive parts.
Poulos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Whipple as he jumps to the side.
Whipple drops down looking for a counter takedown but Poulos sprawls and moves away.
Poulos looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Owen Whipple has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sotiro Poulos.
Whipple fails to land the takedown.
Whipple fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Poulos.
Whipple scores with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whipple shoots in looking for a takedown. Poulos tries to sprawl out of it but Whipple keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Poulos manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Poulos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Poulos dives in and grabs Whipple's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whipple pushes down on Poulos's head and hops out.
Owen Whipple is winning the standup battle so far.
Poulos blocks a head kick by Whipple.
And Poulos tries to counter it with a takedown but Whipple pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Whipple misses with a kick to the body.
Poulos tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Poulos darts in looking for a takedown but Whipple gets double underhooks and turns Poulos into the cage.
Poulos shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Whipple sprawls well. Whipple wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Poulos gets slowly back to his feet.
Poulos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whipple lands with a thumping leg kick.
Whipple dives in and grabs Poulos's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poulos pushes down on Whipple's head and hops out.
Whipple connects with an inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Poulos.
Whipple looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Whipple cracks the inside of Poulos's front leg.
Nice sprawl there from Poulos as Whipple shoots in.
Whipple cracks the inside of Poulos's front leg.
Poulos shoots in for a takedown but Whipple shows good takedown defense.
Poulos defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Whipple.
Poulos blocks a low kick nicely.
Poulos shoots in for a double leg but Whipple sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whipple fails with the takedown.

Whipple fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Poulos to the ground. Whipple is now in Poulos's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Owen Whipple showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Whipple has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Owen Whipple!
In his post fight interview, Owen Whipple started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.