PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Clinton Erickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jackson Whitfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Whitfield has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Erickson
vs
Whitfield

199 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Clinton Erickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jackson Whitfield!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Edson Gomes and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitfield gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Whitfield lands a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Whitfield throws an elbow that misses. Erickson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Whitfield's guard. Nice move by Erickson!

Erickson prevents Whitfield from getting back to his feet.
Whitfield is looking to stand back up but Erickson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Whitfield.
Whitfield trying to control from the bottom.
Erickson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Erickson wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Whitfield uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
Erickson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Whitfield is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whitfield had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Erickson defends it easily.
Whitfield seems keen to control Erickson's posture.
Whitfield trying to control the position.
Erickson scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Erickson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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.

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

Erickson is trying to get back to half guard.
Whitfield in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The strikes coming from Whitfield are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Erickson prevents Whitfield from moving into mount.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitfield working away.
Whitfield trying to control the action but Erickson is working from the bottom.
Whitfield sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Erickson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Whitfield throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Whitfield is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Erickson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Whitfield throws a strike aimed at the side of Erickson's head but Erickson avoids it well.

That's four 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.

Whitfield working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Erickson pushes Whitfield away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Whitfield gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Erickson misses with a strike from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Whitfield manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Erickson on his heels. He'll look to pass Erickson's guard now, I'm sure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Whitfield dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Whitfield moves to clinch but Erickson breaks away
and Erickson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Whitfield clinches.

Whitfield has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Erickson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Whitfield seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Erickson's chin but Erickson turns very nicely into Whitfield's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Erickson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erickson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Erickson distracts Whitfield with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Erickson is in close to Whitfield's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Erickson trying to control but Whitfield is working from the bottom.

Whitfield is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Erickson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Jackson Whitfield has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Whitfield is trying to keep Erickson in close.

Erickson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Whitfield gets a double leg takedown into Erickson's guard.
Whitfield is breathing heavily.

Erickson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Whitfield has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Erickson is trying to push Whitfield away but Whitfield has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Whitfield pulls Erickson into guard.
Erickson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitfield wants to stand but Erickson is controlling the position.
Whitfield being controlled here, momentarily.
Whitfield wants to get back to his feet but Erickson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Erickson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Erickson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Erickson stays in close to Whitfield's body and controls the position.

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.
Erickson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Whitfield for as long as he can get away with.

Erickson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Whitfield is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitfield prevents Erickson from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Clinton Erickson will probably get the nod.
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!

Whitfield drives through with a takedown into guard.
Whitfield trying to control the position from guard on top but Erickson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitfield throws a strike but Erickson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Erickson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Erickson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Whitfield is on top in guard.

Whitfield trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whitfield takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Erickson working for submissions but it's allowed Whitfield to get to half guard.
Whitfield working over Erickson with some ground and pound. Erickson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Erickson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Whitfield.
Whitfield tries to free his leg and advance position but Erickson is retaining full guard.

Erickson has his foot on Whitfield's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitfield works his way back into a safe position though.

Whitfield stands up from Erickson's guard - Whitfield perhaps looking for a knockout.
Whitfield tries to clinch but Erickson is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitfield doesn't manage to clinch there - Erickson circles away.

Whitfield closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Erickson's guard.
Whitfield looking to sit in guard and control but Erickson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Erickson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Whitfield working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitfield wants to sweep here but Erickson controlling him for the moment.
Erickson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Whitfield trying to control the position.

Erickson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erickson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jackson Whitfield.
I think Whitfield has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jackson Whitfield!