PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fredric Whitehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denzel Slater (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Denzel Slater has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Fredric Whitehead's chin.

Whitehead
vs
Slater

205 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

225 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fredric Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Denzel Slater!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slater changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Whitehead looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Whitehead tries to improve position but can't.
Whitehead is not content to let Slater control the position.
Whitehead can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead is not content to let Slater control the position.
Slater creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Whitehead sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater trying to control the action but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitehead can't do much from the bottom here.
Slater is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Whitehead will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Slater tries to advance to mount but can't.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Whitehead can't do much from the bottom here.

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.
Whitehead managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Slater.
Slater wants to control for a moment but Whitehead uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Whitehead might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Slater is looking to take a break and control but Whitehead is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Denzel Slater seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Slater is defending well.

Slater lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Slater not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Slater passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Whitehead!
Slater trying to control but Whitehead is having none of it.
Slater avoids the attempt from Whitehead to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater lands a big elbow.
Slater moves to take his opponent's back.
Whitehead staying busy and making it hard for Slater to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slater is controlling the position but Whitehead somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denzel Slater dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Slater looking to score a takedown here. Whitehead is defending well but Slater drives through and ends up in Whitehead's guard.
Whitehead throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Whitehead preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Slater wants to stand but Whitehead has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slater forces his way into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Slater connects with a nice short shot to Whitehead's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slater wants to pass the guard but Whitehead is defending well.
Slater tries to stand and escape but Whitehead is controlling the position.
Denzel Slater has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slater wants to lay and pray for a moment but Whitehead keeps working.

Slater is working for a submission of some sort.
Slater is trying to control the action in half guard but Whitehead is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Slater tries to bum rush Whitehead with a series of wild strikes but Whitehead uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Slater is breathing heavily.

Slater closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Whitehead quickly recovers to half guard.

Whitehead manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Slater keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Whitehead goes for a takedown attempt but Slater pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Whitehead feints and as Slater raises his hands in defense, Whitehead changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Slater is looking to stand back up but Whitehead counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Slater.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Slater makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Slater.
Slater manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Whitehead manages to get himself to full guard.

Whitehead has momentary wrist control but Slater slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slater trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehead is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slater controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Whitehead wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Whitehead looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Slater throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Whitehead works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Slater throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denzel Slater showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Whitehead gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Whitehead has his feet on Slater's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Slater shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Whitehead trying to control here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whitehead controlling the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead wants to improve his position but Slater is controlling well.
Slater trying to control from half guard but Whitehead is working away.

Slater is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whitehead trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Slater wants to control but Whitehead is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Whitehead shoots in but no luck this time.

Whitehead gets caught napping as Slater dives in and scores a takedown. Whitehead manages to retain guard.
Slater has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Whitehead is proving hard to escape from.
Slater wants to control from the top but Whitehead keeps moving.
Slater is pushing down on Whitehead's leg trying to pass to half guard. Whitehead is fighting to maintain full guard but Slater has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slater seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Whitehead does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Slater might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Whitehead haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Whitehead controlling the position for now.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Slater throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Slater gets a clinch.

That's four 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.

Slater jumps guard and drags Whitehead to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Whitehead lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Slater wants to sweep but no luck.
Slater working a defensive guard here.
Whitehead is working Slater over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slater trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Fredric Whitehead has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Denzel Slater is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Whitehead is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Denzel Slater comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Slater has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denzel Slater!