PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shane Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Muhammad Kango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitaker comes to the ring accompanied by "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragon Force. Kango has chosen Everyone Nose as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Whitaker
vs
Kango

185 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
213 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Muhammad Kango!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitaker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Whitaker wants to pass the guard but Kango is keeping the position.
Kango trying to keep a closed guard but Whitaker is proving a slippery customer.
Whitaker pushing down on Kango's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kango is staying active underneath Whitaker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kango is looking to improve his position.
Kango has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whitaker is working away from the top position though.
Whitaker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kango gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Whitaker counters by moving into the clinch.

Kango successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker landing some decent shots from guard.
Kango has his hands on Whitaker's head, controlling the position.
Whitaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kango is keeping the position for now.
Whitaker trying to control but Kango is working from the bottom.
Whitaker content to stall in guard here.
Whitaker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kango's guard.

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.
Kango keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Whitaker has a takedown stuffed.
Whitaker is breathing heavily.
Whitaker circles away from the clinch attempt

and Whitaker counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kango is trying to get back to full guard.
Whitaker missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Whitaker is trying to control the action in half guard but Kango is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker is working for a kimura but Kango is defending it quite comfortably.
Whitaker throwing shots but Kango is blocking nicely.
Kango is trying to stand.
Whitaker trying to control from Kango's half guard. Kango has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Whitaker postures up in Kango's guard and throws a big left but Kango blocks it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kango tries to clinch but Whitaker moves away

and Whitaker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Whitaker.
Kango looking for a sweep. Not yet Kango, not yet.
Kango is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Whitaker tries to free his leg and advance position but Kango is retaining full guard.
Kango wants to get back to his feet but Whitaker is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker thows a big elbow that misses.
Kango working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitaker.
Kango is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kango is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kango has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Kango is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Whitaker is surviving well by controlling Kango's body position as best he can.
Kango controlling from the full mount.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kango scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Whitaker?

Kango get's back to his feet.
Kango tries to clinch up

and Whitaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Whitaker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Whitaker has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kango is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kango wants to stall.
Kango lands a knee to the head.
Kango managing to block the knees to the body from Whitaker.
Kango prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kango working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Whitaker trying to stall but Kango improves his position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Whitaker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Kango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitaker postures up.
Whitaker looking to sit in guard and control but Kango gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Whitaker holds on and takes a little breather.
Whitaker looking to control.
Whitaker is looking to sweep but instead, Kango has passed into half guard.
Whitaker trying to hold on to Kango's head to control him but Kango postures up.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kango prevents Whitaker from improving his position.
Whitaker wants to control the action here but instead Kango manages to pass to full mount!
Kango can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Whitaker is looking to escape.
Whitaker tries to improve his position but instead Kango has taken his back!
Kango gets his hands free as Whitaker looks to control.
Whitaker has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Whitaker fending off the submission attempt from Kango.
Whitaker just trying to survive but Kango is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kango trying to control momentarily.
Good control from Kango.
Kango trying to control momentarily.
Whitaker wants to escape the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Good control from Kango.
Kango keeps control of the position as Whitaker tries to break free.
Kango lands shots from the back.
Kango doesn't have the hooks in and Whitaker manages to turn into his guard.
Whitaker wants to control from the top but Kango keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Whitaker dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Whitaker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kango counters with a leg kick.
Kango misses with a takedown

and Whitaker counters by moving into the clinch.

Kango breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Whitaker scores with a takedown into Kango's guard.
Whitaker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Whitaker postures up in Kango's guard and throws a big left but Kango blocks it.
Whitaker looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitaker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitaker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whitaker sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kango looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Kango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Whitaker closes the distance and clinches.
Kango with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Whitaker lands a knee to the body.
Kango wants to get back to striking at distance but Whitaker won't allow it.
Kango gets underhooks to prevent Whitaker's takedown attempt.
The is referee keeping an eye on Whitaker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Kango pulls guard successfully.

Whitaker decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kango clinches but Whitaker breaks the clinch

and Whitaker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Whitaker breaks from the clinch.
Kango throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kango doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Whitaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kango tries to break the clinch but Whitaker is controlling the position.
Whitaker tries for a takedown but Kango manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Shane Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitaker wants to stall.
Whitaker looking for a takedown.
Whitaker slows down the pace here.
Kango tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Whitaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Kango won't allow it.
Whitaker has Kango pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Kango manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Whitaker looking to slow down the pace here.
Whitaker looking for a takedown.
Kango leaning against his opponent.
Kango gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker wants a takedown.
Kango connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whitaker's face.
Whitaker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Whitaker lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kango keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Whitaker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Whitaker is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Whitaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kango is keeping the position for now.
Whitaker trying to control but Kango is working from the bottom.
Kango looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shane Whitaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kango is trying to keep Whitaker in close.
Whitaker looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kango tries to clinch but Whitaker moves away

and Whitaker moves into the clinch.
Kango using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Whitaker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Kango wants a takedown but no success here.
A left hand lands to the body for Whitaker.
Whitaker is pressed up against the ropes. Kango has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Whitaker down to the mat. Whitaker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kango tries for a takedown but Whitaker circles away easily

and Whitaker counters with a takedown into side control.
Kango manages to get back to half guard.
Kango is trying to get back to full guard.
Whitaker prevents Kango from standing back up.
Whitaker trying to control from Kango's half guard. Kango has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Kango is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kango keeping full guard, as Whitaker tries to pass.
Kango lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Whitaker!
Kango sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Whitaker tries to hold on but Kango postures up.

Kango is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Whitaker connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whitaker wants to control from the top but Kango keeps moving.
Whitaker wanted to stand there but Kango had control of the position.
Whitaker is looking to work some ground and pound but Kango has wrist control.
Kango looking for a sweep. Not yet Kango, not yet.
Whitaker tries to free his leg and advance position but Kango is retaining full guard.
Kango keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.
Kango is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Whitaker is controlling him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.

Kango gets caught flat footed, as Whitaker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

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

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kango tries to clinch up

and Whitaker counters with a shoot takedown. Kango fights it but they end up in guard.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Kango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitaker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Whitaker wants to control from the top but Kango keeps moving.
Kango not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Kango is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kango looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Whitaker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kango preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Whitaker feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Whitaker throws a strike but Kango rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kango has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Whitaker is proving hard to escape from.
Whitaker working a defensive guard here.
Kango wants to control from the top but Whitaker keeps moving.
Whitaker working a defensive guard here.

Kango stands up and waves to Whitaker to follow him.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Kango misses with a combination

and Whitaker counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kango controls Whitaker momentarily but Whitaker frees himself.
Whitaker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whitaker trying to control but Kango is working from the bottom.
Kango avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Muhammad Kango has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kango looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whitaker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Whitaker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Whitaker with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Whitaker showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Whitaker 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Shane Whitaker!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Shane Whitaker!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Shane Whitaker!

Shane Whitaker wins by unanimous decision!