PBP Commentary

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

Whittaker
vs
Italo

183 cm
25
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
28
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Robert Whittaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bruno Italo!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whittaker connects with a leg kick. Italo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Robert Whittaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whittaker scores with a jab to the body.
Whittaker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Whittaker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Italo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Whittaker connects with a solid leg kick.
Italo takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Whittaker throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Whittaker throws a wild body kick that Italo sees coming a mile off.
Whittaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Whittaker throws a push kick but Italo slaps the foot to one side.
A looping hook to the body misses from Whittaker. Italo does a little dance to reset his feet.
That kick from Whittaker tenderised Italo's leg. Italo is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Italo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whittaker.
Italo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Italo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Whittaker.
Italo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Whittaker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Whittaker throws a chopping leg kick but Italo manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
And Italo tries to counter it with a takedown but Whittaker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Whittaker scores with a head kick. Italo tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Bruno Italo has been cut.
Whittaker throws a series of punches but Italo avoids them all with ease.
Italo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Italo checks the leg kick.
Italo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Whittaker gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Italo counters with a single leg into guard. Whittaker didn't expect that.
Whittaker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Italo drops back looking for a leg! Whittaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whittaker manages to kick Italo off! Italo jumps back into Whittaker's guard.
Italo trying to control but Whittaker is working from the bottom.
Italo content to stall in guard here.
Italo works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Whittaker looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Italo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Whittaker has managed to free his arm - good work.

Italo seems to be looking for submissions.

Italo is working for a kimura but Whittaker is defending it quite comfortably.
Whittaker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker keeping moving, preventing Italo from controlling successfully.

Italo 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.

Italo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Italo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Whittaker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Italo on the ground.
Whittaker wants to sweep but no luck.
Whittaker keeping moving, preventing Italo from controlling successfully.

That's four 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.
Whittaker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Italo prevents Whittaker from getting back to his feet.
Italo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Italo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Italo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Italo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Italo 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.
Whittaker keeping full guard, as Italo tries to pass.

Italo drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Italo jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Whittaker dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Italo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Whittaker uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Nice uppercut lands for Whittaker. That snapped Italo's head back.
Italo moves out of range of the body kick from Whittaker.
Italo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Italo takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bruno Italo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick from Whittaker lands but Italo takes it in his stride.
Whittaker pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Italo back to the cage. Whittaker follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker cracks Italo with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd cheers as Whittaker lands an impressive looking overhand right. Italo doesn't seem phased though.
A head kick misses from Whittaker.
Italo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker throws the kick towards the body but Italo avoids it.
And Italo tries to counter it with a takedown but Whittaker pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Whittaker looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Whittaker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Italo can do to turn this around?
Whittaker fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Whittaker dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Italo. That did some damage!
Whittaker throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Italo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Italo drops back looking for a leg! Whittaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whittaker manages to kick Italo off! Italo jumps back into Whittaker's guard.
Whittaker is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bruno Italo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whittaker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Italo works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker is looking for a sweep. Italo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whittaker trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whittaker is looking for a sweep. Italo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Italo is looking for a kimura here.

Italo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Whittaker has managed to free his arm - good work.

Italo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Whittaker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Italo.

Italo is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Italo is working for a submission of some sort.
Whittaker is trying to get back to full guard.
Whittaker is staying active underneath Italo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Italo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Whittaker haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Italo is working for a kimura but Whittaker is defending it quite comfortably.

Whittaker is defending against the submission attempts here by Italo.
Italo is thwarting Whittaker's attempts to control the position.

That's four 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.

Italo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Whittaker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Italo.

Italo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Italo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Whittaker does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Italo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Whittaker defends it well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Italo is working for a kimura but Whittaker is defending it quite comfortably.
Whittaker is controlling Italo's position as best he can from this difficult position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Whittaker dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Italo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Whittaker connects with an inside leg kick.
Whittaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Italo moves away.
Whittaker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Whittaker misses with a wild combination.
Italo tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Whittaker misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker lands with a hook. Italo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Whittaker.
Whittaker clobbers Italo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Italo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Whittaker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Italo was well out of range. Poor timing from Whittaker.
Whittaker scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Italo's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Whittaker lands a head shot.
Whittaker throws a sloppy head kick and Italo moves out of range easily.
Whittaker lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Whittaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd cheers as Whittaker lands an impressive looking overhand right. Italo doesn't seem phased though.
Whittaker moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A head kick misses from Whittaker.
Italo feints the counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker takes a swing at Italo's ribcage but misses.
Italo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Whittaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Italo avoids the head kick by Whittaker.
Italo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Italo checks a leg kick.
Italo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Whittaker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Whittaker is looking to slow Italo down with leg kicks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Italo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whittaker.
Whittaker is looking to land body kicks.
And Italo tries to counter it with a takedown but Whittaker pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Italo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whittaker.
Whittaker throws a head kick that misses.
Italo changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Whittaker pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Italo is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Robert Whittaker is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whittaker scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Italo doesn't seem bothered though.
Whittaker throws the kick towards the body but Italo avoids it.
Whittaker misses with a kick to the body

and Italo counters with a shoot takedown. Whittaker fights it but they end up in guard.
Whittaker trying to control the position here.
Italo passes into half guard.

Italo seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Whittaker is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Bruno Italo!
Our winner, Bruno Italo, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.