PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reed Hightower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pernell Whitaker Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pernell Whitaker Jr has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Reed Hightower's chin.

Hightower
vs
Whitaker Jr

179 cm
28
171 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

177 cm
33
167 lbs
30 - 14 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reed Hightower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Pernell Whitaker Jr!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Radbod Blank and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Whitaker Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Whitaker Jr avoids a punch combination nicely.
Whitaker Jr throws a right and a left that Hightower avoids nicely.
Hightower misses with a straight right.
Hightower attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Hightower backing away here, and Whitaker Jr unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hightower misses with a low kick.
Hightower shoots in for a takedown but Whitaker Jr shows good takedown defense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower ducks under a wild hook from Whitaker Jr.
Hightower takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Whitaker Jr pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hightower is out of range and Whitaker Jr settles back down.
Whitaker Jr throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker Jr scoring well with a low kick there.
Hightower throws a predictable looking body shot
and Whitaker Jr counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Whitaker Jr keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hightower moves out of range of the body kick from Whitaker Jr.
Hightower scores with a leg kick.
Hightower connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hightower swings for the body but Whitaker Jr moves out of range.
Whitaker Jr lands with a straight right. Hightower didn't see that one coming.
Hightower moves away from the strike by Whitaker Jr.
Whitaker Jr throws a looping overhand right but Hightower ducks down to avoid it.
Whitaker Jr misses with a head kick.
Whitaker Jr has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hightower clinches with his opponent.
Hightower lands a body punch in the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hightower throws a punch but it's blocked by Whitaker Jr.
Hightower landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hightower lands a shoulder strike.
Hightower struggles to land a body shot inside as Whitaker Jr controls his hands.
Hightower is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whitaker Jr is defending well for now.
Whitaker Jr's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Whitaker Jr tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hightower's elbow.
Hightower is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hightower lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Whitaker Jr fails to land.
Hightower trying to land knees to the body.
Whitaker Jr is trying to push Hightower away but Hightower has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Whitaker Jr is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hightower taking a breather.
Whitaker Jr misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Whitaker Jr has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hightower misses with the head strike.
Whitaker Jr looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hightower looking to throw knees to the head but Whitaker Jr is blocking nicely.
Hightower prevents Whitaker Jr from breaking the clinch.
Hightower connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Pernell Whitaker Jr has been cut.
Hightower landing knees to the body.
Hightower throws a knee to the head but misses.

Whitaker Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hightower walks into a jab.
Whitaker Jr takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Hightower lands a jab to the head.
Hightower misses with a series of wild punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Whitaker Jr finds it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hightower throws a low kick, looking for Whitaker Jr's leg but Whitaker Jr calmly moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Whitaker Jr lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hightower has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hightower and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hightower misses the body punch
and Whitaker Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice uppercut there from Hightower.
Hightower throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Whitaker Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Whitaker Jr swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hightower misses with a wild body shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Whitaker Jr checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Reed Hightower will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pernell Whitaker Jr's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Whitaker Jr scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hightower avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hightower lands with a good body shot.
Whitaker Jr is looking to score with low kicks.
An inside leg kick from Whitaker Jr misses.
Whitaker Jr throws a sloppy head kick and Hightower moves out of range easily.
Whitaker Jr keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Whitaker Jr misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker Jr throws a lazy right hand but Hightower sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hightower lands with a good body shot.
Hightower misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hightower or perhaps it was just good defense by Whitaker Jr, which made it look bad.
Whitaker Jr uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hightower.
Hightower is looking to wear down Whitaker Jr with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Whitaker Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Whitaker Jr pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hightower moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hightower throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Whitaker Jr looks to land a right hand but Hightower moved out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Hightower misses its target.
Hightower swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Whitaker Jr finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Whitaker Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whitaker Jr throws a hook but Hightower avoids it easily.
Hightower misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Whitaker Jr counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The fighters circling - Whitaker Jr throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Whitaker Jr misses with a hook. Hightower ducked under it nicely.
Pernell Whitaker Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hightower tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hightower throws a leg kick

and Whitaker Jr counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hightower!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hightower is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Whitaker Jr landing strikes.
Hightower regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hightower manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hightower looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Whitaker Jr connects with a couple of short punches.
Whitaker Jr looking to pass the guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Hightower's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Hightower working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whitaker Jr doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whitaker Jr manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whitaker Jr preventing the sweep.
Whitaker Jr working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker Jr connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hightower has his foot on Whitaker Jr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitaker Jr works his way back into a safe position though.
Whitaker Jr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Whitaker Jr keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hightower's head.
Whitaker Jr trying to control but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Whitaker Jr postures up and lands a big shot to Hightower's brow.
Whitaker Jr lands a couple of digs.
Hightower keeping full guard, as Whitaker Jr tries to pass.

Hightower looking for subs off his back but Whitaker Jr has passed one foot through into half guard.
Whitaker Jr working Hightower over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pernell Whitaker Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pernell Whitaker Jr'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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Whitaker Jr finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Whitaker Jr waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hightower.
Hightower steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Whitaker Jr.
Whitaker Jr throws a head kick that misses.
Hightower throws a leg kick that misses.
Hightower takes a swing at Whitaker Jr's ribcage but misses.
Whitaker Jr feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hightowers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Whitaker Jr walks into a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker Jr wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Whitaker Jr keeps Hightower at a distance using the push kick.
Hightower tries to land a front kick but Whitaker Jr steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Whitaker Jr was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good exchange - Hightower coming out on top.

Whitaker Jr darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hightower is trying to get back to full guard.
Hightower is pressing down on Whitaker Jr's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Pernell Whitaker Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hightower wants to sweep but no luck.
Hightower is working hard here to advance position.

Whitaker Jr drops back looking for a leg! Hightower is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hightower manages to kick Whitaker Jr off! Whitaker Jr jumps back into Hightower's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitaker Jr missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower looking to control.
Whitaker Jr chips away with some ground and pound.

Hightower looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whitaker Jr working some strikes from top position.
Hightower pulls Whitaker Jr in close to prevent any damage.
Hightower wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hightower looking for a guillotine here but Whitaker Jr defends easily.
Whitaker Jr stands up over Hightower, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Whitaker Jr landing with the ground and pound.

Hightower is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hightower looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Whitaker Jr throws out a loose jab but Hightower uses good head movement to avoid it.
Whitaker Jr throws a looping overhand right but Hightower ducks down to avoid it.
Hightower has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hightower there as he acknowledges the shot.
Whitaker Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hightower counters with a straight right hand.
The fighters circle momentarily. Whitaker Jr darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hightower misses with an uppercut.
Whitaker Jr is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitaker Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hightower moves away.
Hightower fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Whitaker Jr tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pernell Whitaker Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Whitaker Jr 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pernell Whitaker Jr!
A relieved looking Pernell Whitaker Jr thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.