PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Justin White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonard Heath (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

White
vs
Heath

169 cm
26
190 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

181 cm
26
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

RAGS of a RONIN

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Justin White!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Leonard Heath!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
White pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Heath looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for White!

White bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

White gets the takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

White wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Heath, who protects the arm well.
Heath can't do much from the bottom here.

White tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've been hearing good reports from White'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.

White thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Heath wants to control but White postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

White looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Heath sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
White working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
White landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
White landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
White is figuring out what he wants to do next.

White wants to work for an arm triangle but Heath is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
White prevents Heath from improving his position.

White is looking for a kimura but Heath is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for White to get the leverage.
White lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
White has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Heath looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Heath is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but White pulls his head out easily.

White is working for a kimura but Heath is defending it quite comfortably.

Heath actively working from the bottom here.
Heath tries to roll over but White keeps him under control.

Heath is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but White pulls his head out easily.

White maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Heath could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but White has cracked it and Heath is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by White!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Justin White!
Justin White retains his middleweight title!
An out of breath Justin White thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.