PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ed Whitaker (ranked 6455 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Maples (ranked 6331 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Whitaker
vs
Maples

150 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ed Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Brian Maples!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maples fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Maples looks to land a right hand but Whitaker moved out of range.
Whitaker appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Whitaker tries for a takedown but Maples sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whitaker really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
A combination from Maples does no damage.

Maples shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Maples was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The ground and pound from Maples seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Maples is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Whitaker's shoulder. That is not cool.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maples working the body and head with strikes.
Whitaker is looking to reverse the position.
Whitaker might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Maples controls the position from side control.
Maples lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Whitaker down.
Maples throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Whitaker works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Maples seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker is looking to improve his position.
Maples blocks the strikes from Whitaker.
Whitaker tries to get to full guard but Maples has control of the leg.

Maples is working for a kimura but Whitaker is defending it quite comfortably.

Whitaker actively working from the bottom here.

Maples is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Whitaker is just riding it out for now. Maples eventually gives up the hold.
Maples thows a huge punch but Whitaker dodges it nicely.

That's two 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 tries to kick Maples off but Maples keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Maples slips a nice elbow through Whitaker's hands, connecting with Whitaker's forehead.
Whitaker really is a fat lump.

Maples is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Maples looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Whitaker wants to improve his position but Maples is controlling well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Whitaker looking for submissions off his back.
Maples slows the pace down in half guard.
Maples working over Whitaker with some ground and pound. Whitaker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maples is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Whitaker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maples uses his free foot to push down on Whitaker's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Whitaker.
Maples dominating with strikes here.
Maples can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Whitaker is looking to escape.
Whitaker takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Whitaker regains half guard.
Maples controlling the action here.
Whitaker lands with a few short shots to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Maples wants to work for an arm triangle but Whitaker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Maples thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Maples is trying to control. Whitaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Whitaker is trying to get back to full guard.
Maples controlling the action here.
Maples prevents Whitaker from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maples controlling the pace.
Whitaker is refusing to be controlled, as Maples sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Maples dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maples shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whitaker pinned against the cage. Whitaker gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Brian Maples is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maples fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A head kick misses from Maples.
Whitaker shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maples defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maples lands a jab-cross combination.
Maples looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Whitaker drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker throws a big right hand that misses.
Whitaker makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Whitaker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Maples's head.
Whitaker is looking to work some ground and pound but Maples has wrist control.
Whitaker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Maples is proving hard to escape from.
Whitaker lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Whitaker decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Whitaker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Maples.
Whitaker appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Whitaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maples throws a sloppy head kick and Whitaker moves out of range easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whitaker tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Maples swivels and escapes.
Despite the aggression on Maples's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Maples throws a right hand that Whitaker ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitaker also avoids with ease.
Maples tries to clinch but Whitaker moves out of range.

Maples decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Maples is breathing heavily.
Whitaker punching from the bottom.
Whitaker misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Whitaker is on the bottom, trying to hold on to half guard. He's throwing a few small shots here, to keep his opponent honest.
Whitaker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Maples looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Whitaker wants to get back to full guard.
Maples prevents Whitaker from standing back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maples content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Maples wants to pass the guard but Whitaker is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker gets full guard.
Maples wants to control from the top but Whitaker keeps moving.

Whitaker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Maples gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Whitaker working for a triangle but Maples defends it easily.
Maples wants to get up but he can't break Whitaker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four 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.
Maples sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Whitaker's guard.
Whitaker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Maples keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Whitaker's head.
Maples wants to pass the guard but Whitaker is keeping the position.
Maples trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitaker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maples won't allow Whitaker to get back to his feet.
Maples wants to get up but he can't break Whitaker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Maples stops Whitaker from standing up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Maples is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A nice combination there by Maples.
Whitaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maples moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Maples showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Whitaker dodges the punch combination from Maples.
Whitaker throwing a counter right hand but Maples manages to avoid it.
Whitaker shoots in for a double leg but Maples sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maples lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Brian Maples seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No joy there for Maples, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
It looked like Whitaker was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Maples.
Maples looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Maples throws a head kick that half lands.
Maples has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Maples darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Whitaker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whitaker tries to roll over but Maples keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maples is keen to just control but Whitaker is a slippery customer.
Whitaker missing with punches from the bottom.
Whitaker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Maples from controlling successfully.
Maples controlling from the top position.
Maples takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whitaker looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitaker, not yet.

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.
Maples throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Whitaker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maples throws a big elbow that misses.

Whitaker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maples defends well.
Maples looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Whitaker wants to get back to his feet but Maples is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Whitaker trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Maples fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maples takes a swing at Whitaker's ribcage but misses.
Whitaker is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Maples.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker avoids a punch combination nicely.

Maples forces Whitaker back against the cage and clinches.

Maples turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Whitaker is trying to improve his position.
Whitaker sneaks back into half guard.
Maples is trying to control. Whitaker wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Whitaker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Whitaker is looking for a sweep. Maples is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is working hard here to advance position.
Maples trying to control the pace.
Whitaker moves into full guard.
Brian Maples is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Whitaker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Maples defends well.
Maples controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Maples connects with a couple of short punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brian Maples comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Maples 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Maples!