PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hollis Whitehead (ranked 25390 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lester John Mate Jr (ranked 25496 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Whitehead
vs
John Mate Jr

188 cm
18
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

174 cm
18
142 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Hollis Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Lester John Mate Jr!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Atkins and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mate Jr fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Whitehead to the ground. Mate Jr is now in Whitehead's guard.
Mate Jr is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mate Jr prevents Whitehead from getting back to his feet.

Whitehead is working an open guard so Mate Jr takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Mate Jr dives in and scores a takedown into Whitehead's guard.

Mate Jr is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Whitehead is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Whitehead has escaped and now he's on top!

Whitehead being controlled here momentarily.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but Mate Jr keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mate Jr has his foot on Whitehead's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitehead works his way back into a safe position though.

Mate Jr pushes Whitehead off and scrambles back to his feet.

Mate Jr clinches up against the cage.
Mate Jr stops a takedown attempt from Whitehead.

Whitehead has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mate Jr uses from the top position.

Mate Jr gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mate Jr tries for a takedown but Whitehead sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whitehead really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Whitehead swats away the attempt to clinch by Mate Jr.

Mate Jr drives through with a takedown into guard.

Whitehead manages to escape and get back to his feet.
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!

Whitehead takes the fight into the clinch.
Mate Jr wants to take the fight to the mat but Whitehead manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Mate Jr has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Whitehead avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hollis Whitehead has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lester John Mate Jr.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead wants to take the fight to the mat but Mate Jr manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Mate Jr breaks from the clinch.

Mate Jr gets a clinch.

Mate Jr pulls guard.
Mate Jr has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mate Jr throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Mate Jr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mate Jr scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Mate Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Mate Jr looks winded!
Mate Jr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Whitehead as he jumps to the side.
Mate Jr has his takedown stuffed
and Whitehead counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mate Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Whitehead manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Mate Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Whitehead is looking to counter the offense by Mate Jr and move into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lester John Mate Jr will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Whitehead fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mate Jr, pushing him back against the cage.

Mate Jr breaks the clinch.

Whitehead drives through and clinches with Mate Jr against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mate Jr has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Whitehead is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Whitehead is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Mate Jr is defending well.
Whitehead on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mate Jr is trying to pull guard but Whitehead has him pressed against the cage.
Mate Jr working hard to break the clinch.
Whitehead wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Whitehead tries to pull guard but Mate Jr holds him up against the cage and eventually Whitehead drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hollis Whitehead. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Mate Jr has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Whitehead uses from the top position.
Mate Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Mate Jr, not yet.

Mate Jr is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whitehead is aware though and is defending well.
Mate Jr is breathing heavily.

Mate Jr working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whitehead doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whitehead manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whitehead tries to stand but Mate Jr is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mate Jr tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitehead is looking to stand up but Mate Jr won't let him.
Whitehead is fighting to break Mate Jr's control of his arms but Mate Jr is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Whitehead circles away from the clinch attempt
and Whitehead counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Mate Jr shoots in and drives through. Whitehead sprawls well.
Whitehead seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mate Jr tries to clinch up but Whitehead circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for Mate Jr with that takedown attempt.
Whitehead throws a big counter combination but Mate Jr scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mate Jr tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Whitehead manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Whitehead tries to clinch up but Mate Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Whitehead as Mate Jr shoots in.
Whitehead shoots in but no luck this time.
Mate Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.

Whitehead fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mate Jr to the ground. Whitehead is now in Mate Jr's guard.

Whitehead gets to his feet - Mate Jr follows without any prompting.
Whitehead is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mate Jr working hard to break the clinch.
Whitehead will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mate Jr up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Mate Jr slows down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hollis Whitehead dominated that second round.
That's time! Whitehead's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Mate Jr fails with the takedown
and Whitehead counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Mate Jr looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Mate Jr has closed the distance and engaged Whitehead in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mate Jr displaying some good clinch control by pressing Whitehead up against the cage.
Whitehead prevents the takedown attempt.
Hollis Whitehead has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lester John Mate Jr.
Mate Jr takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mate Jr walks away with a smile on his face. Whitehead gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mate Jr tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whitehead swivels and escapes.
Mate Jr shoots in but Whitehead avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hollis Whitehead is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mate Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Mate Jr fails with an attempt to clinch.

Whitehead moves into the clinch.
Mate Jr tries to pull guard but Whitehead forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Whitehead misses with a knee to the head.
Whitehead effectively controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead is working for takedown but Mate Jr is calmly controlling the position for now.
Whitehead gets underhooks to prevent Mate Jr's takedown attempt.
Whitehead with a knee to the head.
Mate Jr is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Whitehead pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Whitehead taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Mate Jr tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Whitehead smiles and moves away.
Whitehead shoots for a double leg takedown but Mate Jr sprawls well. He's pushed Whitehead's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Whitehead drives through and clinches with Mate Jr against the cage.
Mate Jr is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Whitehead is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mate Jr wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Whitehead has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Mate Jr is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Whitehead taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Whitehead jumps guard and drags Mate Jr to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Whitehead will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mate Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehead will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Whitehead can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mate Jr controls the pace.
Mate Jr trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.

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.
Mate Jr controlling from the top position.
Whitehead is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mate Jr trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Whitehead is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hollis Whitehead showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Whitehead 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hollis Whitehead!