PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Orval James (ranked 25268 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gervonta Whittaker (ranked 4595 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Gervonta Whittaker enters the cage!

James
vs
Whittaker

205 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Orval James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gervonta Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Whittaker looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

James breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

James gets caught flat footed, as Whittaker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
James is pulling down on Whittaker's head to control his posture.
Whittaker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittaker throws an elbow that misses. James uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Whittaker's guard. Nice move by James!

Whittaker being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Whittaker for as long as he can get away with.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Whittaker is working an open guard so James takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whittaker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

James decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
It looks like James is going to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with James in particular looking to stall.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. James lands a nice short elbow.
James sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James stands up out of the half guard.

Whittaker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whittaker lands in his opponent's guard.
James lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James gets to his feet. Whittaker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
James working the ground and pound.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
James's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
You can see the frustration on Whittaker's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Whittaker's face as James controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orval James dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Whittaker!
Whittaker trying to remain calm as James controls from the top position.

James stands up.

James has closed the distance and engaged Whittaker in a clinch.
Whittaker is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Whittaker is defending well.
We've been informed that Whittaker has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
James really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

James manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James has Whittaker pulled in close to control his posture.
Whittaker slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from James.
James has his hands clasped together around Whittaker's back. He's all about the action.
James is trying to maintain the position but Whittaker is very close to passing his half guard.
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whittaker can do to turn this around?
James striking from half guard on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
James is refusing to be controlled, as Whittaker sits in half guard.
James is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Whittaker's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Whittaker's back!
I would not like to be Whittaker right now.
Whittaker is covering up but some of the strikes from James are getting through and doing damage.
James is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Whittaker. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
What can Whittaker do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Further stalling from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James lands strikes to the head.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
You can see the frustration on Whittaker's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
James controls the position.
James connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Whittaker to escape the position.
James scores with strikes from the back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. James controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James connects with a big shot to the side of Whittaker's head.
James biding his time, looking for the opening.
James lands an elbow to the side of the head.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Orval James overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Orval James dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

James gets the takedown into side control.
Whittaker is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
James content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
James has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Whittaker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

James stands up.

Whittaker gets caught flat footed, as James shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
James continues to stall.

James gets to his feet. Whittaker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Whittaker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
James stays in close to Whittaker's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
More hug and hope from James.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells James's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

James stands up and waves to Whittaker to follow him.

James feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
This is a sustained period of stalling by James.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
James controlling from the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gervonta Whittaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Orval James is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Orval James showed his dominance in that final round.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Orval James!