PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eruera Wharerau (ranked 3767 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyriac Doumbe (ranked 2617 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Wharerau
vs
Doumbe

175 cm
25
157 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eruera Wharerau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cyriac Doumbe!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Daniel Franklin and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Doumbe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wharerau's waist but Wharerau gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Doumbe off to one side.
It looked like Wharerau was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Wharerau looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Wharerau rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Doumbe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wharerau misses with a combination
and Doumbe counters with a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Wharerau. No joy for Doumbe on that attempt.
Wharerau misses with a double jab
enabling Doumbe to counter with a crisp jab.
Doumbe fails with a takedown attempt.
Eruera Wharerau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.

Wharerau gets tackled into the cage by Doumbe. Doumbe maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A frustrated look appears on Wharerau's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Doumbe tries to pull guard but Wharerau won't allow it.
Doumbe effectively controlling the action here.
Doumbe drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Wharerau gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doumbe is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Wharerau to keep the fight standing.

Doumbe manages to break the clinch.
Wharerau lands a nice hook to Doumbe's body. Doumbe takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Doumbe has taken the fight to the clinch.

Doumbe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wharerau looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Doumbe looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wharerau throws a big counter combination but Doumbe scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

Doumbe closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wharerau did well to prevent Doumbe getting side control.
Wharerau is trying to escape back to his feet but Doumbe uses the scramble to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Doumbe stalls from top position.
Doumbe misses with the ground and pound.
Wharerau is not content to let Doumbe control the position.
Doumbe postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wharerau gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Wharerau blocking the ground and pound.
Doumbe controlling from the full mount.
Doumbe throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

Doumbe get's back to his feet.
Doumbe's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Doumbe duly obliges.
Wharerau definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Doumbe drives through and clinches with Wharerau against the cage.
Wharerau tries to circle away but Doumbe has him pinned against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Doumbe manages to pull guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Doumbe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wharerau is one step ahead there.
Wharerau being controlled here momentarily.
Doumbe trying to keep a closed guard but Wharerau is proving a slippery customer.
Wharerau has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Doumbe is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Doumbe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Wharerau gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyriac Doumbe dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Doumbe closes the distance and clinches.
Doumbe has Wharerau pressed against the cage, preventing Wharerau from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Doumbe prevents a takedown attempt there.

Doumbe breaks the clinch.
Doumbe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Doumbe fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Wharerau.
Doumbe goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Wharerau walks forward, straight into a front kick from Doumbe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Doumbe clinches with his opponent.

Doumbe decides to pull guard.
Wharerau wants to stand but Doumbe has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Doumbe manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Wharerau manages to get himself to full guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Doumbe slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Wharerau wants to get back to his feet but Doumbe is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Doumbe throws a big right hand that misses.
Doumbe forces his way into half guard.
Doumbe seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Doumbe trying to mount his opponent but Wharerau defends it.
Doumbe controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Doumbe is trying to control. Wharerau wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Doumbe is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Wharerau sees it coming and defends easily.
Doumbe sitting and controlling from the half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Doumbe is defended easily by Wharerau.
It looked like Wharerau was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Wharerau swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Doumbe wants to clinch.

Doumbe has taken the fight to the clinch.
Doumbe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Wharerau is defending well for now.

Doumbe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wharerau displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Doumbe.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Doumbe shoots in and drives through. Wharerau sprawls well.
Eruera Wharerau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.
Wharerau throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Doumbe.
Cyriac Doumbe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wharerau slaps away a takedown attempt from Doumbe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyriac Doumbe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Doumbe shoots in for a double leg but Wharerau sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Doumbe ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wharerau displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Doumbe.
Doumbe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Doumbe tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wharerau manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wharerau takes a head kick and keeps coming.
No joy there for Wharerau, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Wharerau misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wharerau slaps away a takedown attempt from Doumbe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Eruera Wharerau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.
Doumbe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Doumbe.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wharerau throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wharerau misses with a series of wild punches.
Doumbe shoots in for a takedown but Wharerau shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Doumbe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Wharerau lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Doumbe shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wharerau defends it nicely.
A punch combination from Wharerau misses.
Doumbe wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Doumbe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wharerau stops a takedown attempt from Doumbe.
Doumbe stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Wharerau is trying to break free.
Doumbe prevents Wharerau from breaking the clinch.
Wharerau is trying to break the clinch but Doumbe has him pressed against the cage.

Doumbe breaks the clinch.
Wharerau throws a combination that misses

and Doumbe counters by clinching up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wharerau gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wharerau has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Wharerau is trying to force a seperation but Doumbe has the dominant position.

Doumbe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Doumbe misses with a takedown attempt - Wharerau sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Doumbe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wharerau.
Eruera Wharerau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Doumbe clinches with his opponent.
Wharerau is looking to break free of the clinch but Doumbe has double underhooks.
Wharerau prevents the takedown attempt.
Doumbe tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wharerau smiles and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wharerau looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Wharerau displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Doumbe.
Nice sprawl there from Wharerau as Doumbe shoots in.
Nice sprawl there from Wharerau as Doumbe shoots in.
Wharerau throws a right hand that Doumbe ducks under and follows up with a left that Doumbe also avoids with ease.
Doumbe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wharerau paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Doumbe pushes Wharerau up against the cage in a clinch.
Wharerau is trying to break the clinch but Doumbe is controlling him.
Wharerau being controlled against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Doumbe tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wharerau just stands there and leans against the cage.
Eruera Wharerau has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cyriac Doumbe is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Doumbe taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eruera Wharerau showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Doumbe 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyriac Doumbe!