PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joe Tanagul (ranked 23242 p4p, 614 weight class) and Bobby Whittaker (ranked 3288 p4p, 350 weight class). Joe Tanagul could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bobby Whittaker's chin.

Tanagul
vs
Whittaker

186 cm
20
187 lbs
6 - 15 - 0

183 cm
27
181 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Woodshins' Ship

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Tanagul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bobby Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Ryoma Takatsuka and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tanagul connects with a nice looking jab.
Tanagul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whittaker moves away.

Whittaker drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tanagul manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Whittaker has Tanagul in his guard.

Whittaker keeping moving, preventing Tanagul from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whittaker has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tanagul off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tanagul throws a head kick but Whittaker moves out of range.

Whittaker 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.
Whittaker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whittaker wants to pass the guard but Tanagul is keeping the position.
Tanagul trying to control the position.
Whittaker throwing strikes from guard but Tanagul blocks nicely.
Tanagul is trying to keep Whittaker in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker landing some decent shots from guard.
Whittaker wants to pass the guard but Tanagul is keeping the position.
Whittaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whittaker with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whittaker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tanagul is breathing heavily.
Whittaker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

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

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!

Whittaker scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanagul misses with a kick to the body.
Whittaker shoots in but Tanagul avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Whittaker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tanagul avoids it really well and circles away.
Whittaker shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tanagul as he jumps to the side.
Joe Tanagul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bobby Whittaker.

Whittaker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Tanagul lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Tanagul prevents a body shot from Whittaker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanagul lands a body shot.
Tanagul doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Tanagul working aggressively here.
Tanagul looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Tanagul controls his hands.
Tanagul throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Tanagul misses with a hook from the clinch.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Whittaker.
Tanagul tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Whittaker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tanagul can't find room to land a body shot as Whittaker controls the action.
Tanagul misses with a punch to the body.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Whittaker can't find room to land a body shot as Tanagul controls the action.
Whittaker lands a nice shot to the body.
Tanagul misses with some punches.
Tanagul is trying to break the clinch but Whittaker has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Whittaker dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Whittaker has Tanagul up against the cage in a clinch.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
Whittaker tries a body shot but Tanagul blocks it.
Good body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Whittaker.
Tanagul lands a nice uppercut.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Tanagul trying to land knees to the body.
Tanagul tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Whittaker avoids it.
Tanagul tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Whittaker avoids it.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanagul struggles to land a body shot inside as Whittaker controls his hands.
Tanagul tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Tanagul creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Tanagul.
Whittaker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Tanagul throws an elbow but misses.
Tanagul tries to circle away but Whittaker has him pinned against the cage.
Tanagul goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tanagul lands a body shot.
Tanagul tries to land a knee to the head but Whittaker blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whittaker can't find room to land a body shot as Tanagul controls the action.
Tanagul misses with a hook from the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Whittaker.
Whittaker cracks Tanagul with a nice body shot.
Joe Tanagul has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Tanagul gets through Whittaker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Whittaker lands a nice uppercut.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Tanagul controls his hands.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Whittaker.
Tanagul is trying to break the clinch but Whittaker has him pressed against the cage.
Tanagul can't break the clinch.
Whittaker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tanagul backwards.
Whittaker tries a body shot but Tanagul blocks it.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker pushes Tanagul back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanagul misses with a knee to the head.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
Whittaker prevents a body shot from Tanagul.
Whittaker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Whittaker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Whittaker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Tanagul tries to throw a body punch but Whittaker avoids it by throwing Tanagul back against the cage.
Tanagul pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Whittaker tries a body shot but Tanagul blocks it.
Whittaker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Whittaker.
A right hook to the body lands for Whittaker.
Whittaker can't find room to land a body shot as Tanagul controls the action.
Whittaker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tanagul misses with a knee strike.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Whittaker pushes Tanagul back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanagul blocks a body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Whittaker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Whittaker lands with a short shot to the head.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Tanagul controls his hands.
Whittaker lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Whittaker tries to work over Tanagul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Whittaker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Whittaker digs a right hand underneath Tanagul's ribcage. Tanagul let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Whittaker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tanagul.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Tanagul controls his hands.
Whittaker lands a body shot in the clinch.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
Whittaker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Tanagul backwards.
Whittaker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker can't find room to land a body shot as Tanagul controls the action.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
Tanagul trying to land knees to the body.
Whittaker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Whittaker tries a body shot but Tanagul blocks it.
Whittaker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Whittaker - that landed with a thud.
Tanagul prevents a body shot from Whittaker.
Tanagul is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whittaker is defending well for now.
Whittaker lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A left hand lands to the body for Whittaker.
A right hand to the body from Whittaker.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Tanagul misses with the head strike.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Whittaker 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! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tanagul slaps away a takedown attempt from Whittaker, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Whittaker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tanagul misses with a looping left.

Whittaker gets a clinch.

Tanagul breaks the clinch.

Whittaker has Tanagul up against the cage in a clinch.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker dodges an elbow strike from Tanagul.
Tanagul comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Bobby Whittaker has been cut.
Whittaker lands a body punch in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanagul prevents a body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker is working Tanagul over against the cage.
Whittaker digs a right hand underneath Tanagul's ribcage. Tanagul let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Whittaker lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Whittaker lands a body shot in the clinch.
Whittaker can't find room to land a body shot as Tanagul controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Whittaker.
Whittaker tries to work over Tanagul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Whittaker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Whittaker lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tanagul.
Whittaker lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Whittaker lands a shot to the body.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker digs a right hand into Tanagul's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Tanagul's gas tank.
Whittaker presses Tanagul against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Whittaker scores with a hook to the body.
Whittaker digs a right hand underneath Tanagul's ribcage. Tanagul let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Whittaker can't find room to land a body shot as Tanagul controls the action.
Nice body punch from Whittaker.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
Tanagul blocks a body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker lands a body punch.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Joe Tanagul has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanagul prevents a body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Whittaker.
Whittaker lands a nice shot to the body.
Whittaker lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whittaker is working Tanagul over against the cage.
Whittaker lands a body shot in the clinch.
Whittaker pushes Tanagul back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Whittaker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Tanagul controls his hands.
Whittaker tries a body shot but Tanagul blocks it.
Nice body punch from Whittaker - that landed with a thud.
Whittaker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tanagul or not.
A hook to the body from Whittaker.
Whittaker lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Tanagul blocks a body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
Whittaker managing to block the knees to the body from Tanagul.
Good body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker lands a left hand.
Whittaker tries to work over Tanagul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tanagul prevents a body shot from Whittaker.
Good body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Whittaker tries to work over Tanagul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Whittaker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Whittaker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but Tanagul avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
Whittaker lands a nice shot to the body.
Whittaker tries to work over Tanagul's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whittaker throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Whittaker lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
Whittaker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tanagul lands an elbow inside that Whittaker shrugs off.
Whittaker lands a nice shot to the body.
Whittaker lands a hook that snaps the head of Tanagul backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whittaker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tanagul's elbow.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Tanagul controls his hands.
Tanagul misses with an elbow over the top.
Whittaker lands a nice uppercut.
Whittaker lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Tanagul or not.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Nice body punch from Whittaker.
Whittaker throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Tanaguls head.
A short uppercut from Whittaker.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Whittaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Whittaker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gruel scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bobby Whittaker!