PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Israel Whitaker (ranked 24161 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chaves Guedes (ranked 3284 p4p, 0 weight class). Chaves Guedes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Whitaker
vs
Guedes

170 cm
19
186 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Israel Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chaves Guedes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Emerson Jorge and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Guedes closes the distance and pushes Whitaker back into the cage.
Guedes is struggling to control the position.
Guedes leaning his opponent against the cage.
Whitaker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Guedes breaks from the clinch.
Whitaker throws out a leg kick but Guedes moves out of range and Whitaker only half commits.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Guedes! But no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker looks to throw a body kick
and Guedes counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitaker doesn't manage to clinch there - Guedes circles away.

Guedes moves into the clinch.
Guedes gets through Whitaker's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Guedes breaks the clinch.

Guedes moves into the clinch.
Guedes leaning his opponent against the cage.
Guedes is pushing Whitaker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
The crowd are getting on Guedes's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Whitaker looking for a takedown.
Guedes taking a breather.
Guedes is pushing Whitaker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Guedes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Whitaker up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chaves Guedes.
Whitaker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Guedes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Whitaker fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Guedes closes the distance and clinches.
Guedes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stalling in the clinch from Guedes.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Whitaker has a couple of punches blocked by Guedes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker is trying to break free.
Guedes stalling in the clinch.
Guedes keeps control of Whitaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Whitaker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Guedes has him pressed against the cage.
Guedes tries for a takedown. No joy.

Guedes breaks the clinch.
Guedes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Guedes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Guedes takes the fight into the clinch.

Guedes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker looks to land a body kick but Guedes moved away.
Whitaker tries to clinch up.
Whitaker tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Guedes defends well and Whitaker ends up having to push Guedes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Whitaker misses with a takedown attempt

and Guedes moves into the clinch.
Guedes stalling in the clinch.
The referee calls for Guedes to work.

Guedes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Guedes has closed the distance and engaged Whitaker in a clinch.
Whitaker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chaves Guedes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Whitaker fails to land the takedown.
Whitaker drops his hands momentarily and Guedes takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Guedes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Whitaker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Guedes looks to move away, Whitaker throws a big counter combo but Guedes just gets out of the way.
Whitaker tries to clinch up but Guedes circles away and keeps his distance.
Whitaker moves in looking to clinch but Guedes pushes him off.
Whitaker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Guedes rushes Whitaker and presses him up against the cage.
Whitaker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Guedes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Guedes moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guedes lands with a right to the head.
Guedes gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Whitaker.
Whitaker is trying to drag Guedes to the mat but Guedes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitaker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Guedes has Whitaker pressed against the cage, preventing Whitaker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Guedes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Guedes managing to block the knees to the body from Whitaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Guedes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Guedes pressing his opponent against the cage.
Guedes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Guedes just leaning against Whitaker, taking a breather.
Guedes receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Guedes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Guedes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guedes is struggling to control the position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chaves Guedes.
Guedes moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Guedes clinches with his opponent.
Whitaker can't break the clinch.
Whitaker is pressed up against the cage. Guedes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Whitaker down to the mat. Whitaker avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Whitaker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Guedes moves into the clinch successfully.
Guedes is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Guedes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guedes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Guedes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Whitaker up against the cage.
Guedes avoiding damage.
Guedes working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Guedes stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chaves Guedes.

Guedes moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chaves Guedes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Guedes rushes Whitaker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Whitaker could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Whitaker is trying to push Guedes away but Guedes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Guedes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Guedes closes the distance and clinches.
The referee is keeping an eye on Guedes - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Guedes is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Whitaker is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Guedes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker tries to pull guard but Guedes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Whitaker takes a shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Guedes has Whitaker pressed against the cage, preventing Whitaker from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Guedes leaning against his opponent.
Guedes prevents Whitaker from breaking the clinch.
Whitaker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Guedes has him pressed against the cage.
Guedes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Whitaker up against the cage.
Guedes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Guedes blocks an elbow strike.
Whitaker has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

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.
Guedes will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Whitaker up against the cage.
Guedes is looking for a takedown.
Guedes has Whitaker pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Whitaker manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Guedes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Guedes lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Whitaker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Guedes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Israel Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Guedes is pushing Whitaker up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Guedes stalling in the clinch.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Chaves Guedes.
Whitaker goes for a double leg but Guedes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Guedes continues to drive forward.
It seemed like Guedes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Whitaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whitaker shoots in looking for a takedown but Guedes manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Whitaker's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Guedes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Guedes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Guedes! But no joy.

Guedes has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Guedes stalling.
Guedes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Whitaker gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Guedes avoiding damage.
The referee calls for Guedes to work.
Chaves Guedes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Guedes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Israel Whitaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chaves Guedes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Whitaker throws a half hearted mid kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chaves Guedes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Guedes 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chaves Guedes!