PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between JT Smith (ranked 4000 p4p, 467 weight class) and Eric Whitaker (ranked 991 p4p, 157 weight class). Smith comes to the cage accompanied by Im your boogie man. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Eric Whitaker enters the cage!

Smith
vs
Whitaker

185 cm
25
218 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

185 cm
26
220 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, JT Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eric Whitaker!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Sandra Marshall and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whitaker.
Smith takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Whitaker's corner calls for a 1-2. Whitaker obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Smith keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Smith manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Whitaker on his heels. He'll look to pass Whitaker's guard now, I'm sure.
Smith preventing the sweep.
Whitaker throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Smith won't allow Whitaker to sweep him here.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitaker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitaker wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith wants to control from the top but Whitaker keeps moving.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitaker tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Whitaker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Whitaker is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Whitaker is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Smith is in close to Whitaker's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Smith drops back, looking for a kneebar! Whitaker looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Whitaker looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Whitaker!

Whitaker tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Whitaker throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Whitaker cracks Smith with a big elbow.
Whitaker looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smith is avoiding damage well.
Whitaker fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Whitaker controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Smith is looking to regain half guard here but Whitaker keeps moving and retains side control.
Smith is working hard here to advance position.
Smith has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Whitaker works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Whitaker throws a strike aimed at the side of Smith's head but Smith avoids it well.
Whitaker in side control, throwing shots but Smith defends.
Smith tries to bench press Whitaker off him but Whitaker keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Smith's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Whitaker sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Smith is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Whitaker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smith knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Whitaker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Whitaker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Smith is looking to control Whitaker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smith avoid being mounted?
Smith keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Whitaker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.
Whitaker trying to control from half guard but Smith is working away.
Ground and pound from Whitaker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Whitaker lands with a punch from half guard.
Whitaker scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whitaker is working away from the top position though.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Whitaker in his half guard.
Smith is positioning himself well to prevent Whitaker advancing to mount.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Whitaker is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Smith tries to get to full guard but Whitaker has control of the leg.
Whitaker is trying to control the action in half guard but Smith is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Whitaker thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Smith's head.
Smith is looking for a sweep. Whitaker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Whitaker dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab from Whitaker does it's job there.
Smith fails to land the takedown.
Smith looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Smith shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Whitaker defends it nicely.
Whitaker now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Whitaker cracks Smith with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Smith looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Whitaker finish him?

Smith is rocked!
Whitaker looks to land a left hand but Smith moved out of range nicely.
Oh Smith is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Whitaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Whitaker counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JT Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Whitaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smith moves away.

Smith decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Whitaker manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Whitaker.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Whitaker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Whitaker looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Whitaker controls Smith momentarily but Smith frees himself.
Smith postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Whitaker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Whitaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whitaker manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Whitaker's guard.
Smith trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitaker trying to control the position.
Whitaker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.

Whitaker with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Smith is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Smith is pulling down on Whitaker's head. It's preventing any offense from Whitaker, at least for the moment.
Smith is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Smith is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Whitaker cracks Smith with a solid left hand.
Whitaker with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smith controls Whitaker momentarily but Whitaker frees himself.
Whitaker works over Smith with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whitaker's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitaker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith looking to control.
Smith pulls Whitaker in close to prevent any damage.
Smith looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Whitaker being controlled here momentarily.
Whitaker is looking to work some ground and pound but Smith has wrist control.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whitaker passes into half guard.
Smith desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whitaker is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smith slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Whitaker is looking to improve his position.
Whitaker gets back to full guard.
Smith lands a couple of digs.
Smith won't allow Whitaker to sweep him here.
Whitaker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Whitaker trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith pulls Whitaker in close to his closed guard and prevents Whitaker from doing any damage or advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Whitaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Smith changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whitaker tries to avoid it but Smith manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whitaker to the ground. Whitaker escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smith fails with the takedown
and Whitaker connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Whitaker displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smith.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for JT Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith tries a low kick but Whitaker avoids it.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Whitaker counter with a right hand.
A jab from Whitaker misses.
Eric Whitaker seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice body punch from Whitaker.
Smith avoids the body shot from Whitaker.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith gets cracked there but stands up to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker misses with a looping right.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whitaker lands with a shot to the body.
Smith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Whitaker sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Nice defenses there by Smith.

Whitaker lands a big uppercut and Smith crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Smith looks OK. Whitaker waves Smith back to his feet!
Whitaker tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Smith was well out of range. Poor timing from Whitaker.
Whitaker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice takedown defense from Whitaker. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Whitaker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whitaker drops Smith with a huge uppercut! Smith drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Whitaker is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Eric Whitaker!
A victorious Eric Whitaker thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.