PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rueben Whitehead (ranked 23719 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Tyson (ranked 4773 p4p, 0 weight class). Rueben Whitehead has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Whitehead
vs
Tyson

198 cm
26
215 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

185 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rueben Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jay Tyson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitehead closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tyson quickly recovers to half guard.
Tyson is looking to control Whitehead's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tyson avoid being mounted?
Whitehead sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Whitehead is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tyson looking for submissions off his back.
Whitehead missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tyson holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Whitehead slows the pace down in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tyson is trying to get back to full guard.
Tyson keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Tyson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Whitehead's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Whitehead's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyson tries to keep control of the position but Whitehead is staying busy.
Whitehead rolls, trying to escape but Tyson keeps control of the position.
A lull in the action here.
Good control from Tyson.
Tyson is trying to stick to Whitehead's back but Whitehead is turning into Tyson. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tyson's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Whitehead.

Tyson looking for a guillotine here but Whitehead defends easily.
Whitehead controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tyson keeping moving, preventing Whitehead from controlling successfully.
Whitehead sitting in guard here, content to control.
Whitehead with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tyson has a closed guard, preventing Whitehead from standing up.
Whitehead will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whitehead works over Tyson with some ground and pound from guard.

Tyson is looking for a triangle but Whitehead pushes his legs off easily.

Tyson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whitehead can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tyson looks winded!
Whitehead trying to control the position from guard on top but Tyson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehead wants to stand but Tyson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead throwing strikes but missing.
Whitehead tries to stand but Tyson is controlling from the bottom.
Whitehead is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tyson is pulling down on Whitehead's head to control his posture.
Whitehead wanted to stand there but Tyson had control of the position.
Whitehead showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tyson looking to control.
Whitehead landing with the ground and pound.

Whitehead stands up from Tyson's guard - Whitehead perhaps looking for a knockout.

Whitehead clinches up with Tyson and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead decides to pull guard.
Tyson wants to pass the guard but Whitehead is keeping the position.
Tyson trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehead is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehead 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.

Whitehead pushes Tyson off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tyson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Whitehead counters by clinching up.
Tyson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Whitehead is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rueben Whitehead dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Whitehead thumps Tyson with a low kick.
Whitehead displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tyson.

Whitehead moves into range and clinches up with Tyson.

Whitehead has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tyson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Whitehead controlling well, preventing Tyson from escaping the position.
Tyson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Whitehead looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehead lands a nice shot to the head.
Whitehead punishing his opponent with strikes.
Tyson is working to get back to half guard.
Whitehead is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tyson can do to turn this around?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitehead lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Tyson hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehead in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Whitehead with a couple of short strikes.
BOOM! Whitehead connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tyson is breathing heavily.
Whitehead controlling the pace for now.
Tyson is looking to improve his position but Whitehead isn't that keen on the idea.
Tyson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Whitehead gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Whitehead moves into the clinch.
Tyson has had enough of the clinch but Whitehead keeps him there for the moment.
Tyson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whitehead is defending well for now.
Tyson is trying to break the clinch but Whitehead has him pressed against the cage.
Whitehead creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tyson's defenses.

Whitehead pulls Tyson into guard.
Whitehead has Tyson pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead working a defensive guard here.
Whitehead throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Whitehead pulls Tyson in close to prevent any damage.
Whitehead looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitehead, not yet.
Whitehead is adopting a defensive guard.
Whitehead keeping full guard, as Tyson tries to pass.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Tyson wants to control from the top but Whitehead keeps moving.
Whitehead wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whitehead wants to sweep but no luck.
Tyson trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Whitehead moves into the clinch.
Whitehead lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Jay Tyson has been cut.

Whitehead's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whitehead fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Whitehead pushes Tyson up against the cage in a clinch.
Whitehead lands a shoulder strike.
Whitehead lands a nice elbow.

Whitehead's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tyson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Whitehead is fending him off so far but Tyson persists. Nope, Whitehead circles away and we're back to standing.
Rueben Whitehead is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A right-left combo lands from Whitehead.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Whitehead dives in and scores a takedown into Tyson's guard.
Whitehead trying to control the position from guard on top but Tyson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tyson is trying to control the position but Whitehead postures up.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Whitehead controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tyson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Tyson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Whitehead is aware though and is defending well.
Tyson 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.
Whitehead seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Whitehead'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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rueben Whitehead dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jay Tyson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Whitehead forces Tyson back against the cage and clinches.
Whitehead makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Tyson jumps guard but Whitehead turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tyson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Whitehead drags the fight down to the ground.
Tyson's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Whitehead wants to sweep here but Tyson controlling him for the moment.
Tyson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whitehead swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tyson trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
Tyson 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.
Tyson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whitehead wants to get back to his feet but Tyson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Whitehead has control of Tyson's left arm, preventing Tyson from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tyson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Whitehead pulls Tyson in close to prevent any damage.
Whitehead lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Tyson wants to sweep here but Whitehead controlling him for the moment.
Whitehead chips away with some ground and pound.
Whitehead prevents Tyson from getting back to his feet.
Whitehead sitting in guard here, content to control.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but Tyson keeps moving.
Tyson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead won't allow Tyson to sweep him here.
Whitehead has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Whitehead postures up and lands a big shot to Tyson's brow.
Whitehead lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Tyson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whitehead with a nice head shot there.
Tyson is trying to control the position but Whitehead postures up.
Whitehead controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tyson keeping moving, preventing Whitehead from controlling successfully.
Whitehead lands a couple of elbows.
Tyson is trying to keep Whitehead in close.
Whitehead controlling from the top position.
Whitehead with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tyson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whitehead controlling from the top position.
Whitehead lands a couple of elbows.

Whitehead gets to his feet. Tyson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Whitehead lands with a slapping head kick.

Whitehead gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Whitehead lands an elbow inside that Tyson shrugs off.
A right hook to the body lands for Whitehead.

Whitehead manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Whitehead working for a triangle but Tyson defends it easily.
Tyson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whitehead swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead wants to sweep but no luck.
Tyson advances position into side control!
Whitehead wants to control but Tyson postures up.
Whitehead sneaks back into half guard.
Whitehead is controlling Tyson's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tyson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Whitehead trying to control from the bottom.
Jay Tyson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rueben Whitehead is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Whitehead manages to get to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rueben Whitehead showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Whitehead 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:26
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rueben Whitehead!