PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Whitaker (ranked 655 p4p, 97 weight class) and Zuillnic Canto (ranked 1556 p4p, 224 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whitaker
vs
Canto

185 cm
29
220 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

190 cm
25
218 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zuillnic Canto!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitaker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whitaker lands in his opponent's guard.
Whitaker scoring with punches to the head and body.
Whitaker content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Canto 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 defending against the submission attempts here by Canto.
Whitaker is looking to improve his position.

Canto is looking for a kimura here.

Canto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Canto is looking for a kimura but Whitaker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Canto to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Canto is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Whitaker defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitaker tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Canto wants to work for an arm triangle but Whitaker is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Whitaker is trying to get back to full guard.
Whitaker makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Whitaker.
Canto won't allow Whitaker to sweep him here.

Canto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Canto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Canto thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Whitaker throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Whitaker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Canto is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Canto drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Canto jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Canto preventing the sweep.
Canto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Canto preventing the sweep.
Whitaker keeping full guard, as Canto tries to pass.
Canto preventing the sweep.
Whitaker is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Canto looking for submissions off his back.

Canto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Whitaker pulls his head out easily.
Canto is staying active underneath Whitaker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker works his way into full mount!
Whitaker lands a heavy elbow.
Canto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Whitaker breaks from Canto's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Whitaker landing strikes, looking to finish!
Canto is looking to improve his position but Whitaker isn't that keen on the idea.
BOOM! Whitaker connects with a massive shot to the dome!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Canto gets back to half guard.
Whitaker is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Whitaker winds up and cracks Canto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Whitaker passes to full mount!
Whitaker raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Canto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Canto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Whitaker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Canto keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.
Whitaker looking to pass the guard.

Canto is looking for a triangle here but Whitaker uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Canto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Whitaker drops an elbow to the side of Canto's head.
Whitaker working the head and body with strikes.
Whitaker is trying to control. Canto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Whitaker dominated that round.
That's time! Whitaker's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Whitaker tries to sprawl but Canto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Whitaker is looking to control Canto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Whitaker avoid being mounted?
Whitaker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Canto is working for a submission of some sort.
Whitaker is looking to control Canto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Whitaker avoid being mounted?
Canto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Whitaker knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Canto looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Canto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker is looking to improve his position.
Whitaker moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Whitaker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Canto is one step ahead there.

Canto drops back looking for a leg! Whitaker is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whitaker manages to kick Canto off! Canto jumps back into Whitaker's guard.
Whitaker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whitaker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Canto's guard.

Canto is looking for a triangle but Whitaker pushes his legs off easily.
Canto keeping moving, preventing Whitaker from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Whitaker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Canto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Whitaker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Canto is keeping the position for now.
Whitaker postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Whitaker landing with the ground and pound.

Canto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whitaker sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Canto's guard.

Canto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Whitaker pulls his head out easily.
Whitaker wants to free his trapped foot but Canto is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Canto looking for submissions off his back.
Whitaker lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Canto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Whitaker pulls his head out easily.

Canto looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Canto looking for submissions off his back.
Canto is breathing heavily.
Canto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Whitaker landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Whitaker scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Canto looking for subs from the bottom but Whitaker mounts him!
Canto tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker working the ground and pound effectively.
Whitaker lands a big shot there that rocks Canto but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Whitaker landing strikes from the mount and Canto is in trouble!
Canto in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Canto bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Canto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whitaker is keeping the position for now.
Whitaker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Canto manages to get himself to full guard.

Whitaker trying to control the position from guard on top but Canto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitaker wants to pass the guard but Canto is keeping the position.
Whitaker 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.

Canto looking for a guillotine here but Whitaker defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Whitaker dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Canto is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Whitaker's half guard.

Canto is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Whitaker doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Canto.

Canto seems to be working for a kimura but Whitaker defends the submission attempt.
Whitaker moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Canto manages to get himself to full guard.

Whitaker advances to half guard.
Whitaker trying to mount his opponent but Canto defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Canto wants to improve his position but Whitaker is controlling well.
Whitaker takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Whitaker connects with a nice short shot to Canto's temple.
Whitaker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Canto moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Whitaker avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Canto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Canto bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Whitaker's guard.

Whitaker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Canto can do to turn this around?
Whitaker manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Canto manages to get himself to full guard.

Canto keeping full guard, as Whitaker tries to pass.
Whitaker slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Whitaker lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Canto is looking for a sweep.
Whitaker lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Canto prevents Whitaker from moving into mount.
Canto is not content to let Whitaker control the position.
Canto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whitaker cracks Canto with a big elbow.
Whitaker is looking to take a break and control but Canto is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Whitaker lands a nice forearm strike.
Canto tries to bench press Whitaker off him but Whitaker keeps the position.
Canto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Whitaker wants to pass to mount but Canto is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker works his way into full mount!
Whitaker postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Canto looks a forlorn figure.
Whitaker cracks Canto with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Canto regains half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Canto manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Canto keeping full guard, as Whitaker tries to pass.
Whitaker is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Canto is looking to cinch up a triangle. Whitaker throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Canto's body to avoid the submission. Canto has instead reached around Whitaker's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Canto arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Zuillnic Canto!
In his post fight interview, Zuillnic Canto started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.