PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donny Whistler (ranked 5813 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Formby (ranked 5006 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Whistler
vs
Formby

188 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donny Whistler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thomas Formby!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Formby fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Whistler throws a lazy head kick

and Formby moves into the clinch.

Whistler breaks the clinch.
Whistler shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Formby as he avoids it easily.

Formby closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Whistler is trying to drag Formby to the mat but Formby just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Formby is trying to push Whistler away but Whistler has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whistler goes for a takedown attempt but Formby pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donny Whistler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Formby misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It appears Whistler was looking to counter with a kick there.

Formby has Whistler up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Formby taking a breather.
Formby tries to break free but Whistler pushes him back against the cage.
Whistler can't get the takedown.
Whistler prevents the takedown attempt.
Formby working hard to break the clinch.

Formby pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Formby fails with the takedown.
Formby throws a head kick but Whistler moves out of range.
Formby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Whistler circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Whistler misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Formby closes the distance and clinches.
Whistler is trying to drag Formby to the mat but Formby just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Formby breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Formby leaves Whistler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Nice shot lands for Formby.
A lazy left from Formby finds it's target.
Whistler shoots in but Formby avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thomas Formby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Formby lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Formby.
Whistler shoots in looking for a takedown but Formby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Whistler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Formby slaps away a takedown attempt from Whistler, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Whistler is breathing heavily.

Formby rushes Whistler and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Whistler drops down looking for an ankle pick but Formby pulls his leg out and moves away.

Formby moves into range and clinches up with Whistler.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Formby jumps guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Formby has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whistler can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Whistler 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.
Formby keeping moving, preventing Whistler from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Formby is pulling down on Whistler's head. It's preventing any offense from Whistler, at least for the moment.
Formby working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Formby dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Whistler shoots in looking for a takedown but Formby manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Whistler's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Formby gets a clinch.
Formby gets underhooks to prevent Whistler's takedown attempt.
Formby wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Whistler has him pressed against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Whistler letting Formby take a breather here.
Formby has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Whistler breaks from the clinch.
Whistler stuffs the takedown.
Formby stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Formby looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Formby tries a head kick but it misses.

Whistler shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Formby is trying to defend but Whistler finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Whistler is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whistler is taking a breather. Formby says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Whistler sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Formby defending well though.

Whistler is working for a submission of some sort.
Whistler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Formby is looking for a sweep. Whistler is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whistler thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Formby's head.

Whistler seems to be working for a kimura but Formby defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Formby is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Whistler pulls his head out easily.
Formby has hold of Whistler's hands but Whistler slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Whistler is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Formby has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whistler is stalling here. Formby is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Whistler seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Formby has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Formby stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Whistler tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Formby defends well and Whistler ends up having to push Formby into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donny Whistler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Formby looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Formby rushes Whistler and presses him up against the cage.
Whistler can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Formby goes for a takedown attempt but Whistler pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Formby closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Formby ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Formby no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Formby keeping moving, preventing Whistler from controlling successfully.

Whistler drops back looking for a leg! Formby is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Formby manages to kick Whistler off! Whistler jumps back into Formby's guard.
Formby really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Whistler. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Formby has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Formby showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Formby throws a leg kick but Whistler checks it.
A nice combination there by Formby.

Formby gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Whistler changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Formby fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Whistler looks to clinch
and Formby counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Whistler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Formby shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Whistler as he jumps to the side.
A little feinted left hand from Whistler on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Formby tries for a takedown but Whistler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whistler was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whistler shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Formby sprawls well. Formby wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Whistler gets slowly back to his feet.
Whistler avoids the head kick by Formby.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Formby leaves Whistler with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Donny Whistler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Formby throws a combination. Whistler tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Formby shoots in for a double leg but Whistler sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
As Formby looks to move away, Whistler throws a big counter combo but Formby just gets out of the way.
Donny Whistler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick from Formby misses.
Whistler tries to counter with a takedown but Formby is quick to defend against it.
Formby digs a good body shot into Whistler's ribs.
Thomas Formby seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Formby shoots in but no luck this time.
Formby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Whistler circles away.
Whistler shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Formby defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Formby lands a really nice looking cross but Whistler seems unphased.
Formby is looking to clinch but Whistler is avoiding it.
Whistler tries for a takedown but Formby sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Formby pushes Whistler up against the cage in a clinch.
Formby tries to circle away but Whistler has him pinned against the cage.
Formby lands a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Formby stops a takedown attempt from Whistler.
Formby taking a breather.
Whistler is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Formby jumps into guard, dragging Whistler to the mat.
Whistler trying to control but Formby is working from the bottom.
Whistler is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Formby is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Formby has a closed guard, preventing Whistler from standing up.

That's four 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.
Formby is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Formby missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Donny Whistler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Whistler looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Formby is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee warns Whistler that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Thomas Formby is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Formby controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Formby comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Formby 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Formby!