PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Whartenby (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thor Gronaas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gronaas has chosen Edvard Grieg - I Dovregubbens hall as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Whartenby
vs
Gronaas

190 cm
24
260 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

194 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Whartenby!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thor Gronaas!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Whartenby with that takedown attempt.
Whartenby tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gronaas needs to keep his hands up - Whartenby had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Thor Gronaas has been cut.
Whartenby keeps the fight on the outside.
Whartenby misses with a double jab.
Gronaas is looking to land body kicks.
Gronaas fails in his attempt to clinch.
Gronaas wants to clinch up but Whartenby keeps it at a distance.
Whartenby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Whartenby scores with a crisp jab that stopped Gronaas in his tracks.
Gronaas shoots for a double leg takedown but Whartenby sprawls well. He's pushed Gronaas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gronaas tries to land a front kick but Whartenby steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Gronaas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Gronaas rushes Whartenby and presses him up against the cage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gronaas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Whartenby is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Whartenby is trying to break the clinch but Gronaas has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gronaas tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eric Whartenby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thor Gronaas.
Whartenby wants to get back to striking at distance but Gronaas won't allow it.
Whartenby tries to pull guard but Gronaas won't allow it.
Whartenby is looking to break free of the clinch but Gronaas has double underhooks.
Gronaas has Whartenby pressed against the cage.

Gronaas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whartenby fails to land the takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Whartenby.

Whartenby stands up.
Eric Whartenby seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whartenby is breathing heavily.
Whartenby rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gronaas moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gronaas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Whartenby's head.
Gronaas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Whartenby as he avoids it easily.
Gronaas wants to clinch up but Whartenby keeps it at a distance.
Whartenby takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gronaas cracks Whartenby with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gronaas has his takedown stuffed
letting Whartenby counter with a right hand.
Whartenby tries for a takedown but Gronaas sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gronaas shoots in looking for a takedown. Whartenby tries to sprawl out of it but Gronaas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Whartenby manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gronaas lands with a slapping head kick.
Gronaas looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Gronaas moves into range and clinches up with Whartenby.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gronaas gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Whartenby.

Gronaas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Whartenby.
Gronaas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gronaas shoots in looking for a takedown. Whartenby tries to sprawl out of it but Gronaas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Whartenby manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Whartenby stuffs the takedown attempt from Gronaas. Gronaas gets slowly back to his feet.
Gronaas cracks the inside of Whartenby's front leg.
Whartenby swinging wilding here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Whartenby throws a right hand that Gronaas ducks under and follows up with a left that Gronaas also avoids with ease.
Gronaas throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Whartenby's head.
Whartenby shoots in but no luck this time.
Gronaas shoots for a double leg takedown but Whartenby sprawls well. He's pushed Gronaas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Whartenby closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gronaas circles away.
Gronaas lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Gronaas.
Gronaas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Whartenby.
No luck for Gronaas with that takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whartenby tries to bum rush Gronaas with a series of wild strikes but Gronaas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gronaas fails to land the takedown.
Whartenby keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eric Whartenby will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Thor Gronaas's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Good shot there by Gronaas.
Gronaas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gronaas wants to clinch up but Whartenby keeps it at a distance.
Whartenby checks a low kick from Gronaas.
Gronaas lands with a nice body kick.
Gronaas fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whartenby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gronaas tries to move into range but Whartenby moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Whartenby swings for the body but Gronaas moves out of range.
Gronaas changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whartenby tries to avoid it but Gronaas manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whartenby to the ground. Whartenby escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nice sprawl there from Whartenby as Gronaas shoots in.
Whartenby misses with a takedown attempt - Gronaas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Gronaas is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whartenby swings away with a body shot that misses
and Gronaas counters with a one-two to the body.
No joy there for Gronaas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gronaas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Whartenby!
The referee warns Whartenby that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Whartenby is squirming around, avoiding Gronaas's attempts to control the action.
Gronaas punching from mount but Whartenby doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Whartenby somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whartenby dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Eric Whartenby is winning the standup battle so far.
Whartenby falls off balance throwing a combination

and Gronaas counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gronaas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gronaas misses with a head kick.
Gronaas chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Whartenby shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gronaas but Gronaas pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gronaas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gronaas shoots for a double leg takedown but Whartenby sprawls well. He's pushed Gronaas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Eric Whartenby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thor Gronaas.
Gronaas takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Gronaas shoots in looking for a takedown. Whartenby tries to sprawl out of it but Gronaas keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Whartenby manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Whartenby!
Gronaas misses with a head kick.
Whartenby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Whartenby swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gronaas tries to clinch but Whartenby moves out of range.
Gronaas shoots and misses
and Whartenby counters with a nice uppercut.
Gronaas misses with a takedown attempt - Whartenby sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Gronaas instigates a clinch.
Whartenby fails to pull guard.

Gronaas manages to break the clinch.
Gronaas moves out of range as Whartenby throws a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gronaas shoots for a double leg takedown but Whartenby sprawls well. He's pushed Gronaas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Gronaas throws a series of punches but Whartenby moves out of range.
Whartenby misses with a series of wild punches.
Whartenby avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Gronaas has managed to clinch.
Whartenby tries to stall but Gronaas uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Whartenby is pressed up against the cage. Gronaas has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Whartenby down to the mat. Whartenby avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Gronaas scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whartenby is looking to improve his position but Gronaas isn't that keen on the idea.
Whartenby regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thor Gronaas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Thor Gronaas's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Gronaas moves in looking to clinch but Whartenby pushes him off.
Whartenby has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Whartenby looks to land a body kick but Gronaas moved away.
Gronaas steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Whartenby.
Gronaas tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Whartenby keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gronaas tries for a takedown but Whartenby sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whartenby clobbers Gronaas with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Whartenby fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gronaas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Whartenby sprawls well initially but Gronaas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gronaas is looking to take a break and control but Whartenby is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gronaas is thwarting Whartenby's attempts to control the position.
Whartenby avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gronaas.
Gronaas trying to pass the guard but Whartenby defending well.
Gronaas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Gronaas is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Whartenby still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Whartenby has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Gronaas is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A head kick misses from Whartenby.

Gronaas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Whartenby to the mat! Whartenby manages to get full guard.
Gronaas wants to stand but Whartenby is controlling his posture from full guard.
Gronaas wants to control from the top but Whartenby keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whartenby uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Whartenby misses with the combination.
Gronaas is looking to clinch.
Whartenby throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gronaas looks for the body kick but Whartenby saw that one coming.

Gronaas moves into the clinch successfully.
Gronaas is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Whartenby gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Eric Whartenby has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thor Gronaas.
Whartenby is trying to drag Gronaas to the mat but Gronaas just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gronaas jumps guard and drags Whartenby to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gronaas is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gronaas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gronaas looking for a sweep. Not yet Gronaas, not yet.
Whartenby stops Gronaas from standing up.
Gronaas working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thor Gronaas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gronaas has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thor Gronaas!