PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lee Wood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitaker has chosen "Through the Fire and Flames" by Dragon Force as his entrance music. Shane Whitaker is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Wood
vs
Whitaker

185 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
29
205 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Lee Wood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Shane Whitaker!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wood tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Whitaker paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lee Wood seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jeez, both these guys look absolutely knackered already, that's not a good sign!

Whitaker scores with a takedown into Wood's guard.
Wood tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Wood knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Whitaker on the ground.
Wood seems keen to control Whitaker's posture.
Whitaker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wood looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wood wants to stand but Whitaker is controlling the position.
Whitaker controlling from the top position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Shane Whitaker was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Wood connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Whitaker's hands.
Whitaker throws a right and a left that Wood avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wood sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whitaker somewhat.
Wood getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Wood moves to clinch but Whitaker breaks away
and Whitaker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Wood closes the distance looking to clinch

and Whitaker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Wood scores with a shot to the side of Whitaker's head.
Wood tries for a takedown but Whitaker manages to get underhooks.

Whitaker decides to pull guard.
Whitaker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Wood in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wood accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wood is one step ahead there.
Wood cracks Whitaker with a solid left hand.
Wood content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whitaker looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitaker, not yet.
Wood working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Wood throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Whitaker works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Wood lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Wood missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whitaker trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Whitaker throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Wood is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Wood cracks Whitaker with a solid left hand.
Wood working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Whitaker looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood works over Whitaker with some ground and pound from guard.
Wood throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitaker trying to keep a closed guard but Wood is proving a slippery customer.
Wood working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Whitaker's head.
Wood throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Whitaker is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Whitaker won't allow Wood to get back to his feet.
Whitaker not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Wood working a defensive guard here.
Wood wants to stand and escape but Whitaker is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wood can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Whitaker controls the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lee Wood just wasn't active enough.
Whitaker drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jab by Wood.
Whitaker lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Wood missing with a left hand there. Whitaker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wood throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Whitaker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wood, pushing him back against the cage.

Whitaker jumps guard.
Wood throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitaker striking off his back but it's not causing Wood any problems.

Whitaker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wood is in close to Whitaker's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wood tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Whitaker counters with a nice double leg into side control. Wood won't be happy with that.
Wood tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wood manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Shane Whitaker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whitaker is controlling the pace.

Whitaker is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wood defends it well.
Whitaker slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whitaker wants to take a breather but Wood is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood wants to get back to full guard.
Wood is trying to stand back up but Whitaker is controlling him
Whitaker perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Shane Whitaker wasn't active enough on the ground.
Wood wants to clinch but Whitaker slips to the side
and Whitaker counters with a good low kick that Wood was not able to check.
Whitaker takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Whitaker gets a clinch.
Wood drops down looking for an ankle pick but Whitaker pulls his leg out and moves away.

Whitaker scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Wood is defending against the submission attempts here by Whitaker.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker 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.
Whitaker prevents Wood from improving his position.
Wood trying to control from the bottom.
Whitaker missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker wants to work for an arm triangle but Wood is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Wood trying to control from the bottom.
Whitaker is taking a breather. Wood 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.
Wood tries to get to full guard but Whitaker has control of the leg.

Whitaker decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Whitaker slips a jab from Wood.
Wood wants to clinch but Whitaker slips to the side
and Whitaker counters with a head kick. That will keep Wood thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Wood wants to clinch but Whitaker slips to the side

and Whitaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Whitaker breaks from the clinch.
Wood moves to clinch but Whitaker breaks away
and Whitaker counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Whitaker closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whitaker lands in his opponent's guard.
Whitaker stays in close to Wood's body and controls the position.
Wood manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wood lands a big shot there that rocks Whitaker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Whitaker slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whitaker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Wood working over Whitaker with some ground and pound. Whitaker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Wood is nestled in close to Whitaker, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Whitaker keeping hold of Wood's head, controlling as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shane Whitaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Whitaker has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Wood finds it's way round the side to connect with Whitaker's head.
Wood is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wood displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Whitaker cracks Wood with an open hand slap.
Wood closes the distance but Whitaker moves to the side

and Whitaker decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wood's guard.
Wood is looking to stand up but Whitaker isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wood being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitaker is one step ahead there.
Wood wants to stand and escape but Whitaker is having none of it.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Shane Whitaker wasn't active enough on the ground.
Wood with a jab.
Wood wants to clinch but Whitaker slips to the side

so Whitaker counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Whitaker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Wood is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Whitaker won't allow Wood to sweep him here.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wood is on top in guard.
Wood cracks Whitaker with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wood loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wood's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whitaker trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Whitaker is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wood is aware though and is defending well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitaker lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Wood!
Wood really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Whitaker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Whitaker controlling from mount.
Let's hope that Whitaker has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Wood keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wood is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Whitaker working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Wood tries to reverse the position but Whitaker maintains control.
Whitaker landing strikes, looking to finish!
Whitaker controlling from the full mount.
Whitaker avoids the attempt from Wood to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Whitaker takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Wood is looking to get to half guard.
Whitaker content just to control the position here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whitaker connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Lee Wood has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shane Whitaker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Whitaker controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shane Whitaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Whitaker 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shane Whitaker!