PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mao Zedong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). White has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! John White is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Zedong
vs
White

188 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
180 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mao Zedong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John White!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zedong doesn't succeed with the takedown

and White holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
White looks gassed!
Zedong is trying to force a seperation but White has the dominant position.
Zedong is trying to push White away but White has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
White is working Zedong over against the cage.
Zedong wants to break the clinch but can't.

Zedong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics White uses from the top position.
White trying to control but Zedong is working from the bottom.

White got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zedong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, White has managed to get both his arms back between Zedong's legs - danger averted.
Zedong controls White momentarily but White frees himself.
White trying to control the position from guard on top but Zedong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Zedong is looking for a triangle but White pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zedong wants to sweep here but White controlling him for the moment.
Zedong controls White momentarily but White frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zedong is really struggling to control White but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mao Zedong wasn't doing enough on the ground.
White misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zedong has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zedong fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mao Zedong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White keeps the fight on the outside.
Zedong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and White counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by White.
Zedong has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. White is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zedong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. White just stands there and leans against the cage.
Zedong is trying to break the clinch but White has him pressed against the cage.

White tightens his grip and picks Zedong up, before dumping him to the ground. Zedong manages to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zedong trying to control the position.
White trying to control but Zedong is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zedong is working an open guard so White takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zedong with a lazy takedown attempt

and White counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zedong won't be happy with that.
Zedong can't do much from the bottom here.
Zedong gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zedong trying to control from the bottom.
White scoring with strikes to the body and head.
White controlling the pace.

Zedong looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zedong trying to control here.
Zedong is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because White is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Zedong is trying to stand back up but White is controlling him
White really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zedong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
White tries to stand and escape but Zedong is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John White dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

White darts in and clinches Zedong up against the cage.
Zedong wants to break free but White has control.
Zedong is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Zedong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from White.
Zedong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Zedong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Zedong working hard to break the clinch.
White keeps control of Zedong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zedong stalling in the clinch but White improves position.
Zedong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zedong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zedong wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but White has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zedong wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Zedong is trying to maintain a safe position but White gets an underhook and turns Zedong into the cage.
Zedong misses with a knee to the head.
Zedong is trying to break the clinch but White has him pressed against the cage.
White keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Zedong's efforts to push away.
Zedong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zedong is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
White looking for a takedown.

Zedong gets control of White's arms and successfully pulls guard. Zedong will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
White throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Zedong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in White's guard.
White has control of Zedong's left arm, preventing Zedong from doing any damage.
White 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.
White wants to stand and escape but Zedong is having none of it.
White is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
White prevents Zedong from standing back up.
White performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

White is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zedong defends it well.

White stands up and beckons Zedong to join him on the feet.
Zedong shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and White counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by White.
White gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zedong.

White escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zedong misses with a takedown

and White counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mao Zedong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
White is staying tight to Zedong's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Zedong is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but White has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Zedong regains half guard.
White sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zedong defending well though.
Zedong trying to hold on to White's head to control him but White postures up.

White is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zedong defends it well.
John White has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zedong wants to control but White is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John White showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Zedong looks to clinch

and White counters with a nice double leg into guard.
White in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zedong looking to control.

White drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Zedong manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now White has Zedong in his guard.
Zedong wanted to stand there but White had control of the position.
Zedong wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
White not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White wants to sweep but no luck.
Zedong trying to control but White is working from the bottom.
White seems keen to control Zedong's posture.

Mao Zedong has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
White shoots for a double leg takedown but Zedong sprawls well. He's pushed White's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zedong shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and White counters with a three punch combo that has Zedong backing up. Zedong nods at White to acknowledge the strikes.
Zedong throws a leg kick that is checked

and White counters with a shoot takedown. Zedong fights it but they end up in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zedong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. White gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
White looking to sit in guard and control but Zedong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
White tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zedong tries to free his leg and advance position but White is retaining full guard.

White is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Zedong is aware though and is defending well.
Zedong stopping the sweep attempt from White.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now White is on top in guard.
Zedong trying to keep a closed guard but White is proving a slippery customer.

White stands and steps away. Zedong gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Zedong looks to score with a jab to the body but White is just out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zedong enables White to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zedong manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
White not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

White decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Zedong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and White counters with a nice double leg into guard.
White must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
White controls from within his opponent's guard.

Zedong is working an open guard so White takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

White instigates a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zedong wants to break the clinch but can't.
White avoiding damage.
Mao Zedong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John White is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zedong jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as White walks away with a smile on his face. Zedong gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
John White comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well White 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John White!