PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Phelan Whelan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Whelan
vs
Jackson

177 cm
22
179 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

171 cm
21
173 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Improved boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phelan Whelan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anton Jackson!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Eddie Farnsworth and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jackson gets the takedown into side control.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Whelan has escaped the position, nice work there.

Jackson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Whelan, who protects the arm well.

Jackson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Whelan has escaped the position, nice work there.

Jackson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Jackson looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson swings around for an armbar but Whelan sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jackson's guard.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Whelan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whelan content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whelan wants to get up but he can't break Jackson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Whelan advances to half guard.

Jackson actively working from the bottom here.
Jackson tries to get to full guard but Whelan has control of the leg.
Whelan wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Horrible takedown by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Whelan which made him look bad.
Whelan lands with a shot to the body.
Anton Jackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whelan wants to clinch up but Jackson keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Whelan throws a combination. Jackson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Whelan ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Whelan works Jackson's body with a nice hook.
Jackson shoots in but no luck this time.
Phelan Whelan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Jackson.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt - Whelan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Whelan stuns Jackson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Whelan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jackson looks for a takedown but Whelan sprawls well.
Whelan lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Whelan lands with a hook. Jackson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
Whelan fails with an attempt to clinch.
A combination from Whelan does no damage.
Jackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Whelan circles away.
Horrible takedown by Jackson or perhaps it was just good defense by Whelan which made him look bad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jackson fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Jackson.
Whelan connects with a body shot.
Jackson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whelan pinned against the cage. Whelan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Whelan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Jackson looking for a takedown.
Whelan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Jackson tries to score a body lock takedown but Whelan shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Whelan can't get the takedown.
Whelan prevents a takedown attempt there.

Jackson has Whelan pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Jackson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Whelan tumbling to the mat - Jackson dives into Whelan's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jackson pushes down on Whelan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phelan Whelan dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A head kick misses from Whelan.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but Whelan shows good takedown defense.
Jackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Whelan sprawls well. He's pushed Jackson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Jackson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Jackson tries to free his leg and advance position but Whelan is retaining full guard.
Whelan can't keep his opponent in guard - Jackson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Jackson is working for an americana but Whelan has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Jackson was thinking about the submission.

Jackson has gone for a leg lock! Whelan slips out almost immediately though and dives into Jackson's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jackson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Jackson working for a triangle but Whelan defends it easily.

Jackson looking for a guillotine here but Whelan defends easily.
Whelan working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Whelan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Jackson is proving hard to escape from.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Whelan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Jackson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whelan doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whelan manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whelan tries to stand but Jackson is controlling from the bottom.
Jackson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is working for a submission of some sort.

Jackson is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whelan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Jackson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Whelan is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Jackson, into his guard.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Whelan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

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.
Whelan preventing the sweep.

Jackson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Whelan passes into half guard.
Jackson tries to get to full guard but Whelan has control of the leg.
Jackson works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Jackson 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! This is the final round!

Jackson shoots in for a double leg but Whelan sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jackson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whelan tries to avoid it but Jackson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whelan to the ground. Whelan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Whelan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Jackson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Whelan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Jackson pinned against the cage. Jackson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Whelan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jackson circles away.
Jackson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Phelan Whelan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Jackson.
Jackson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Whelan's waist but Whelan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jackson off to one side.
Phelan Whelan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whelan fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jackson misses with a takedown attempt - Whelan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jackson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whelan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jackson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Whelan counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jackson shoots in but Whelan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Whelan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Jackson misses with a takedown
enabling Whelan to counter with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whelan slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Whelan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Jackson fails with the takedown
and Whelan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jackson thinking.

Whelan feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Jackson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Whelan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.

Whelan avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Whelan is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Jackson Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Whelan's back instead.
Whelan has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Whelan is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

Jackson looking to break Whelan's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Whelan remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Jackson will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Jackson looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jackson has got his arm under Whelan's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Whelan has spun round into Jackson's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Jackson wants to hit a switch here but Whelan passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Jackson there!
Jackson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whelan can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Jackson is looking to escape.
Jackson is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phelan Whelan showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Whelan has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Phelan Whelan!
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight for Phelan Whelan!
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight for Phelan Whelan!

Phelan Whelan wins by unanimous decision!