PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Joel Whitehead (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Howard Lang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Whitehead
vs
Lang

162 cm
20
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joel Whitehead!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Howard Lang!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitehead blocks a head kick by Lang.
Lang throws a sloppy head kick
and Whitehead counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lang thinking.
Lang looks to land a combination but Whitehead avoids it well.
Whitehead misses with a series of wild punches.
Lang goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lang throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Lang throws a sloppy head kick

and Whitehead moves into the clinch.
Whitehead taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lang lands a hook to the side of the head.

Whitehead jumps guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Lang being controlled here momentarily.
Whitehead looking to control.
Whitehead 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lang drops back, looking for a kneebar! Whitehead looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Whitehead looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Whitehead!
Lang is trying to control Whitehead's posture but Whitehead avoids it.
Lang tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Whitehead wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Whitehead content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Whitehead wants to control for a moment but Lang uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Lang is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead controlling the action here.
Lang is staying active underneath Whitehead, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lang is trying to get back to full guard.
Lang is concentrating on defense, preventing Whitehead from advancing position.

Whitehead postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Lang to stand up.
Lang pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lang fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Whitehead.
Whitehead misses with an attempted mid kick.
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!
Lang throws a right hand that Whitehead ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitehead also avoids with ease.

Whitehead looking to score a takedown here. Lang is defending well but Whitehead drives through and ends up in Lang's guard.
Whitehead wants to control from the top but Lang keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lang dives on top into guard.
Whitehead is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Whitehead utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lang not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Whitehead working for submissions but it's allowed Lang to get to half guard.
Lang sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead is refusing to be controlled, as Lang sits in half guard.
Whitehead is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lang thows a huge punch but Whitehead dodges it nicely.
Whitehead trying to hold on to Lang's head to control him but Lang postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lang stalling.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Lang seems to be working for a kimura but Whitehead defends the submission attempt.
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 Joel Whitehead will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Whitehead tries to land a leg kick but Lang saw it coming and moves away.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Lang as he avoids it easily.
Lang throws a right hand that Whitehead ducks under and follows up with a left that Whitehead also avoids with ease.
Lang with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Lang connects with a right hand. Whitehead shakes it off.

Whitehead changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Lang looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Lang is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Whitehead has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice cross by Lang.
Joel Whitehead is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lang connects with the punch.
Sloppy strikes from Lang. Those never looked like landing.
Lang scores with a three punch combo!
Whitehead shoots for a double leg takedown but Lang sprawls well. He's pushed Whitehead's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lang fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Whitehead has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Lang fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Lang is breathing heavily.
Whitehead shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lang as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joel Whitehead. That's going to take a lot out of him.
That kick from Lang tenderised Whitehead's leg. Whitehead is trying to keep his angry face on.
Whitehead tries to clinch up.
Lang thows a body kick. Whitehead tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Whitehead shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Lang napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lang tries to bench press Whitehead off him but Whitehead keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead controlling the position from side mount.
Whitehead trying to control the action but Lang is working from the bottom.
Whitehead working away.
Lang tries to improve position but can't.
Lang can't do much from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehead working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lang is looking for a sweep.
Lang is trying to work for a sweep but Whitehead has mounted him!
Whitehead tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Lang is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Whitehead landing punches.

Whitehead is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Lang to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Lang shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lang is trying to escape the mount.
Whitehead working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Whitehead avoids the attempt from Lang to control.
Whitehead fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Whitehead can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lang is looking to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lang sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lang has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whitehead is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Howard Lang will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Whitehead fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lang sprawls well initially but Whitehead persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Lang looks like he's trying to stand up.
Whitehead frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Lang has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
A lull in the action here.
Whitehead controls the action.
Whitehead trying to control momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lang tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Whitehead trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Whitehead is working for a guillotine from mount but Lang frees his head quite easily.
Lang tries to improve his position but instead Whitehead has taken his back!
Lang takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lang is in bad spot here.
Whitehead struggling to keep hold of the position.
Lang breaks Whitehead's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Whitehead throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Lang escapes and throws Whitehead's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lang wants to control but Whitehead is keeping him busy.
Whitehead is trying to control Lang's posture but Lang avoids it.
Whitehead sneaks back into half guard.
Whitehead is trying to maintain the position but Lang is very close to passing his half guard.
Whitehead keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Whitehead wants to control but Lang is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lang thows a huge punch but Whitehead dodges it nicely.
Whitehead blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lang.
Lang thows a huge punch but Whitehead dodges it nicely.
Whitehead works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lang wants to control from the top but Whitehead keeps moving.
Whitehead working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lang.
Lang throws a big elbow that misses.
Whitehead might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lang trying to control but Whitehead is working from the bottom.
Whitehead wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehead can't keep his opponent in guard - Lang advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Whitehead is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lang's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lang's back!
Whitehead doesn't have the hooks in and Lang manages to turn into his guard.
Whitehead manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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!
Lang squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Whitehead working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Lang really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joel Whitehead showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Whitehead 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joel Whitehead!