PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Diggler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Whitehope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Diggler kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is YO GOTTI - SOMEBODY WATCHIN ME. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Diggler
vs
Whitehope

186 cm
35
185 lbs
34 - 18 - 0

179 cm
26
184 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

SP Ultimate Nutrition
GREEN!160

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 34 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dirk Diggler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Whitehope!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diggler walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Whitehope tries to score a power double leg takedown but Diggler sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whitehope somewhat.

Whitehope gets a double leg takedown into Diggler's guard.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.
Whitehope in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diggler has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Whitehope looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Diggler preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Whitehope in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope throws a big right hand that misses.
Diggler is pulling down on Whitehope's head to control his posture.
Diggler is trying to control the position but Whitehope postures up.
Whitehope landing some decent shots from guard.
Whitehope trying to control the position from guard on top but Diggler is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Diggler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Whitehope postures up in Diggler's guard and throws a big left but Diggler blocks it.
Diggler is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Whitehope works over Diggler with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whitehope is in close to Diggler's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Whitehope postures up in Diggler's guard and throws a big left but Diggler blocks it.
Diggler controls Whitehope momentarily but Whitehope frees himself.
Whitehope is looking to work some ground and pound but Diggler has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehope throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Diggler works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Whitehope drops back looking for a leg! Diggler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diggler manages to kick Whitehope off! Whitehope jumps back into Diggler's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope passes into half guard.

Whitehope is looking for a kimura here.
Diggler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Whitehope.

Diggler is defending against the submission attempts here by Whitehope.
Whitehope thows a huge punch but Diggler dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Whitehope looking for a submission but Diggler manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Whitehope tries to free his leg and advance position but Diggler is retaining full guard.
Whitehope throws a big right hand that misses.
Whitehope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.
Whitehope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitehope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Whitehope scoring with some ground and pound.
Whitehope postures up in Diggler's guard and throws a big left but Diggler blocks it.
Whitehope in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Whitehope blocks a low kick nicely.
An inside leg kick lands from Whitehope.
Dirk Diggler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Diggler lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whitehope circles away quickly and effectively.
Whitehope goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Jab from Diggler.
Diggler avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Diggler throwing a counter right hand but Whitehope manages to avoid it.
Whitehope has his takedown stuffed
and Diggler counters with a nice low kick that buckles Whitehope's knee momentarily.

Whitehope dives in and scores a takedown into Diggler's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whitehope's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whitehope with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitehope postures up.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.
Whitehope has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Diggler is trying to control the position but Whitehope postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Diggler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.
Diggler controlling the position.
Diggler keeping full guard, as Whitehope tries to pass.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Whitehope wants to clinch but Diggler slips to the side
and Diggler counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Whitehope looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whitehope misses with a takedown
letting Diggler counter with a right hand.
Dirk Diggler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Whitehope.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Diggler as he avoids it easily.

Whitehope looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Whitehope thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Diggler's head.
Diggler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Whitehope.
Whitehope thows a huge punch but Diggler dodges it nicely.
Diggler keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Diggler tries to get to full guard but Whitehope has control of the leg.
Whitehope lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Whitehope is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Diggler sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Diggler avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Whitehope.
Diggler is trying to control but can't.
Whitehope sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Diggler defending well though.
Diggler has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Diggler avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Whitehope.
Whitehope tries to pass the half guard into mount. Diggler knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Diggler to regain full guard.
Whitehope stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Diggler swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Whitehope works over Diggler with some ground and pound from guard.
Diggler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Whitehope with a flurry of punches that miss.
Whitehope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Diggler takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Whitehope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Diggler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Diggler went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Whitehope tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Diggler swivels and escapes.
Diggler throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Whitehope sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Whitehope tries to clinch up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Whitehope clinches up against the cage.

Whitehope is trying to trip Diggler. He has hold of a leg but Diggler is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Whitehope persists though and gets the takedown into guard.

Whitehope drops back looking for a leg! Diggler is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Diggler manages to kick Whitehope off! Whitehope jumps back into Diggler's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Whitehope showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Whitehope changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Diggler tries to avoid it but Whitehope manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Diggler to the ground. Diggler escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Whitehope is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Diggler throws a quick counter head kick but Whitehope was just out of range.
Whitehope misses with a right hand
and Diggler counters with an outside leg kick.
Diggler lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Whitehope shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Diggler sprawls well. Diggler wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Whitehope gets slowly back to his feet.
Mark Whitehope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whitehope fails with the takedown
and Diggler counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dirk Diggler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Whitehope.
Diggler swats away the attempt to clinch by Whitehope.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehope lands a jab.
Whitehope shoots in but no luck this time.
Whitehope darts in trying to clinch
and Diggler counters with a nice low kick that buckles Whitehope's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diggler buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Diggler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diggler moves away from the strike by Whitehope.

Whitehope has Diggler up against the cage in a clinch.

Whitehope breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Diggler.
Whitehope has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Diggler tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Diggler misses with the combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Whitehope.

Whitehope bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Whitehope throws a strike aimed at the side of Diggler's head but Diggler avoids it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diggler struggling a bit here.
Diggler tries to bench press Whitehope off him but Whitehope keeps the position.
Whitehope in side control, throwing shots but Diggler defends.
Diggler struggling a bit here.
Whitehope throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Whitehope scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Diggler to see if he's OK.
Whitehope misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope working the head and body with strikes.
Whitehope scoring with punches from side control.
Whitehope wants to lay and pray for a moment but Diggler keeps working.

Whitehope is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Diggler has escaped the position, nice work there.
Diggler wants to control but Whitehope postures up.

Whitehope tries for a kimura but Diggler is defending well.
Whitehope scores with a couple of short elbows.
Dirk Diggler has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diggler is looking to reverse the position.
Diggler wants to control but Whitehope postures up.
Whitehope landing a few strikes.
Whitehope in side control, throwing shots but Diggler defends.
Whitehope throws a strike aimed at the side of Diggler's head but Diggler avoids it well.
Mark Whitehope is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
You can see the frustration on Diggler's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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

Whitehope looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Diggler passes into half guard.

Whitehope actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Whitehope.
I've got Whitehope winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Whitehope!
Mark Whitehope was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.