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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Whiteside (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McConnell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whiteside comes to the cage accompanied by Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare. McConnell has chosen Immortal Technique Point of no return as his entrance music. Conor McConnell will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.
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160 cm
27
148 lbs
11 - 12 - 1 |
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172 cm
24
144 lbs
9 - 9 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division. Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner. With a record of
11 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johnny Whiteside! And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner. With a record of
9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Conor McConnell! The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway! A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Whiteside. Despite the aggression on McConnell's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter. Whiteside drives through with a takedown into McConnell's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position. McConnell keeping moving, preventing Whiteside from controlling successfully. McConnell is looking to stand up but Whiteside isn't so interested in that idea. McConnell wants to sweep here but Whiteside controlling him for the moment. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Whiteside's corner is telling him to maintain position. Whiteside missing there with some ground and pound from the guard. Whiteside has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission. Whiteside throws a big right hand that misses.
That's one minute gone in the round. Whiteside with a flurry of punches that miss. Whiteside postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect. McConnell keeping moving, preventing Whiteside from controlling successfully. Whiteside controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity. Whiteside tries to clinch but McConnell is having none of it. McConnell feints the counter takedown. Whiteside closes this distance looking for a takedown but McConnell circles away. McConnell is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here. Whiteside shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it. That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Whiteside. That's going to take a lot out of him. Whiteside rushes McConnell and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch. Whiteside is trying to pull guard but McConnell turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch. Whiteside tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Whiteside manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back. McConnell postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Whiteside is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McConnell, into his guard.
Whiteside drops back looking for a leg! McConnell is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and McConnell manages to kick Whiteside off! Whiteside jumps back into McConnell's guard. Whiteside throws a big elbow that misses. Whiteside looking to sit in guard and control but McConnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
McConnell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Whiteside looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Whiteside looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Whiteside!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Whiteside tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though. Whiteside swings around for an armbar but McConnell sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Whiteside's guard. McConnell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard. McConnell drops back, looking for a kneebar! Whiteside looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Whiteside looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Whiteside! Whiteside throws a strike aimed at the side of McConnell's head but McConnell avoids it well.
That's four minutes gone in the round. Whiteside tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Whiteside has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought! McConnell stops Whiteside from passing to mount. Whiteside is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but McConnell is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now. McConnell is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Whiteside's leg. He's managed it. Nice work. The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing. The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. McConnell taking some punishment here, with Whiteside in his half guard. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Johnny Whiteside dominated that round. OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Whiteside tries for a takedown but McConnell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily. Whiteside fails with the takedown. McConnell is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here. Whiteside changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. McConnell looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better. Whiteside is trying to get an arm triangle but McConnell is defending well. Whiteside is looking to take a break and control but McConnell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. Whiteside is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, McConnell has escaped the position, nice work there.
That's one minute gone in the round. Whiteside wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McConnell, who protects the arm well. Whiteside throws a strike aimed at the side of McConnell's head but McConnell avoids it well. Whiteside in side control, throwing shots but McConnell defends. Whiteside trying to control the position but McConnell is working away. Whiteside throws an elbow but McConnell slips to the side and avoids it well. Whiteside decides to stand up, so the ref orders McConnell to his feet. Whiteside drives through with a takedown into guard. Whiteside might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
That's two minutes gone in the round. Whiteside looking to sit in guard and control but McConnell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Whiteside working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McConnell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McConnell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem. McConnell drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Whiteside dives on top into guard.
Whiteside is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McConnell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McConnell has escaped and now he's on top! Whiteside 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 three minutes gone in the round. McConnell pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whiteside is keeping the position for now. Whiteside has a closed guard, preventing McConnell from standing up. McConnell drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Whiteside manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McConnell has Whiteside in his guard. Whiteside wants to control from the top but McConnell keeps moving.
That's four minutes gone in the round. A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd. Whiteside is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McConnell can do to turn this around? Whiteside is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound. Johnny Whiteside overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far. McConnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whiteside. Whiteside drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but McConnell manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Whiteside has McConnell in his guard.
Whiteside is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over. McConnell trying to control but Whiteside is working from the bottom. And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Johnny Whiteside dominated that second round. The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!
Whiteside is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McConnell. Whiteside misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out. Whiteside shoots in and drives through. McConnell sprawls well. Whiteside tries to score a power double leg takedown but McConnell sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Whiteside somewhat. That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johnny Whiteside. That's going to take a lot out of him. Whiteside fails with the takedown. We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up. McConnell shoots in for a takedown but Whiteside shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet. Whiteside was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit. Whiteside closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Whiteside lands in his opponent's guard. McConnell wants to get back to his feet but Whiteside is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
That's one minute gone in the round. McConnell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whiteside. Whiteside thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position. Whiteside missing there with some ground and pound from the guard. Whiteside postures up and lands some nice ground and pound. Whiteside won't allow McConnell to get back to his feet. McConnell is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage. Conor McConnell has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round. Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it. McConnell keeping moving, preventing Whiteside from controlling successfully. If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet. Whiteside fails miserably with a takedown attempt. Conor McConnell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things. Whiteside manages to get an easy takedown there - catching McConnell on his heels. He'll look to pass McConnell's guard now, I'm sure. Whiteside wants to control from the top but McConnell keeps moving. McConnell had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Whiteside defends it easily.
That's three minutes gone in the round. Whiteside is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! McConnell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! McConnell has escaped and now he's on top!
Whiteside working for a triangle but McConnell defends it easily.
Whiteside utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound. McConnell looking to pass the guard. McConnell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
That's four minutes gone in the round. The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena. Whiteside is trying to keep McConnell in close.
McConnell has gone for a leg lock! Whiteside slips out almost immediately though and dives into McConnell's guard.
Johnny Whiteside is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach. Whiteside trying to control but McConnell is working from the bottom. Whiteside not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up. Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out! McConnell is looking to stand up but Whiteside isn't so interested in that idea.
And that's the end of the fight! Johnny Whiteside showed his dominance in that final round. Well I reckon that's a shut out for Whiteside, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27 Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27 Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Whiteside! Johnny Whiteside opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.
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S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
28% |
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