PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary Whittaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sven Svensson (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.

Whittaker
vs
Svensson

180 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 Montreal, Gary Whittaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sven Svensson!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whittaker fails in his attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Whittaker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Whittaker tries to clinch up but Svensson circles away and keeps his distance.
Svensson tries to clinch but Whittaker moves out of range.
Whittaker is looking to clinch.
Svensson tries to clinch there but Whittaker circles away.
Whittaker just misses with a punch to the body.
Whittaker bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Whittaker takes a swing at Svensson's ribcage but misses.

Whittaker takes the fight into the clinch.
Whittaker stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Whittaker lands an elbow just above Svensson 's eye.
Whittaker has had enough of the clinch but Svensson keeps him there for the moment.
Svensson taking a breather.
Svensson tries to stall but Whittaker uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.
Svensson keeps control of Whittaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Svensson lands a nice knee to the body.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Svensson throws an elbow but misses.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Svensson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whittaker closes the distance but Svensson moves to the side
and Svensson counters with a solid body kick.
Svensson avoids the head kick by Whittaker.
A head kick by Whittaker misses
and Svensson counters with a nice low kick that buckles Whittaker's knee momentarily.
Whittaker doesn't manage to clinch there - Svensson circles away.
Svensson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Whittaker throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Svensson counters with a low kick, right behind Whittaker 's knee.
Whittaker tries to clinch up but Svensson circles away and keeps his distance.
Svensson throws a one two combo.
Nice body kick there by Svensson.
Svensson is looking to clinch but Whittaker is avoiding it.
Whittaker scores with a kick to the midsection.
Svensson looks gassed!

Whittaker closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svensson lands a nice knee to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Whittaker.
Svensson is trying to stall.
Whittaker misses with a knee strike.
Whittaker stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Knees to the body from Whittaker.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.
Whittaker managing to block the knees to the body from Svensson.
Svensson controlling the action here for a moment.
Whittaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Svensson won't allow it.
Whittaker is trying to break free.
Whittaker missing with knees to the body.
Whittaker throws an elbow that misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Svensson.
Knees to the body from Svensson.
Whittaker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Svensson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Svensson wants to stall.
The is referee keeping an eye on Whittaker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Svensson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The referee calls for Svensson to work.
Svensson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whittaker's face.
Svensson trying to stall but Whittaker improves his position.
Svensson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Whittaker is trying to stall.
Svensson wants to stall.
Svensson lands a damaging elbow.
Whittaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Whittaker is keeping busy.
Svensson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whittaker's face.
Knees to the body from Svensson.
Svensson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Whittaker throws an elbow but misses.
Svensson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Svensson lands a knee to the body.
Svensson stalling in the clinch but Whittaker improves position.
Svensson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whittaker's face.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Whittaker stalling in the clinch but Svensson improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson lands a nice knee to the body.
Svensson lands an elbow inside that Whittaker shrugs off.
Svensson controlling the action here for a moment.
Svensson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Svensson landing knees to the head.
Svensson lands a nice elbow.
Svensson stalling against the cage.
Whittaker takes an elbow to the temple.
Svensson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Whittaker takes a knee right on the jaw!
Svensson is trying to stall.
Svensson lands a knee to the body.
Whittaker holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Svensson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Whittaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Whittaker misses with a combination
and Svensson counters with a nice body kick.
Whittaker wants to clinch
and Svensson counters with a nice body kick.
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 Gary Whittaker will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Whittaker fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Svensson, pushing him back against the cage.
Svensson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Whittaker.
Whittaker avoiding damage.
Svensson trying to land knees to the body.
Whittaker works on Svensson's body with a couple of short punches.
Whittaker pressing his opponent against the cage.
Svensson is trying to stall.
Svensson keeps control of Whittaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Whittaker wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Svensson has him pressed against the cage.
Whittaker has had enough of the clinch but Svensson keeps him there for the moment.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whittaker moves in looking to clinch but Svensson pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Svensson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Svensson is breathing heavily.
Svensson misses with a kick to the body

and Whittaker counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Whittaker.
Whittaker wants to break the clinch but can't.
Knees to the body from Svensson.

Whittaker breaks the clinch.
Whittaker throws a sloppy head kick
and Svensson counters with a leg kick.
Whittaker moves in looking to clinch but Svensson pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svensson looks to clinch
and Whittaker counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Whittaker tries to clinch up.
Svensson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Whittaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Whittaker manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker misses with a body shot.

Whittaker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Svensson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Whittaker has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Whittaker takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Svensson managing to block the knees to the body from Whittaker.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Whittaker throws a sloppy head kick and Svensson moves out of range easily.
Svensson circles away from the clinch attempt.

Whittaker gets a clinch.
Whittaker is trying to break free.
Whittaker is trying to stall.
Svensson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Svensson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Whittaker is stalling here.

Whittaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No joy there for Whittaker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Whittaker tries to clinch there but Svensson circles away.
Svensson lands the left hand.
Whittaker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Whittaker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Whittaker tries to bum rush Svensson with a series of wild strikes but Svensson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Svensson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Svensson counters with an inside leg kick.
Whittaker takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Svensson lands a front kick.

Svensson takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whittaker breaks from the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Svensson.

Svensson drives through and clinches with Whittaker against the cage.
Svensson lands a knee to the body.
With the fighters up against the cage, Svensson throws an elbow but misses.
Whittaker trying to land knees to the body.
Svensson prevents Whittaker from breaking the clinch.
Whittaker looking to stall.
Svensson just leaning against Whittaker, taking a breather.
Svensson looking to slow down the pace here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Whittaker.
Svensson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Svensson lands an elbow that stopped Whittaker in his tracks for a moment.
A short right from Whittaker.
Whittaker tries for a takedown. No joy.
Whittaker misses with an elbow strike.
Whittaker tries a knee to the head but Svensson blocks it.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker leaning against his opponent.
Svensson prevents Whittaker from breaking the clinch.
Svensson is trying to stall.
Whittaker is trying to stall.
Whittaker wants to break the clinch but can't.
A knee to the head by Svensson.
Whittaker can't break the clinch.
Whittaker will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The is referee keeping an eye on Whittaker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Whittaker stalling in the clinch but Svensson improves position.
Whittaker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Whittaker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Svensson.
Whittaker is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Svensson is keeping busy.
A short left from Whittaker.
Svensson keeps control of Whittaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Svensson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Whittaker's face.
Whittaker takes an elbow to the temple.
Svensson crunches a lovely knee into Whittaker's ribcage.
Whittaker is trying to break free.
Whittaker takes a knee right on the jaw!
Svensson lands an elbow inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gary Whittaker will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A low kick from Whittaker is predictable there
and Svensson counters with a straight right hand.
Svensson doesn't manage to clinch there - Whittaker circles away.
Svensson lands a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Whittaker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Whittaker tries for a takedown but Svensson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whittaker misses with a combination
and Svensson counters with a nice body kick.
Whittaker with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Whittaker darts in trying to clinch
and Svensson counters with a thumping low kick.
Whittaker sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Svensson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Svensson tries to clinch
and Whittaker makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Whittaker swats away the attempt to clinch by Svensson.
Svensson moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker throws a head kick that misses
and Svensson counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Whittaker tries to clinch up but Svensson circles away and keeps his distance.

Svensson clinches.
Svensson looking to slow down the pace here.
Svensson scores a nice knee to the body.
Svensson lands a nice knee to the body.
Svensson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Svensson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whittaker takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Svensson buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Svensson blocks a head kick by Whittaker.
Whittaker circles away from the clinch attempt.

Whittaker clinches.
Svensson keeps control of Whittaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whittaker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Svensson pinned against the cage. Svensson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker is looking to clinch.

Whittaker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Whittaker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whittaker throws a lazy head kick
and Svensson counters with a nice leg kick.

Whittaker takes the fight into the clinch.
Svensson missing with knees to the body.
Whittaker working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Whittaker breaks the clinch.
Whittaker is looking to clinch but Svensson is avoiding it.

Whittaker rushes Svensson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Whittaker is keeping busy.
Whittaker lands a body shot.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Whittaker wants to stall.
Svensson tries to land a knee to the head but Whittaker blocks with his arms.
Whittaker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Whittaker wants to break the clinch but can't.

Whittaker manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker is looking to land body kicks.
Whittaker wants to clinch up but Svensson keeps it at a distance.
Whittaker throws a quick inside leg kick.
Svensson keeps the fight on the outside.
Svensson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Svensson wants to clinch
and Whittaker counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Svensson thinking.
Whittaker is looking to clinch but Svensson is avoiding it.
Svensson connects with a solid leg kick.
Whittaker circles away from the clinch attempt.

Svensson takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svensson tries to stall but Whittaker uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Whittaker using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Svensson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Svensson lands an elbow inside that Whittaker shrugs off.
Knees to the body from Svensson.
Svensson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Svensson lands a damaging elbow.
Whittaker takes a knee right on the jaw!
Svensson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The is referee keeping an eye on Svensson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Svensson is trying to stall.
Svensson using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Svensson.
Sven Svensson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knees to the body from Svensson.
Whittaker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Svensson backwards.
Svensson tries a knee to the head but Whittaker blocks it.
Svensson lands a nice knee to the body.
Svensson on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Whittaker content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Sven Svensson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Whittaker is trying to break free.
Whittaker is trying to break free.
Whittaker wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Svensson missing with knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Sven Svensson.
I think Whittaker 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Whittaker!