PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roy Whitaker (ranked 144 p4p, 21 weight class) and Gideon Navarro (ranked 238 p4p, 36 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Whitaker
vs
Navarro

177 cm
21
175 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

181 cm
22
182 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Whitaker !
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gideon Navarro!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Topper Green and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice straight punches there by Navarro. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Navarro.
Navarro wants to slow Whitaker down by chopping away at his legs.
Whitaker swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Navarro tries to close the distance and clinch up but Whitaker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Navarro missing with a left hand there. Whitaker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Whitaker misses the shot to the body.
Navarro tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Navarro takes a swing at Whitaker 's ribcage but misses.
A chopping leg kick lands by Navarro.
Gideon Navarro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whitaker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Whitaker throws a jab but it's blocked by Navarro.
Navarro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Whitaker .
Navarro fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Navarro misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Navarro closes the distance but Whitaker moves to the side
and Whitaker counters with a straight right hand.

Navarro drives through and clinches with Whitaker against the cage.
Navarro keeps control of Whitaker as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Whitaker 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Navarro connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Whitaker momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Navarro gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker lands a hook that snaps the head of Navarro backwards.

Whitaker breaks from the clinch.

Navarro closes the distance and clinches.
Whitaker lands a hook that snaps the head of Navarro backwards.

Whitaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Navarro clinches.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
Whitaker has had enough of the clinch but Navarro keeps him there for the moment.
Navarro lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
Whitaker tries to circle away but Navarro has him pinned against the cage.
Navarro presses Whitaker against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Navarro.
Navarro swings wildly with an uppercut but Whitaker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Navarro misses with some punches.
Whitaker slowing the pace effectively.
Navarro misses with some punches.
Navarro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
Navarro misses with a punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Navarro lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Navarro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Navarro misses with a hook to the ribs.

Whitaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Navarro moves out of range as Whitaker strikes.
Navarro throws a jab when Whitaker was well out of range.
Whitaker misses with an uppercut.
Navarro moves into range and connects with a jab.
Whitaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Navarro moves away.
Navarro gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Whitaker .
Navarro connects with a right hand. Whitaker shakes it off.
A shot to the liver by Navarro. Beautiful body shot.
Whitaker fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Navarro manages to avoid it.
Navarro scores with a hook.
Whitaker on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Whitaker moves forwards but Navarro connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Whitaker is rocked!
Whitaker 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Navarro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Whitaker scrambles back to his feet.
Oh Whitaker is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Whitaker fails to land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A quick step to the side and Whitaker tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Navarro blocks a jab.
Whitaker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Navarro sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Navarro moves into the clinch successfully.
Whitaker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Whitaker seems to have got his legs back now.
Navarro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Navarro lands a body punch.
Navarro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.
Whitaker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Navarro pushes Whitaker back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Whitaker struggles to land a body shot inside as Navarro controls his hands.
Whitaker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Navarro backwards.
Navarro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Whitaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Navarro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
Whitaker blocks a body shot from Navarro.
Navarro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Navarro working aggressively here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A head punch on the inside from Navarro fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Navarro blocking some punches.
I was talking to Whitaker 's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Whitaker blocking some punches.
Navarro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Whitaker smiles and moves away.
Navarro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Navarro defending well as Whitaker loads up on a big left hand.
Whitaker uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Whitaker throws a hook to the side of Navarro's head but Navarro sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Navarro closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Whitaker to counter with a crisp jab.
Navarro fails with an attempt to clinch.
Whitaker throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Navarro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Navarro moves to clinch but Whitaker breaks away
enabling Whitaker to counter with a crisp jab.
Navarro scores with a nice strike.
Navarro is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Whitaker had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Navarro ducks under a wild hook from Whitaker .
Navarro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Navarro fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Navarro misses the jab.
Whitaker throws a shot from downtown. Navarro moves away and avoids it.
Navarro scores with a punch to the head.
Navarro takes one on the button.
Whitaker lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Navarro takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Whitaker ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Navarro fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Whitaker , pushing him back against the cage.
Navarro working aggressively here.
Gideon Navarro seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Whitaker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Navarro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Navarro misses with a punch on the inside.
Navarro lands a hook to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whitaker stalling in the clinch but Navarro improves position.
Navarro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whitaker blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Whitaker misses with a body punch.
Whitaker blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker trying to stall but Navarro improves his position.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Navarro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Whitaker .
Navarro keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Whitaker 's efforts to push away.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
Whitaker just leaning against Navarro, taking a breather.
Navarro jumps guard but Whitaker stands there with Navarro around his waist. Navarro gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Whitaker swings wildly with an uppercut but Navarro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Navarro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
Whitaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Navarro prevents Whitaker from breaking the clinch.

Whitaker breaks the clinch.

Navarro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Navarro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Navarro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Whitaker backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Whitaker lands a body punch in the clinch.
Navarro can't find room to land a body shot as Whitaker controls the action.

Navarro successfully pulls guard.
Navarro has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Whitaker trying to stand up but can't free himself from Navarro's guard.
Navarro is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Whitaker being controlled here momentarily.
Whitaker postures up.

Navarro has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Whitaker is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Navarro.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
You can see the frustration on Navarro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Navarro sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Whitaker wants to stand up but Navarro has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Navarro looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Navarro is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Whitaker decides to return to a standing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Navarro slips under a jab from Whitaker .
Navarro uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whitaker .
Navarro misses with an uppercut.
Whitaker dodges the punch combination from Navarro.
Whitaker scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Navarro wants to clinch.
Whitaker cracks Navarro with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Whitaker moves out of range of the strikes.
Navarro tries to clinch up.
Whitaker misses with a few strikes there.
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 Roy Whitaker will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Whitaker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Navarro.
Navarro swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Whitaker digs a good body shot into Navarro's ribs.
Whitaker lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Navarro moves in looking to clinch but Whitaker pushes him off.
Navarro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Navarro cracks Whitaker with an open hand slap.
Navarro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whitaker moves away.
Whitaker has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Navarro.
Whitaker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Navarro.
Whitaker throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Whitaker throws a hook but Navarro avoids it easily.
Navarro tries to clinch up.
Navarro connects with a jab.
Navarro tries to clinch but Whitaker moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A good leg kick by Navarro.
Navarro is looking to clinch but Whitaker is avoiding it.
Whitaker ducks right into an uppercut from Navarro.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro wants to clinch up but Whitaker keeps it at a distance.
Whitaker connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Navarro momentarily.
Navarro misses with a straight right.
It looked like Whitaker wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Whitaker throws a jab but it's blocked by Navarro.
Decent striking displayed by Whitaker there.

Navarro rushes Whitaker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Whitaker 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Whitaker 's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Navarro connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Whitaker scrambles back to his feet.
Navarro uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whitaker .
A telegraphed right hand from Whitaker misses the target.
Whitaker swings for the body but Navarro moves out of range.
Navarro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little feinted left hand from Whitaker on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Navarro misses with a body shot
enabling Whitaker to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Whitaker . Navarro does a little dance to reset his feet.
Navarro wants to clinch up but Whitaker keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Navarro there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Whitaker throws a jab but it's blocked by Navarro.
Whitaker takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Navarro with a jab.
Whitaker shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Navarro eats them both and turns towards Whitaker to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Whitaker fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Navarro is rocked!
Whitaker misses the shot to the body.
Navarro is still on wobbly legs! Can Whitaker finish him?
Whitaker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Navarro seems to have recovered his senses.
Whitaker thows a left - swing and a miss!

Navarro pushes Whitaker up against the cage in a clinch.
Whitaker misses with a punch on the inside.

Whitaker manages to break the clinch.
Whitaker walks into a left hand.
Whitaker misses with an uppercut. Navarro saw that one coming.
Whitaker takes one to the chin there.

Navarro has closed the distance and engaged Whitaker in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker taking a breather.
Still in the clinch, Navarro scores with a nice short uppercut.
Whitaker blocks an uppercut.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
Whitaker blocks an uppercut.
Navarro tries to throw a body punch but Whitaker avoids it by throwing Navarro back against the cage.
Navarro misses with the head strike.
Whitaker blocks a body shot from Navarro.
Navarro misses with a body punch.
Navarro misses with a punch to the body.
Navarro tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Whitaker smiles and moves away.
A swing and a miss from Whitaker .

Navarro moves into range and clinches up with Whitaker .
A hook to the body from Whitaker .
Whitaker lands a body punch.
Navarro can't find room to land a body shot as Whitaker controls the action.
A nice left hand lands by Navarro.
Navarro throws a punch but it's blocked by Whitaker .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Navarro lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Whitaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Navarro clinches up with Whitaker and pushes him back against the cage.
Navarro lands with a light punch inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitaker tries to throw a body punch but Navarro avoids it by throwing Whitaker back against the cage.

Whitaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Navarro throws a series of punches but Whitaker avoids them all with ease.
An attempted straight right counter from Whitaker misses the target.
Navarro ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Whitaker needs to keep his hands up - Navarro had a free shot at his head there.
Navarro tries to clinch but Whitaker is having none of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Navarro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Navarro connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Navarro lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Navarro wants to clinch up but Whitaker keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gideon Navarro really dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Whitaker throws a shot from downtown. Navarro moves away and avoids it.
Navarro throws a leg kick which misses Whitaker 's front leg but catches the back leg as Whitaker tries to avoid it.
Whitaker throws a hook but Navarro avoids it easily.
Navarro slips a jab and a cross from Whitaker .
Whitaker throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Navarro ducks under a wild hook from Whitaker .
Whitaker takes a swing at Navarro's ribcage but misses.
A good leg kick by Navarro.
Navarro lands with a thumping leg kick.
Whitaker with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Roy Whitaker is winning the standup battle so far.
Whitaker chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Navarro can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker misses with a wild body shot.

Navarro takes the fight into the clinch.
Navarro has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Whitaker seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Navarro can turn it around.
Navarro lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
Navarro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Navarro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whitaker stalling the fight.
Whitaker throws a punch but it's blocked by Navarro.
Whitaker prevents a body shot from Navarro.
Navarro lands a left hand.
Navarro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Whitaker 's elbow.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
A right hook to the body lands for Whitaker .
Whitaker throws a head punch that misses.
Navarro misses with the head strike.
Navarro lands a hook to the side of the head.
Whitaker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Whitaker lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Whitaker throws a head punch that misses.
Navarro misses with a punch on the inside.
Navarro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Whitaker stalling in the clinch but Navarro improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Navarro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right from Navarro.
A nice left hand lands by Whitaker .
Navarro misses with a punch on the inside.
Navarro lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Whitaker takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Whitaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Navarro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Whitaker .
Whitaker misses with the combination.
Whitaker looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Navarro moves out of range of the strikes.
Whitaker misses with an uppercut. Navarro saw that one coming.
Whitaker swinging wildly here.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Navarro closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker blocking some punches.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Whitaker .
Navarro throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Navarro.
Whitaker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Whitaker throws a punch but it's blocked by Navarro.
Whitaker works on Navarro's body with a couple of short punches.
Whitaker tries to throw a body punch but Navarro avoids it by throwing Whitaker back against the cage.

Whitaker breaks from the clinch.

Navarro moves into the clinch.
Navarro throws a punch but it's blocked by Whitaker .
Whitaker content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Whitaker stalling in the clinch but Navarro improves position.
A shot in the inside from Navarro.
Navarro working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Navarro makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Navarro swings wildly with an uppercut but Whitaker uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Navarro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Navarro blocks an uppercut.
Whitaker is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Navarro tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Whitaker just stands there and leans against the cage.
Whitaker is trying to stall.
Whitaker has Navarro pushed against the cage.

Whitaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice jab there from Navarro.
Whitaker gets caught by a brutal right hook which buckles his knees! Whitaker tries to backpedal with his spaghettilegs but Navarro is headhunting and goes for the kill. A jab and a right hook connect and Whitaker buckles badly as his eyes roll back. The referee steps in and saves Whitaker !! Whitaker is complaining but he was clearly out on his feet. Navarro throws his mouthpiece into the crowd. Mmmm spit-tastic.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gideon Navarro!
Gideon Navarro is the new welterweight champion!
During a confident post fight interview, Gideon Navarro thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.