PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mickey Whelan (ranked 2452 p4p, 3590 weight class) and Gary Ian (ranked 290 p4p, 369 weight class). Whelan kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Mamas & the Papas - California Dreamin'. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Whelan
vs
Ian

176 cm
25
167
6 - 2 - 0

163 cm
25
155
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Mythical Fighter
ZERO Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mickey Whelan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Gary Ian!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whelan closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ian quickly recovers to half guard.
Whelan is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Whelan working for a submission but Ian is keeping him at bay.

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

Whelan working for a guillotine from mount but Ian is in no mood to give up.
Whelan trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Whelan is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Ian to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Ian shrugs it off.
Whelan blocks Ian's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whelan mounts Ian! Really nice guard pass there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ian tries to lock up and control but Whelan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Whelan wants to control the pace but Ian is squirming around nicely.
Ian is working to get back to half guard.
Ian wants to control but Whelan is having none of it.
Ian stops Whelan from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Whelan looking to control but Ian is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Whelan fails to move to back control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Whelan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Whelan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ian has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Whelan fails to take his opponent's back.

Whelan has hold of Ian's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ian manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ian is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

Whelan is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ian has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ian!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ian preventing the sweep.
Ian is looking to work some ground and pound but Whelan has wrist control.
Ian postures up.
Ian working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Whelan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ian's guard.

Ian looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Whelan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ian swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whelan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ian's guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Whelan in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whelan is keen to just control but Ian is a slippery customer.
Whelan wants to pass the guard but Ian is defending well.

Ian is defending against the submission attempts here by Whelan.

Whelan is working for a kimura but Ian is defending it quite comfortably.
Ian won't allow Whelan to pass to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Whelan dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ian shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ian was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Mickey Whelan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Whelan sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Whelan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ian scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ian lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Whelan is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Whelan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ian's guard.

Whelan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ian keeping full guard, as Whelan tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Whelan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whelan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Whelan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whelan trying to control but Ian is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whelan works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Whelan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Whelan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Ian's thigh. Ian counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Ian being controlled here, momentarily.
Ian keeping moving, preventing Whelan from controlling successfully.

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.
Whelan forces his way into half guard.

Whelan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Whelan is just content to waste time from the top position. Ian takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Whelan drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Whelan jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Whelan pushes down on Ian's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Whelan has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whelan is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ian has managed to escape the submission attempt.

Whelan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Whelan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Whelan seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Ian is holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Whelan is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ian has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ian!
Whelan working a defensive guard here.
Ian must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ian postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ian works over Whelan with some ground and pound from guard.
Whelan is controlling Ian's posture.
Whelan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ian's guard.

Whelan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ian is keeping the position for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Whelan dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Whelan gets caught flat footed, as Ian shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Whelan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Whelan tries to free his leg and advance position but Ian is retaining full guard.
Ian keeping moving, preventing Whelan from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whelan seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Whelan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ian's guard.
Whelan is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ian can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whelan wants to take a breather but Ian is having none of it.
Well, if Whelan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Whelan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ian has managed to free his arm - good work.

Whelan is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ian wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ian can do anything to dispel that myth.
Whelan moves nicely into side control.

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.
Whelan advances to full mount.
Ian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Whelan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ian turns into him and now he's in Whelan's guard.

Whelan working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ian doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ian manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whelan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Whelan is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ian sees it coming and defends easily.
Ian is in trouble now - Whelan has advanced to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whelan trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Whelan seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Ian is holding on tight.
Whelan wants to control the pace but Ian is squirming around nicely.
Ian is controlling an arm, preventing Whelan from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Whelan looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ian wants to try and get back to his feet.
Whelan controlling the position easily from mount.
Whelan tries to control but Ian wriggling away.

Whelan looking for a guillotine from mount but Ian is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ian prevents Whelan from taking his back.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mickey Whelan clearly takes that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Whelan.
Ian struggling a bit here.

Whelan tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Whelan has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Whelan is looking to take a break and control but Ian 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.
Whelan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ian is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Whelan tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Whelan thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Whelan looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ian prevents Whelan from moving into mount.
Whelan advances nicely into full mount.
Whelan trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Whelan working for a guillotine from mount but Ian is in no mood to give up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whelan trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Whelan swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ian is now in Whelan's guard. A big mistake from Whelan there, giving up the dominant position!
Ian won't allow Whelan to sweep him here.
Ian loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Whelan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Whelan trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ian content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Whelan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ian.

Whelan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ian stands up over Whelan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ian landing some decent shots from guard.

Whelan looking for a triangle here. Ian is fighting it but it looks tight! Whelan pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Ian is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Mickey Whelan!
Mickey Whelan is the new lightweight champion!
A very excited looking Mickey Whelan made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.