PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vic Prince Gapuz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Murray Whelan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whelan has chosen Stand Up for Rock and Roll as his entrance music. Murray Whelan will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Prince Gapuz
vs
Whelan

168 cm
22
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

162 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vic Prince Gapuz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Murray Whelan!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Donatello Bradman and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whelan looks to land a combination but Gapuz avoids it well.
Gapuz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gapuz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Whelan.
Whelan misses with a double jab.
Gapuz tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Whelan swivels and escapes.
Whelan is looking to slow Gapuz down with leg kicks.
Gapuz will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vic Prince Gapuz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Gapuz or perhaps it was just good defense by Whelan which made him look bad.
Gapuz avoids a kick to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whelan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

Gapuz is rocked!

It looks like Vic Prince Gapuz has been cut.
Gapuz slips a straight right by Whelan.
Oh Gapuz is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A punch combination from Whelan misses.
Gapuz seems to have got his legs back now.

Gapuz shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gapuz showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gapuz wants to free his trapped foot but Whelan is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Gapuz seems to be looking for submissions.

Gapuz is working for a submission of some sort.
Whelan wants to get back to full guard.

Gapuz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gapuz is breathing heavily.
Whelan manages to get to full guard.
Whelan controls Gapuz momentarily but Gapuz frees himself.

Gapuz drops back looking for a leg! Whelan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whelan manages to kick Gapuz off! Gapuz jumps back into Whelan's guard.
Whelan pulls Gapuz in close to his closed guard and prevents Gapuz from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two 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.
Whelan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Whelan keeping full guard, as Gapuz tries to pass.
Whelan seems keen to control Gapuz's posture.
Gapuz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whelan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gapuz is fighting to break Whelan's control of his arms but Whelan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whelan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Gapuz drops back looking for a leg! Whelan is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Whelan manages to kick Gapuz off! Gapuz jumps back into Whelan's guard.
Gapuz stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Whelan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gapuz staying out of range there.
Whelan throws a quick inside leg kick.
Whelan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A head kick misses from Whelan.
Whelan throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Whelan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Murray Whelan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gapuz shoots in but Whelan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Whelan paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Whelan wants to land a leg kick but Gapuz is out of range.
Whelan lands a really nice looking cross but Gapuz seems unphased.
Murray Whelan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Whelan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Gapuz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Whelan.
Whelan fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gapuz.
Gapuz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whelan pinned against the cage. Whelan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Whelan lands a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Whelan dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vic Prince Gapuz's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Whelan throws a leg kick that misses.
Gapuz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Whelan pivots, looking for a leg kick but Gapuz is out of range and Whelan settles back down.
Whelan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Whelan throws a one two combo.
Gapuz shoots for a takedown but Whelan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vic Prince Gapuz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whelan comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Whelan scores with a one two! Gapuz had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Whelan tries to land a front kick but Gapuz steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Whelan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Whelan fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gapuz is out of range.
Gapuz looks for a takedown but Whelan sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whelan cracks a nice hook into Gapuz's ribs.
Gapuz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Whelan.
Nice sprawl there from Whelan as Gapuz shoots in.
Whelan lands a nice looking kick to the body. Gapuz takes a step back to recover.
Murray Whelan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gapuz shoots in but no luck this time.
Gapuz shoots in but Whelan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Whelan misses with a two punch combination.
Whelan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Whelan throws a right and a left that Gapuz avoids nicely.
Whelan changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Whelan but Whelan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A head kick misses from Whelan.
Whelan throws a series of punches but Gapuz avoids them all with ease.
Gapuz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whelan pinned against the cage. Whelan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gapuz shoots in but no luck this time.
Whelan misses with a low kick.
Whelan buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Whelan misses with a wild combination.
Gapuz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Whelan. That snapped Gapuz's head back.
Gapuz checks a leg kick nicely.
Gapuz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Whelan connects with a solid leg kick.
Whelan scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Whelan plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Whelan explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Gapuz moves out of range of the strikes.
Whelan fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gapuz manages to avoid it.
Whelan misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gapuz.
Gapuz shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Whelan but Whelan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Whelan ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whelan misses with a double jab.
Gapuz dodges the punch combination from Whelan.
A solid leg kick lands there for Whelan.
Gapuz looks for a takedown but Whelan sprawls well.
Whelan swinging wilding here.
Whelan getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Whelan throws a shot from downtown. Gapuz moves away and avoids it.
Whelan misses with a two punch combination.
Gapuz closes the distance and clinches up with Whelan, looking for a takedown. Gapuz pushes Whelan against the cage but Whelan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Whelan throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Murray Whelan showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Vic Prince Gapuz's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gapuz avoids the head kick by Whelan.
Whelan misses with a head kick.
Murray Whelan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Whelan stuffs the takedown attempt from Gapuz. Gapuz gets slowly back to his feet.
Whelan throws a good cross that connects.
Whelan misses with the combination.
Whelan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Gapuz steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Whelan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gapuz fails to land the takedown.
Whelan thuds a left hand into Gapuz's body.
Good leg kick by Whelan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gapuz shoots for a double leg takedown but Whelan sprawls well. He's pushed Gapuz's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vic Prince Gapuz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gapuz has a takedown stuffed.
Whelan scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Gapuz doesn't seem bothered though.
Gapuz shoots in looking for a takedown. Whelan tries to sprawl out of it but Gapuz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Whelan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gapuz fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gapuz has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Whelan finds it's way round the side to connect with Gapuz's head.
Whelan looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
No luck for Gapuz with that takedown attempt.

Whelan gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz passes into half guard.

Gapuz is looking for a kimura here.

Gapuz is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gapuz tries to pass the half guard into mount. Whelan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Gapuz is working for a kimura but Whelan is defending it quite comfortably.
Whelan moves into full guard.
Gapuz wants to pass the guard but Whelan is keeping the position.
Gapuz is working hard here to advance position.
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.
Whelan is trying to control the position but Gapuz postures up.
Whelan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gapuz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whelan is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Whelan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gapuz shoots for a takedown but Whelan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gapuz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Whelan pinned against the cage. Whelan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Whelan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Whelan lands with a kick to the ribs.
Gapuz walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Whelan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gapuz looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A head kick misses from Whelan.
Whelan throws a shot to the body.
Whelan lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gapuz shoots in but no luck this time.
The fighters circling - Whelan throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
No luck for Gapuz with that takedown attempt.
Whelan throws a head kick that misses.
Whelan looks to land a right hand but Gapuz moved out of range.
Gapuz shoots in but no luck this time.
Gapuz dodges the punch combination from Whelan.
Vic Prince Gapuz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gapuz throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Murray Whelan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Whelan 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 26:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Murray Whelan!