PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jermaine Whittaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eino Leino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Leino has chosen Haloo Helsinki - Maailman toisella puolen as his entrance music. Eino Leino told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Whittaker
vs
Leino

193 cm
25
214 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
210 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Bushido Clothing
Core Tokyo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermaine Whittaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eino Leino!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leino listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Leino misses with a two punch combination.
Danga de danga de dang - Leino scores with a four punch combination!
Leino misses with a leg kick.
Whittaker wants to clinch.
Leino feints a jab promting Whittaker to slip. Leino then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Whittaker slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Leino lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Leino.
Leino throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Leino misses with a combination

and Whittaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Whittaker prevents Leino from breaking the clinch.

Leino manages to break the clinch.
Leino throws a left and a right that both miss

and Whittaker counters with a takedown into side control.

Whittaker decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leino avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker wants to clinch up but Leino keeps it at a distance.
Leino throws a lazy head kick

and Whittaker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Leino can't break the clinch.
Leino lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Leino blocks an elbow strike.
Whittaker lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Leino backwards.
Whittaker keeps control of Leino as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Leino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Leino is leaning against Whittaker and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Leino wants to break free but Whittaker has control.
Leino wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leino doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Leino wants to break the clinch but can't.
Whittaker keeps control of Leino as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Whittaker wants a takedown but no success here.
Leino lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Whittaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A decent looking cross lands there for Leino.
Leino falls off balance throwing a combination

and Whittaker moves into the clinch.
Leino has had enough of the clinch but Whittaker keeps him there for the moment.
Leino looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Whittaker misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Leino gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Whittaker manages to pull guard.
Leino would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Leino stops Whittaker from standing up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Leino got a little sloppy there for a moment and Whittaker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Leino has managed to get both his arms back between Whittaker's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whittaker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Leino doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Leino manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Leino wants to stand and escape but instead Whittaker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Leino has control of Whittaker's left arm, preventing Whittaker from doing any damage.
Leino wants to stand up but Whittaker is controlling him.
Leino not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Whittaker preventing the sweep.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Whittaker is standing up over Leino. Leino looks to escape but Whittaker dives into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whittaker trying to control the action but Leino is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Whittaker dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Leino lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Leino scores with a decent looking hook.
Whittaker has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Eino Leino seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Leino thuds his right hand into Whittaker's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Whittaker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Whittaker shoots in and drives through. Leino sprawls well.
Jermaine Whittaker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Leino slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Whittaker is looking to clinch.
Whittaker checks the leg kick nicely there.
Whittaker showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Leino.
Leino misses with a double jab

and Whittaker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Whittaker.
Leino wants to sweep here but Whittaker controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker is fighting to break Leino's control of his arms but Leino is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Leino looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Whittaker puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Leino has his hands clasped together around Whittaker's back. He's all about the action.
Leino trying to control but Whittaker postures up.

That's two 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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Leino holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Eino Leino wasn't active enough on the ground.
Leino looks to land a combination but Whittaker avoids it well.
Leino scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Leino misses with a jab, cross combination.
Leino keeps the fight on the outside.
Leino smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Leino looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Leino lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Whittaker is looking to clinch but Leino is avoiding it.
Leino looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leino throws a left and a right that both miss

and Whittaker counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Leino!

Whittaker stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Leino lands a nice shot to the body.
Leino misses with a double jab.
Leino misses with a double jab

and Whittaker counters with a single leg into guard. Leino didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Leino wants to get back to his feet but Whittaker passes into half guard.
Leino is looking for a sweep. Whittaker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whittaker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leino keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Leino is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jermaine Whittaker dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Whittaker misses with a takedown attempt - Leino sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Leino throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Leino misses with a combination

and Whittaker counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leino's guard now.
Leino controlling the position.
Leino keeping moving, preventing Whittaker from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Leino misses with a combination

and Whittaker counters by clinching up.
Whittaker throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Whittaker misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leino is trying to force a seperation but Whittaker has the dominant position.
Leino wants to break the clinch but can't.
Whittaker lands a left hand that snaps the head of Leino backwards.
Leino stalling in the clinch.
Leino is trying to break free.
Leino makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Leino misses with a short punch on the inside.
Leino wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Whittaker has him pressed against the cage.
Leino has had enough of the clinch but Whittaker keeps him there for the moment.
Whittaker has a couple of punches blocked by Leino.
Leino wants to break free but Whittaker has control.
Leino's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Whittaker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Leino gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Leino has had enough of the clinch but Whittaker keeps him there for the moment.
Leino blocks an elbow strike.
Whittaker lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Leino tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Leino gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Leino takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leino wants to stand and escape but instead Whittaker has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Leino is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Eino Leino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Leino can't keep his opponent in guard - Whittaker advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Leino can do anything to dispel that myth.

Whittaker decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leino misses with a leg kick

and Whittaker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Whittaker has Leino pressed against the cage, preventing Leino from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Leino tightens his grip and picks Whittaker up, before dumping him to the ground. Whittaker manages to land in guard.
Leino throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Whittaker has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Leino off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Leino goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Leino throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Whittaker.
Leino lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Leino.
Leino circles away from the clinch attempt
and Leino counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Leino throws a right hand that Whittaker ducks under and follows up with a left that Whittaker also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Whittaker closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Leino to the mat! Leino manages to get full guard.
Leino keeping full guard, as Whittaker tries to pass.
Leino tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Leino controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Leino looking to control.
Jermaine Whittaker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Eino Leino has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Leino lands a nice looking body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermaine Whittaker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Whittaker, 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

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