PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Whitehope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Ignatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mark Whitehope is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Whitehope
vs
Ignatov

179 cm
20
184 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
23
186 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Whitehope!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Ignatov!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Whitehope tries to clinch there but Ignatov circles away.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov moves out of range.
Whitehope with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ignatov to score with a decent uppercut.
Ignatov circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ignatov clinches up against the cage.
Whitehope scores with a nice hook to the head.

Whitehope gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Whitehope throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitehope thows a huge punch but Ignatov dodges it nicely.
Whitehope missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Whitehope thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ignatov's head.
Whitehope thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ignatov's head.
Whitehope throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ignatov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Whitehope.
Ignatov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Ignatov wants to control but Whitehope is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Whitehope throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitehope slips a nice elbow through Ignatov's hands, connecting with Ignatov's forehead.
Ignatov manages to get to full guard.
Ignatov wants to sweep here but Whitehope controlling him for the moment.
Whitehope postures up in Ignatov's guard and throws a big left but Ignatov blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ignatov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope throwing strikes from guard but Ignatov blocks nicely.
Whitehope is looking to work some ground and pound but Ignatov has wrist control.
Whitehope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Whitehope trying to control but Ignatov is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitehope throws a strike but Ignatov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Whitehope is looking to stand back up but Ignatov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Whitehope.
Ignatov stalling.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ignatov stops Whitehope from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope is looking for a sweep. Ignatov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Whitehope looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ignatov is keen to just control but Whitehope is a slippery customer.
Ignatov stalling.
Whitehope is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Whitehope tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope tries to hold on but Ignatov postures up.
Ignatov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Whitehope is looking to escape.
Ignatov wants to control but instead Whitehope manages to regain half guard.
Whitehope wants to improve his position but Ignatov is controlling well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Whitehope has one foot on Ignatov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Whitehope will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Whitehope misses with a hook
and Ignatov counters with a right hand to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Whitehope is looking to clinch but Ignatov is avoiding it.
Whitehope avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whitehope wants to clinch up but Ignatov keeps it at a distance.
Ignatov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Whitehope closes the distance and clinches up with Ignatov, looking for a takedown. Whitehope pushes Ignatov against the cage but Ignatov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Whitehope fails with a takedown attempt.
Whitehope tries to move into range but Ignatov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Whitehope tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ignatov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Whitehope shoots for a takedown but Ignatov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Whitehope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ignatov slips a jab from Whitehope.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Whitehope is defended easily by Ignatov.
Whitehope looks for a takedown but Ignatov sprawls well.
Whitehope moves to clinch but Ignatov breaks away
and Ignatov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatov is just out of range.
Ignatov lands a nice shot to the body.
Whitehope wants to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a nice uppercut.
Whitehope throws a looping overhand right but Ignatov ducks down to avoid it.
Ignatov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ignatov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Ignatov connects with a nice looking jab.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch but Ignatov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whitehope tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ignatov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov is having none of it.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov is having none of it.
Ignatov cracks Whitehope with a right hand to the side of the head.
Whitehope fails to land with a series of punches.
Ignatov throws a head kick but Whitehope moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitehope looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ignatov is fending him off so far but Whitehope persists. Nope, Ignatov circles away and we're back to standing.
Ignatov ducks under a wild hook from Whitehope.

Whitehope forces Ignatov back against the cage and clinches.

Whitehope breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whitehope avoids the body shot from Ignatov.
Ignatov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Whitehope manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Whitehope is looking to score with low kicks.
Ignatov cracks Whitehope with a good jab.
Whitehope wants to clinch.
Vladimir Ignatov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ignatov dips to his left and cracks Whitehope with an uppercut!

Ignatov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Whitehope to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Whitehope stops Ignatov from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope throwing strikes but missing.
Ignatov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitehope is one step ahead there.
Whitehope trying to control the position from guard on top but Ignatov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehope throws a big right hand that misses.
Whitehope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ignatov wants to sweep here but Whitehope controlling him for the moment.
Whitehope throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ignatov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov is trying to keep Whitehope in close.
Whitehope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ignatov looking for a sweep. Not yet Ignatov, not yet.
Ignatov controlling Whitehope's posture.
Whitehope has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ignatov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Whitehope's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Whitehope stands up over Ignatov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitehope working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whitehope throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ignatov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ignatov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
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 Mark Whitehope will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Ignatov misses with a series of wild punches.
Ignatov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatov cracks Whitehope with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Whitehope tries for a takedown but Ignatov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whitehope tries to clinch up.
Ignatov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Ignatov is having none of it.
Ignatov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Whitehope's hands.
Whitehope tries for a takedown but Ignatov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Whitehope looks to clinch
and Ignatov counters with a stiff right hand.
Whitehope darts in trying to clinch

and Ignatov moves into the clinch.
Whitehope misses with some punches.
Ignatov avoids a wild elbow strike from Whitehope.
Whitehope throws an elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Ignatov blocks an uppercut.
Ignatov lands a shoulder strike.
Ignatov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ignatov tries to stall but Whitehope uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ignatov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Whitehope tries to score a body lock takedown but Ignatov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Whitehope. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ignatov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Whitehope is trying to break the clinch but Ignatov has him pressed against the cage.
Ignatov avoiding damage.
Whitehope lands a hook that snaps the head of Ignatov backwards.
Whitehope swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ignatov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Whitehope blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov blocks an elbow strike from Whitehope.
Whitehope has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Whitehope throws a punch but it's blocked by Ignatov.
Whitehope is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ignatov is defending well.
Ignatov can't find room to land a body shot as Whitehope controls the action.
Whitehope scores with a shoulder strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitehope pushes off an throws an elbow but Ignatov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Whitehope is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ignatov pushes Whitehope back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ignatov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Ignatov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ignatov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Whitehope.
Ignatov lands a body punch.
Ignatov misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Whitehope misses with the head strike.
Ignatov avoids the elbow strike from Whitehope, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Ignatov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Whitehope looking for a takedown.
Ignatov lands a shoulder strike.
Whitehope trying to stall but Ignatov improves his position.
Ignatov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Whitehope works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Ignatov is trying to keep Whitehope in close.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ignatov holds on and takes a little breather.
Whitehope throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Whitehope wants to control from the top but Ignatov keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitehope throwing strikes from guard but Ignatov blocks nicely.
Mark Whitehope is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ignatov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Whitehope.
Vladimir Ignatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ignatov keeping moving, preventing Whitehope from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ignatov misses with a hook.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitehope fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Whitehope misses with a lunging right hand

and Ignatov counters by clinching up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mark Whitehope.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Whitehope, 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 George Francis scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mark Whitehope!
In his post fight interview, Mark Whitehope started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.