PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Koulouraki Souvlaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Whitehorse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Souvlaki comes to the cage accompanied by Greek Anthem. Whitehorse has chosen The Builders and The Butchers - Black Dresses as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Koulouraki Souvlaki has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Souvlaki
vs
Whitehorse

174 cm
31
135 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

161 cm
25
140 lbs
13 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`)

Conviction

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 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Koulouraki Souvlaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jacob Whitehorse!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shigeki Fujiwara and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Souvlaki fails in his attempt to clinch.
Whitehorse follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Souvlaki.

Souvlaki closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Whitehorse did well to prevent Souvlaki getting side control.
Whitehorse trying to hold on to Souvlaki's head to control him but Souvlaki postures up.
Souvlaki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitehorse trying to control but Souvlaki postures up.
Whitehorse preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are battling for position here. Whitehorse manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Whitehorse working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souvlaki.
Whitehorse is pulling down on Souvlaki's head. It's preventing any offense from Souvlaki, at least for the moment.
Souvlaki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehorse working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souvlaki.
Souvlaki has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Whitehorse is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Souvlaki throws a big right hand that misses.
Souvlaki will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Whitehorse lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Whitehorse trying to control the position from guard on top but Souvlaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehorse is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Whitehorse is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Souvlaki has his foot on Whitehorse's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Whitehorse works his way back into a safe position though.
Souvlaki avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Souvlaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Whitehorse can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souvlaki keeping moving, preventing Whitehorse from controlling successfully.
Whitehorse pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Souvlaki is keeping the position for now.
Souvlaki not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Whitehorse engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Souvlaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitehorse is one step ahead there.
Whitehorse looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehorse working some strikes from top position.
Souvlaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Whitehorse got a little sloppy there for a moment and Souvlaki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Whitehorse has managed to get both his arms back between Souvlaki's legs - danger averted.
Souvlaki is controlling Whitehorse's posture.
Whitehorse trying to control the position from guard on top but Souvlaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehorse tries to free his leg and advance position but Souvlaki is retaining full guard.
Souvlaki 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.
Whitehorse working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Whitehorse tries to free his leg and advance position but Souvlaki is retaining full guard.

Souvlaki throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Whitehorse stopping the sweep attempt from Souvlaki.

That's four 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.
Whitehorse distracts Souvlaki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Souvlaki looking for a guillotine here but Whitehorse defends easily.
Whitehorse is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Whitehorse working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Whitehorse working some strikes from top position.
Souvlaki keeping moving, preventing Whitehorse from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Whitehorse stands up over Souvlaki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Souvlaki is trying to control the position but Whitehorse postures up.
Souvlaki looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitehorse is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Koulouraki Souvlaki will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Souvlaki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Whitehorse but Whitehorse pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Souvlaki ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Souvlaki takes one to the chin there.
Souvlaki uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Whitehorse.
Souvlaki appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Whitehorse throws a leg kick

and Souvlaki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Koulouraki Souvlaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Souvlaki trying to control but Whitehorse is working from the bottom.
Whitehorse managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehorse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Souvlaki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Whitehorse's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souvlaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Souvlaki controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Whitehorse tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Whitehorse pulls Souvlaki in to control the position.
Souvlaki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Whitehorse looking to hit a scissor sweep but Souvlaki is one step ahead there.
Souvlaki content to stall in guard here.
Whitehorse looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitehorse, not yet.
Souvlaki postures up in Whitehorse's guard and throws a big left but Whitehorse blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Whitehorse working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Souvlaki.
Souvlaki trying to control but Whitehorse is working from the bottom.
Souvlaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Souvlaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Souvlaki is fighting to break Whitehorse's control of his arms but Whitehorse is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Souvlaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whitehorse is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Souvlaki looking for submissions off his back.
Whitehorse wants to pass the guard but Souvlaki is defending well.

Souvlaki looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souvlaki is looking to improve his position.
Whitehorse is nestled in close to Souvlaki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Souvlaki makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Souvlaki.
Souvlaki keeping moving, preventing Whitehorse from controlling successfully.
Whitehorse postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitehorse trying to control but Souvlaki is working from the bottom.
Whitehorse looking to pass the guard.

Souvlaki looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four 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.
Whitehorse missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Whitehorse engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Souvlaki keeping moving, preventing Whitehorse from controlling successfully.

Souvlaki working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Whitehorse doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Whitehorse manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Whitehorse postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Whitehorse connects with a couple of short punches.
Souvlaki looking for a sweep. Not yet Souvlaki, not yet.
Whitehorse lands a couple of digs.
Whitehorse wants to control from the top but Souvlaki keeps moving.
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 Koulouraki Souvlaki will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Souvlaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Whitehorse gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Souvlaki avoids a wild elbow strike from Whitehorse.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Whitehorse.
Whitehorse struggles to land a body shot inside as Souvlaki controls his hands.
Souvlaki prevents a body shot from Whitehorse.
Nice body punch from Whitehorse - that landed with a thud.
Souvlaki has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Whitehorse avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Whitehorse tries a body shot but Souvlaki blocks it.
Whitehorse lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short uppercut from Whitehorse.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitehorse prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Koulouraki Souvlaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitehorse goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Whitehorse lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Souvlaki backwards.

Souvlaki gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Whitehorse regains guard.
Whitehorse looking for a sweep. Not yet Whitehorse, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souvlaki throwing strikes from guard but Whitehorse blocks nicely.
Whitehorse pulls Souvlaki in to control the position.
Whitehorse is continuing to stall.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Souvlaki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehorse looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Whitehorse managing to control the position.
Souvlaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Souvlaki stands up over Whitehorse, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Souvlaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Whitehorse works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Souvlaki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Souvlaki trying to control but Whitehorse is working from the bottom.

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.
Whitehorse has his hands on Souvlaki's head, controlling the position.
Souvlaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Souvlaki drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Whitehorse manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Souvlaki has Whitehorse in his guard.

Souvlaki is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Whitehorse defends well.
Souvlaki controls Whitehorse momentarily but Whitehorse frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitehorse wants to control from the top but Souvlaki keeps moving.
Souvlaki trying to strike off his back.
Souvlaki trying to control the position.
Whitehorse trying to control the position from guard on top but Souvlaki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jacob Whitehorse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souvlaki throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Whitehorse postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Souvlaki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Whitehorse is looking to chop away at Souvlaki's legs.
Whitehorse throws a looping overhand right but Souvlaki ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Souvlaki misses its intended target.
Jacob Whitehorse seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Souvlaki gets the takedown into side control.
Whitehorse wants to control but Souvlaki postures up.
Whitehorse is working to avoid the ground and pound but Souvlaki connects with a decent elbow.
Whitehorse sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Whitehorse has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Souvlaki is working away from the top position though.
Souvlaki throws a strike but Whitehorse avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Souvlaki throws a strike but Whitehorse rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Souvlaki wants to sweep here but Whitehorse controlling him for the moment.
Whitehorse keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Souvlaki's head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitehorse scoring with punches to the head and body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Souvlaki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Souvlaki is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob Whitehorse comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Souvlaki has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koulouraki Souvlaki!
Koulouraki Souvlaki really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.