PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Man Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cook Strum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cook Strum will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Whitaker
vs
Strum

155 cm
24
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

225 cm
22
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Inexperienced

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Man Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Cook Strum!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Whitaker fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strum sprawls well initially but Whitaker persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Whitaker takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Strum tries to roll over but Whitaker keeps him under control.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Whitaker is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Strum is just riding it out for now. Whitaker eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strum has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Whitaker is working away from the top position though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Strum tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Whitaker counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Strum has escaped the position, nice work there.
Strum tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Strum manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Well, if Whitaker 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strum wants to improve his position but Whitaker is controlling well.
Whitaker is taking a breather. Strum says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Strum wants to control but Whitaker is keeping busy.

Strum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Strum wants to get back to full guard but Whitaker has passed into side control.
Whitaker slows the pace down.
Strum takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Whitaker just content to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Man Whitaker dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Strum tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Strum falls off balance throwing a combination

and Whitaker holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Strum is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Strum is trying to maintain a safe position but Whitaker gets an underhook and turns Strum into the cage.

Whitaker tightens his grip and picks Strum up, before dumping him to the ground. Strum manages to land in guard.
Strum is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Whitaker dives into side control.
Man Whitaker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Whitaker remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Whitaker in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strum is looking to reverse the position.

Whitaker tries for a kimura but Strum is defending well.
Whitaker controlling the position from side mount.
Whitaker has control of an arm but Strum manages to advance to Whitaker's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strum wants to control but Whitaker manages to buck him off and is now in Strum's guard! Nice work there by Whitaker!
Strum working a defensive guard but Whitaker passes into half guard.
Strum trying to control from the bottom.
Whitaker is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Strum can do to turn this around?
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Strum really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Whitaker. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitaker looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Strum is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Whitaker trying to control the pace.
Whitaker is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Whitaker decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Man Whitaker dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Strum throws a series of punches but Whitaker moves out of range.
Strum tries to clinch there but Whitaker circles away.
Strum lands with a kick to the ribs.
Strum tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Whitaker manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Strum takes a swing at Whitaker's ribcage but misses.

Whitaker closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Strum quickly recovers to half guard.
Strum scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Whitaker manages to mount him!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whitaker controlling his opponent.
Whitaker lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Strum hang on?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strum sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Whitaker content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Strum is trying to control but Whitaker passes into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Strum trying to control but Whitaker flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Strum trying to control the position but Whitaker manages to sink in the hooks.

Whitaker is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Whitaker is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Strum trying to control but not successfully.
Whitaker is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

Strum is looking to escape here. Oh dear - Whitaker has locked on a rear naked choke here! Strum is tapping out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Man Whitaker!