PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eruera Wharerau (ranked 3192 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyriac Doumbe (ranked 3549 p4p, 0 weight class). Cyriac Doumbe has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Eruera Wharerau's chin.

Wharerau
vs
Doumbe

175 cm
25
157 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Eruera Wharerau!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cyriac Doumbe!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wharerau looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wharerau looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Wharerau displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Doumbe.
Wharerau is looking for a counter combo.
Doumbe slips a jab and a cross from Wharerau.
Eruera Wharerau seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Doumbe is looking to slow Wharerau down with leg kicks.
Doumbe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wharerau pinned against the cage. Wharerau gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wharerau misses with a double jab.
Doumbe throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Doumbe.
Eruera Wharerau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wharerau throws a right hand that Doumbe ducks under and follows up with a left that Doumbe also avoids with ease.
Wharerau misses with a combination
and Doumbe counters with a nice body kick.

Doumbe rushes Wharerau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Wharerau gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Doumbe.

Doumbe manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doumbe instigates a clinch.

Doumbe successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Doumbe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Doumbe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Doumbe throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Doumbe looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe is keen to just control but Wharerau is a slippery customer.
Doumbe sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Doumbe wants to pass the guard but Wharerau is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe is keen to just control but Wharerau is a slippery customer.

Doumbe stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Wharerau to get to his feet.

Doumbe instigates a clinch.

Doumbe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Doumbe moves into the clinch successfully.

Doumbe pulls guard successfully.

Doumbe is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wharerau trying to control the position from guard on top but Doumbe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Doumbe is looking for a triangle but Wharerau pushes his legs off easily.
Wharerau wants to stand but Doumbe is controlling his posture from full guard.
Doumbe throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Doumbe wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Wharerau trying to stand up but can't free himself from Doumbe's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Doumbe pulls Wharerau in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Wharerau misses with the combination.
Doumbe closes the distance and clinches up with Wharerau, looking for a takedown. Doumbe pushes Wharerau against the cage but Wharerau circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wharerau stuffs the takedown.
Doumbe scores with a three punch combo!
Doumbe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Eruera Wharerau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.
Doumbe has a takedown stuffed.
Wharerau misses with a double jab.
Doumbe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wharerau paws at him with a jab and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Doumbe closes the distance and clinches.

Doumbe's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wharerau slaps away a takedown attempt from Doumbe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Doumbe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Doumbe shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Wharerau eats them both and turns towards Doumbe to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wharerau stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wharerau wants it to stay on the feet.
Doumbe shoots in but Wharerau avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Doumbe dodges the punch combination from Wharerau.
Doumbe tries to counter by closing the distance.

Doumbe clinches with his opponent.
Doumbe tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Doumbe is trying to pull guard but Wharerau has him pressed against the cage.
Doumbe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Doumbe is trying to drag Wharerau to the mat but Wharerau just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wharerau can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wharerau drops down looking for an ankle pick but Doumbe pulls his leg out and moves away.
Doumbe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wharerau as he jumps to the side.

Doumbe gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wharerau tries to break the clinch but Doumbe is controlling the position.
Doumbe is trying to pull guard but Wharerau turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wharerau jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Doumbe walks away with a smile on his face. Wharerau gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Doumbe clinches up against the cage.
Wharerau being controlled against the cage.

Doumbe pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe trying to control the position.
Doumbe avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Doumbe looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Doumbe looking for a sweep. Not yet Doumbe, not yet.
Wharerau would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Doumbe not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Doumbe has a closed guard, preventing Wharerau from standing up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Doumbe is looking to stand up but Wharerau isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Wharerau throws a combination that misses
and Doumbe counters with an outside leg kick.
Doumbe goes for a double leg but Wharerau avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wharerau continues to drive forward.
Eruera Wharerau is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Wharerau takes a kick to the side of the head.
Wharerau misses with a jab, cross combination.
Doumbe closes the distance and clinches up with Wharerau, looking for a takedown. Doumbe pushes Wharerau against the cage but Wharerau circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Eruera Wharerau is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Doumbe fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Doumbe looks for a takedown but Wharerau sprawls well.
Nice shot by Wharerau.
Doumbe fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wharerau slaps away a takedown attempt from Doumbe, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cyriac Doumbe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Wharerau misses with a two punch combination.
Wharerau avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Doumbe rushes Wharerau and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Doumbe breaks the clinch.
Doumbe shoots in looking for a takedown but Wharerau manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Doumbe's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice takedown defense from Wharerau. No joy for Doumbe on that attempt.

Doumbe clinches up with Wharerau and pushes him back against the cage.

Doumbe manages to break the clinch.
Doumbe fails in his attempt to clinch.
Wharerau appears to be looking for a big counter.
Eruera Wharerau is winning the standup battle so far.
Wharerau lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Doumbe circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Doumbe delivers a nice body kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wharerau throws a nice looking combination but Doumbe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Doumbe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Wharerau sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Eruera Wharerau has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cyriac Doumbe.

Doumbe rushes Wharerau and presses him up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Doumbe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wharerau stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wharerau wants it to stay on the feet.
Wharerau stuffs the takedown.
Doumbe shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wharerau as he jumps to the side.
Doumbe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Doumbe wants to counter the offense by Wharerau and move into the clinch position.
Wharerau misses with a double jab
and Doumbe counters with a lovely straight right hand!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Doumbe.
Doumbe avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wharerau keeps the fight on the outside.
Doumbe fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wharerau avoids it really well and circles away.
Doumbe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Wharerau misses with a double jab.
Wharerau throws a hook but Doumbe avoids it easily.
Doumbe tries to clinch there but Wharerau circles away.
Doumbe fails with the takedown.
Some wild striking there from Wharerau.
Wharerau slaps away a takedown attempt from Doumbe, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wharerau moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Doumbe slips a jab and a cross from Wharerau.
Wharerau swats away the attempt to clinch by Doumbe.
Doumbe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Doumbe is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Wharerau misses with a jab, cross combination.
Doumbe scores with a head kick.
Wharerau throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Doumbe closes the distance and clinches up with Wharerau, looking for a takedown. Doumbe pushes Wharerau against the cage but Wharerau circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Doumbe throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Wharerau's head.
Wharerau misses with a double jab
and Doumbe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wharerau is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Doumbe.
Wharerau throws a series of punches but Doumbe moves out of range.
Wharerau takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Wharerau tries to bum rush Doumbe with a series of wild strikes but Doumbe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Doumbe shoots in and drives through. Wharerau sprawls well.
Wharerau misses with a combination
and Doumbe counters with a left and a right that stings Wharerau.
Some wild striking there from Wharerau.

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 Eruera Wharerau.
I think Doumbe has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyriac Doumbe!