PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Surly MacConnelly (ranked 6478 p4p, 551 weight class) and Bobby Whittaker (ranked 3817 p4p, 395 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

MacConnelly
vs
Whittaker

192 cm
25
187 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
27
181 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Woodshins' Ship

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Surly MacConnelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bobby Whittaker!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Micheangelo Fripello and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whittaker takes one to the side of the head.
MacConnelly throws a series of punches but Whittaker avoids them all with ease.
MacConnelly throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Whittaker counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacConnelly wants to clinch up but Whittaker keeps it at a distance.
MacConnelly throws a series of punches but Whittaker moves out of range.
Whittaker looks to land a combination but MacConnelly avoids it well.
Whittaker looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Whittaker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
MacConnelly tries to bum rush Whittaker with a series of wild strikes but Whittaker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

MacConnelly tries to keep at a distance but Whittaker has taken the fight into the clinch.
Whittaker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Whittaker tries to work over MacConnelly's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Whittaker on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

MacConnelly's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sloppy strikes from MacConnelly. Those never looked like landing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacConnelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Whittaker! But no joy.
MacConnelly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
MacConnelly fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacConnelly lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whittaker circles away quickly and effectively.
Whittaker avoids a punch combination nicely.

Whittaker darts in and clinches MacConnelly up against the cage.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Whittaker clinches up against the cage.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MacConnelly misses with a two punch combination.
Whittaker is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
MacConnelly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whittaker moves away.
MacConnelly fails to land with a series of punches.
Whittaker swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
MacConnelly throws a series of punches but Whittaker avoids them all with ease.
MacConnelly is breathing heavily.

MacConnelly tries to keep at a distance but Whittaker has taken the fight into the clinch.
MacConnelly throws a head punch that misses.
MacConnelly lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly throws a head punch that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice right hand lands inside from Whittaker.
MacConnelly prevents a body shot from Whittaker.

MacConnelly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whittaker stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Whittaker wants it to stay on the feet.
As MacConnelly backs off Whittaker throws a huge counter combo but MacConnelly manages to avoid it all.
Whittaker swats away the attempt to clinch by MacConnelly.

Whittaker moves into range and clinches up with MacConnelly.
Whittaker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but MacConnelly avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but MacConnelly avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.

Whittaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
MacConnelly circles away from the clinch attempt.
MacConnelly moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Whittaker gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as MacConnelly controls his hands.

MacConnelly pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
MacConnelly throws a right hand that Whittaker ducks under and follows up with a left that Whittaker also avoids with ease.

Whittaker has taken the fight to the clinch.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as MacConnelly controls his hands.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
MacConnelly blocks a body shot from Whittaker.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.

Whittaker manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker swinging wildly here.
MacConnelly throws a shot from downtown. Whittaker moves away and avoids it.
MacConnelly falls off balance throwing a combination
and Whittaker counters with a straight right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly shoots for a double leg takedown but Whittaker sprawls well. He's pushed MacConnelly's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Surly MacConnelly. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacConnelly lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whittaker circles away quickly and effectively.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

MacConnelly bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whittaker tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
MacConnelly tries to control but Whittaker wriggling away.
MacConnelly won't let Whittaker get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
MacConnelly tries to control but Whittaker wriggling away.
Whittaker wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobby Whittaker will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Whittaker connects with a body shot that sends MacConnelly's belly button to the back.
MacConnelly ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Whittaker moves away.
MacConnelly misses with a body shot.
Whittaker throws a nice looking combination but MacConnelly bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
MacConnelly tries to clinch up.
MacConnelly shoots and misses
and Whittaker counters with a straight right hand.
MacConnelly throws a nice looking combination but Whittaker bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Whittaker misses with a wild combination.
MacConnelly shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Whittaker sprawls well. Whittaker wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. MacConnelly gets slowly back to his feet.
MacConnelly sets himself, and Whittaker steps forward looking for the clinch! MacConnelly avoids it this time.
Whittaker looks to land a combination. MacConnelly sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
MacConnelly scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
MacConnelly loads up on a big right hand but Whittaker slips the punch.
Surly MacConnelly is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
MacConnelly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whittaker throws a combination but it was largely blocked by MacConnelly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacConnelly keeps the fight on the outside.

Whittaker instigates a clinch.
Whittaker stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
MacConnelly tries to break the clinch but Whittaker is controlling the position.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Whittaker tries to sprawl but MacConnelly drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Whittaker is looking to escape.
MacConnelly trying to control from half guard but Whittaker is working away.
MacConnelly is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Whittaker is trying to stand back up but MacConnelly is controlling him

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Whittaker has one foot on MacConnelly's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
MacConnelly swats away the attempt to clinch by Whittaker.
Whittaker tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Whittaker clinches up with MacConnelly and pushes him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacConnelly lands a right hand that snaps the head of Whittaker backwards.
Whittaker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacConnelly's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
MacConnelly wants to get back to striking at distance but Whittaker won't allow it.
MacConnelly stalling in the clinch but Whittaker improves position.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.

Whittaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whittaker is looking to clinch.
Whittaker doesn't manage to clinch there - MacConnelly circles away.
Whittaker blocks the body kick.
MacConnelly moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

MacConnelly drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Whittaker throws MacConnelly to one side and escapes!
A looping hook to the body misses from MacConnelly. Whittaker does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Whittaker misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!

MacConnelly tries to keep at a distance but Whittaker has taken the fight into the clinch.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacConnelly lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Whittaker circles away quickly and effectively.
Whittaker wants to counter the offense by MacConnelly and move into the clinch position.
Surly MacConnelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Whittaker tries to sprawl but MacConnelly drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Whittaker kicks off MacConnelly and gets to his feet.
Whittaker wants to clinch up but MacConnelly keeps it at a distance.
MacConnelly throws a big counter combination but Whittaker scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
MacConnelly tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Whittaker was well out of range. Poor timing from MacConnelly.
Whittaker lands a jab to MacConnelly's midsection.

Whittaker moves into the clinch.
Whittaker tries a body shot but MacConnelly blocks it.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as MacConnelly controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Whittaker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Whittaker clinches up with MacConnelly and pushes him back against the cage.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Whittaker takes a swing at MacConnelly's ribcage but misses.
MacConnelly wants to clinch up but Whittaker keeps it at a distance.
Whittaker wants to clinch up but MacConnelly keeps it at a distance.
MacConnelly takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Whittaker instigates a clinch.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MacConnelly waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Whittaker.
MacConnelly circles away from the clinch attempt.

Whittaker clinches with his opponent.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

MacConnelly pushes Whittaker up against the cage in a clinch.
MacConnelly can't break the clinch.
Whittaker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittaker takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
MacConnelly tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Whittaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
MacConnelly misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
MacConnelly doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
MacConnelly avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whittaker tries to bum rush MacConnelly with a series of wild strikes but MacConnelly uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Whittaker fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
MacConnelly dives in and grabs Whittaker's left leg, looking for a takedown. Whittaker pushes down on MacConnelly's head and hops out.
Whittaker avoids the body shot from MacConnelly.

Whittaker has MacConnelly up against the cage in a clinch.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacConnelly's elbow.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
MacConnelly is looking to wear down Whittaker with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Whittaker tries to close the distance and clinch but MacConnelly swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
MacConnelly appears to be looking for a big counter.

Whittaker closes the distance and clinches.

Whittaker manages to break the clinch.
Whittaker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacConnelly throws a right hand that Whittaker ducks under and follows up with a left that Whittaker also avoids with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whittaker ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Whittaker gets a clinch.
Bobby Whittaker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Whittaker struggles to land a body shot inside as MacConnelly controls his hands.

Whittaker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Whittaker closes the distance and pushes MacConnelly back into the cage.
Whittaker works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Whittaker lands a body shot.
Whittaker scores with a nice hook to the head.
Whittaker tries a body shot but MacConnelly blocks it.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Still in the clinch, Whittaker scores with a nice short uppercut.
MacConnelly prevents a body shot from Whittaker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

MacConnelly breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
MacConnelly wants to clinch but Whittaker slips to the side
and Whittaker counters with a left and a right that stings MacConnelly.

Whittaker closes the distance and pushes MacConnelly back into the cage.
MacConnelly is trying to break free.

Whittaker escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Whittaker gets a clinch.
Whittaker tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Whittaker misses with a hook to the ribs.
MacConnelly misses with a punch on the inside.

Whittaker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
MacConnelly fails to land with a series of punches.
Whittaker tries to clinch there but MacConnelly circles away.

Whittaker clinches up with MacConnelly and pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whittaker goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Whittaker misses with a body punch.
Whittaker misses with a punch to the body.
A short body shot lands from Whittaker as the two fighters clinch.
Whittaker tries to throw a body punch but MacConnelly avoids it by throwing Whittaker back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
MacConnelly prevents a body shot from Whittaker.
MacConnelly taking a breather.
Surly MacConnelly has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A frustrated look appears on MacConnelly's face as he tries to break the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Whittaker.
MacConnelly is trying to break free.
Whittaker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with MacConnelly's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Whittaker comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Whittaker winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

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