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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Norman Welch (ranked 5072 p4p, 5044 weight class) and Bo Whittle (ranked 602 p4p, 598 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.
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| 191 cm
23
190
0 - 0 - 0 |
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193 cm
20
184
0 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good in bed |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident |
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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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Norman Welch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bo Whittle!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Welch looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Whittle controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Whittle is looking to control Welch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Whittle avoid being mounted?
Welch is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittle makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Whittle.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Welch trying to control but Whittle is working from the bottom.
Welch is really struggling to control Whittle but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Welch is looking to pass into half guard but Whittle pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Whittle is in guard.
Whittle gets to his feet - Welch follows without any prompting.
Whittle shoots in for a takedown but Welch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Whittle has closed the distance and engaged Welch in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Whittle.
A right handed body shot lands from Whittle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Welch fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Whittle slaps away a takedown attempt from Welch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Whittle tries to close the distance and clinch but Welch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Welch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Whittle throws a head kick that misses.
As Whittle looks to move away, Welch throws a big counter combo but Whittle just gets out of the way.
Welch shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Whittle eats them both and turns towards Welch to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Whittle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Whittle closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Welch throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Welch swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Whittle dives in for a single leg takedown but Welch sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Norman Welch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bo Whittle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittle moves into range and clinches up with Welch.
Welch is trying to drag Whittle to the mat but Whittle just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Whittle has Welch pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Welch manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Welch has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Whittle is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Whittle jumps guard but Welch stands there with Whittle around his waist. Whittle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Welch goes for a takedown attempt but Whittle pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Welch closes the distance and clinches.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch trying to control the position but instead, Whittle has worked for underhooks and has pushed Welch into the ropes.
Whittle stalling.
Whittle is trying to maintain a safe position but Welch gets an underhook and turns Whittle into the ropes.
Whittle looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Whittle is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Welch is keeping busy.
Whittle changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Welch fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Welch shoots in looking for a takedown but Whittle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Welch's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Welch scores with a shot to the body.
Welch decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Whittle wants to control but Welch is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but I would say that Norman Welch 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.
Welch works Whittle's body with a nice hook.
Whittle walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Welch checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Whittle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Whittle slaps away a takedown attempt from Welch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Whittle tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Welch stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Welch wants it to stay on the feet.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Whittle stuffs the takedown.
Whittle tries to close the distance and clinch but Welch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittle misses with a takedown attempt - Welch sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Norman Welch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bo Whittle.
Whittle tries for a takedown but Welch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Welch stuffs the takedown.
Whittle is breathing heavily.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittle tries to keep at a distance but Welch has taken the fight into the clinch.
Whittle wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Welch has him pressed against the ropes.
Welch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Whittle gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stalling in the clinch from Whittle.
Welch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Whittle walks away with a smile on his face. Welch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Welch looking to score a takedown here. Whittle is defending well but Welch drives through and ends up in Whittle's guard.
Whittle has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Welch is pushing him up against the ropes, looking to control the position.
Welch tries to throw a body punch but Whittle avoids it by throwing Welch back against the ropes.
Welch breaks the clinch.
Welch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice sprawl there from Whittle as Welch shoots in.
Welch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Whittle counters by moving into the clinch.
Welch is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Whittle is defending well for now.
Whittle is working for takedown but Welch is calmly controlling the position for now.
Welch jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Whittle walks away with a smile on his face. Welch gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Welch tries for a takedown but Whittle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Norman Welch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Whittle shoots in for a takedown but Welch shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Whittle defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Welch.
Whittle fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Whittle with that takedown attempt.
Welch attempts a counter takedown but Whittle avoids it well and moves away.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittle shoots for a takedown but Welch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Welch seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Nice sprawl there from Whittle as Welch shoots in.
Whittle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Welch shoots and misses
and Whittle counters with a nice uppercut.
Welch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Welch closes the distance and clinches.
Welch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Welch fails in his attempt to clinch.
Welch moves into the clinch.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch misses with a punch on the inside.
Welch is pressed up against the ropes. Whittle has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Welch down to the mat. Welch avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Welch shoots in looking for a takedown but Whittle manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Welch's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Whittle throws a fast counter high kick but Welch manages to duck under it in time.
Whittle is looking to chop away at Welch's legs.
Norman Welch is winning the standup battle so far.
Welch dives in for a single leg takedown but Whittle sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
Whittle softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Whittle wants to get back to striking at distance but Welch won't allow it.
Come on Welch - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Whittle lands an uppercut.
Whittle wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Bo Whittle will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!
Welch tries for a takedown but Whittle sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Welch shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Whittle is holding on to half guard well.
Welch thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Whittle is doing well to control the position and prevent Welch from advancing to side control.
Welch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Whittle has one foot on Welch's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Whittle dives in and grabs Welch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Welch pushes down on Whittle's head and hops out.
Welch has managed to clinch.
Welch lands a knee to the body.
Whittle takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Whittle wants a takedown but no success here.
Whittle content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Welch breaks from the clinch.
Welch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Welch closes the distance and clinches.
Welch manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Whittle trying to control the position from guard on top but Welch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Welch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whittle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Welch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Whittle defends it easily.
Whittle is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whittle preventing the sweep.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A combination from Welch does no damage.
Whittle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Welch defends it well.
Welch tries to close the distance and clinch but Whittle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whittle changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Welch tries to avoid it but Whittle manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Welch to the ground. Welch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Norman Welch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bo Whittle.
Whittle moves into the clinch.
Welch is looking to take this one to the mat.
Welch is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Welch tries to pull guard but Whittle holds him up against the ropes and eventually Welch drops back down to his feet.
Welch successfully pulls guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Welch is trying to keep Whittle in close.
Welch is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Whittle is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Welch can't keep his opponent in guard - Whittle advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Welch avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Whittle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whittle is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Welch wants to get back to full guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Norman Welch showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Welch 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:28
In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Norman Welch!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
38% |
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