PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Axel Whitecoat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heath Ledger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Whitecoat comes into the arena with Seven Nation Army blaring out of the sound system. Ledger has chosen Machine Head by Bush as his entrance music. Heath Ledger told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Whitecoat
vs
Ledger

178 cm
32
187 lbs
8 - 14 - 1

200 cm
28
200 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 8 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Axel Whitecoat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Heath Ledger!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Hugh Johnson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Whitecoat looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Ledger changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Whitecoat tries to avoid it but Ledger manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Whitecoat to the ground. Whitecoat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ledger fails to land the takedown.
Whitecoat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ledger.
Whitecoat throws a lazy uppercut
and Ledger counters with a stiff right hand.
Ledger uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Whitecoat.
Ledger misses with a body shot.
Whitecoat misses with a low kick.
Whitecoat misses with an uppercut
and Ledger makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Whitecoat fails with the takedown.

Ledger scores a takedown into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Whitecoat really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ledger wants to control the pace but Whitecoat is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ledger gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Whitecoat misses with a leg kick
and Ledger counters with a two punch combo.
Nice straight punches there by Whitecoat. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Whitecoat.
Whitecoat looks to land a combination. Ledger sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Ledger loads up on a big right hand but Whitecoat slips the punch.
Axel Whitecoat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ledger defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Whitecoat.
Whitecoat fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Axel Whitecoat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitecoat lands a really nice looking cross but Ledger seems unphased.
Ledger avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ledger checks a leg kick nicely.
Whitecoat looks to land a combination but Ledger avoids it well.
Ledger closes the distance and clinches up with Whitecoat, looking for a takedown. Ledger pushes Whitecoat against the cage but Whitecoat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Ledger, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Whitecoat shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ledger as he jumps to the side.

Whitecoat closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ledger is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Whitecoat working the ground and pound but Ledger is defending the strikes.
Ledger manages to get back to half guard.
Ledger blocking the ground and pound attempt from Whitecoat.
Ledger wants to improve his position but Whitecoat is controlling well.
Whitecoat working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ledger trying to control but Whitecoat postures up.
Ledger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ledger is trying to maintain the position but Whitecoat is very close to passing his half guard.
Ledger is trying to get back to full guard.

Ledger is defending against the submission attempts here by Whitecoat.
Ledger tries to get to full guard but Whitecoat has control of the leg.
Ledger is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ledger tries to get to full guard but Whitecoat has control of the leg.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ledger moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ledger trying to keep a closed guard but Whitecoat is proving a slippery customer.
Whitecoat stands up over Ledger, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ledger keeping moving, preventing Whitecoat from controlling successfully.
Whitecoat trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Whitecoat postures up.
Ledger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Whitecoat postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Whitecoat fails in his attempt to clinch.
Whitecoat shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Ledger dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Whitecoat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Whitecoat wants it to stay on the feet.
Left hook, right uppercut from Whitecoat.
Whitecoat wants to clinch.
Ledger shoots for a double leg takedown but Whitecoat sprawls well. He's pushed Ledger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Whitecoat forces Ledger back against the cage and clinches.
Whitecoat is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Whitecoat is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ledger gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Whitecoat stops a takedown attempt from Ledger.
Axel Whitecoat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Ledger.
Ledger is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ledger trying to stall but Whitecoat improves his position.
Whitecoat lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ledger backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ledger wants the takedown. Whitecoat is fighting it off but Ledger persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Whitecoat's guard against the cage.

Whitecoat throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Whitecoat trying to control the position.
Whitecoat trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Ledger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Whitecoat is keeping the position for now.
Ledger controls from within his opponent's guard.
Whitecoat doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ledger sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Heath Ledger wasn't active enough on the ground.

Ledger scores with a takedown into Whitecoat's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitecoat trying to control the position.
Ledger has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Whitecoat is proving hard to escape from.
Ledger passes Whitecoat's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ledger passes to full mount!
Ledger unloads with some shots from mount but Whitecoat bucks and avoids them well.
Whitecoat is working to get back to half guard.
Whitecoat tries to lock up and control but Ledger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ledger trying to control but Whitecoat is having none of it.
Whitecoat is looking to get to half guard.
Ledger trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitecoat tries to lock up and control but Ledger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Whitecoat is working to get back to half guard.
Whitecoat throwing hammer fists to the chest of Ledger. What's that going to do exactly?
Ledger lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Whitecoat working to try and regain half guard.
Whitecoat wants to control but Ledger is having none of it.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ledger cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ledger is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Whitecoat can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

Ledger get's back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ledger looks for a takedown but Whitecoat sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitecoat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Whitecoat sizes up Ledger with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Whitecoat tries to close the distance and clinch but Ledger swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whitecoat misses with an uppercut.
Whitecoat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ledger.

Whitecoat closes the distance and clinches.
Ledger is trying to pull guard but Whitecoat has him pressed against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Whitecoat wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ledger has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Whitecoat is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Ledger manages to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heath Ledger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Whitecoat throws a series of strikes that have Ledger backpedaling.
Ledger fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ledger keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Whitecoat.
Whitecoat works over Ledger's head and body with a nice combination.
Whitecoat misses the jab.
Ledger with a poor takedown
and Whitecoat counters with a straight right hand.
Whitecoat tries to clinch but Ledger is having none of it.
Heath Ledger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ledger gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A punch combination from Whitecoat misses.
Ledger fails with a takedown attempt.
Axel Whitecoat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heath Ledger.
Whitecoat throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ledger on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ledger.
Whitecoat tries to clinch but Ledger is having none of it.
Ledger looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Whitecoat throws the left hand but Ledger avoids the punch easily.
Ledger fails with a takedown attempt.
Whitecoat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ledger moves away.
Nice shot lands for Whitecoat.
Ledger slips a straight right by Whitecoat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ledger closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Whitecoat quickly recovers to half guard.
Whitecoat is staying active underneath Ledger, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Whitecoat trying to hold on to Ledger's head to control him but Ledger postures up.
Ledger prevents Whitecoat from improving his position.
Ledger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Whitecoat does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Whitecoat trying to control but Ledger postures up.
Ledger sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Whitecoat might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Heath Ledger wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ledger dodges the punch combination from Whitecoat.
Ledger takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Whitecoat looks to clinch
and Ledger counters with a two punch combo.
Whitecoat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ledger.
Whitecoat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Whitecoat wants it to stay on the feet.
Ledger fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ledger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ledger shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Whitecoat defends it nicely.
Whitecoat leaves Ledger with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Whitecoat wants to clinch.
Ledger takes one to the side of the head.
Axel Whitecoat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ledger misses with a two punch combination.
Whitecoat tries to clinch but Ledger is having none of it.
Ledger shoots in but Whitecoat avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Whitecoat slaps away a takedown attempt from Ledger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Whitecoat connects with a jab.
Axel Whitecoat is winning the standup battle so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Whitecoat lands with a straight right. Ledger didn't see that one coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Whitecoat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Heath Ledger is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ledger avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Axel Whitecoat showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ledger 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Heath Ledger!
After winning the bout, Heath Ledger thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.