PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Douglass Whitaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julien Ribeiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Whitaker
vs
Ribeiro

187 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

188 cm
24
203 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Douglass Whitaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Julien Ribeiro!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Felipe Paraventi and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ribeiro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Ribeiro has Whitaker up against the cage in a clinch.
Whitaker is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ribeiro to keep the fight standing.

Whitaker breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ribeiro is looking to clinch.
Ribeiro circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ribeiro counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ribeiro.

Ribeiro drags the fight down to the ground.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Whitaker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Whitaker stops Ribeiro from standing up.
Whitaker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ribeiro's head.
Whitaker throwing strikes but missing.
Ribeiro has his hands on Whitaker's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitaker stopping the sweep attempt from Ribeiro.
Whitaker has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ribeiro is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Whitaker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Whitaker preventing the sweep.
Whitaker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ribeiro on the ground.
Whitaker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Whitaker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitaker keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ribeiro's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitaker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitaker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ribeiro controls Whitaker momentarily but Whitaker frees himself.
Ribeiro looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to control the position but Whitaker postures up.
Ribeiro pulls Whitaker in close to prevent any damage.

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

Whitaker gets tackled into the cage by Ribeiro. Ribeiro maintains the clinch.
Ribeiro controlling the action here for a moment.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro tries to clinch up.

Ribeiro fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Whitaker to the ground. Ribeiro is now in Whitaker's guard.
Whitaker keeping moving, preventing Ribeiro from controlling successfully.
Ribeiro is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Whitaker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
My spies in Cozad MMA Rio inform me that Ribeiro has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Whitaker trying to keep a closed guard but Ribeiro is proving a slippery customer.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ribeiro tries to close the distance and clinch but Whitaker swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Whitaker fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ribeiro closes the distance and clinches.
Ribeiro connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Douglass Whitaker has been cut.
Ribeiro tries to land a knee to the head but Whitaker blocks with his arms.
Whitaker is looking to break free of the clinch but Ribeiro has double underhooks.
Whitaker fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Whitaker wants to break free but Ribeiro has control.
Whitaker is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Douglass Whitaker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Whitaker being controlled against the cage.
Ribeiro gets underhooks to prevent Whitaker's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julien Ribeiro dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Douglass Whitaker's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ribeiro moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Whitaker wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Ribeiro tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Whitaker is looking to break free of the clinch but Ribeiro has double underhooks.

Ribeiro drags the fight down to the ground.
Whitaker is fighting to break Ribeiro's control of his arms but Ribeiro is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Whitaker throwing strikes but missing.
Whitaker throwing strikes from guard but Ribeiro blocks nicely.
Ribeiro preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Whitaker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ribeiro tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ribeiro trying to keep a closed guard but Whitaker is proving a slippery customer.
Ribeiro is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Whitaker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Julien Ribeiro has got the better of the ground game so far.
Whitaker wants to get back to his feet.
Ribeiro prevents Whitaker from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker trying to hold on to Ribeiro's head to control him but Ribeiro postures up.
Ribeiro trying to control the pace.
Whitaker wants to control but Ribeiro passes into side.

Ribeiro stands up.

Ribeiro drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Whitaker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Ribeiro throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Whitaker was covering up waiting for the punch and Ribeiro finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ribeiro with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitaker controls Ribeiro momentarily but Ribeiro frees himself.
Whitaker wants to get back to his feet but Ribeiro is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Whitaker working a defensive guard but Ribeiro passes into half guard.
Whitaker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ribeiro.
Ribeiro trying to control the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Whitaker flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julien Ribeiro showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Douglass Whitaker's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Ribeiro shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Ribeiro was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Whitaker is trying to get back to half guard.
Ribeiro connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Whitaker some visible discomfort.

Ribeiro is trying to get an arm triangle but Whitaker is defending well.
Whitaker is trying to control Ribeiro's posture but Ribeiro avoids it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Whitaker is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ribeiro off and has taken his back!
Ribeiro wants to control his opponent's hands but Whitaker gets his hands free.
Whitaker throwing sloppy strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ribeiro tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Ribeiro wants to hold on but Whitaker pushes him away.
Ribeiro is looking to improve his position but Whitaker isn't that keen on the idea.
Ribeiro sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Ribeiro takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ribeiro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Whitaker's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Whitaker's back!
Whitaker is in bad spot here.
Ribeiro lands punches and elbows.
Whitaker trying to get back to his feet but Ribeiro is in full control for now.
Whitaker is in bad spot here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is riding his opponent, not letting Whitaker buck him off.

Ribeiro working for a choke but Whitaker is defending well.
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!
Ribeiro slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Whitaker covers up after that shot from Ribeiro.
Whitaker wants to escape the position.
Whitaker holding on to Ribeiro's left wrist, preventing the choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ribeiro is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Whitaker is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Ribeiro working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Whitaker is doing well to defend. Ribeiro seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Whitaker is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Julien Ribeiro!