Round 1 A looping right hook from Mark Whelan sends Masato to the mat. Mark Whelan lays into Masatos thighs and then backs off and tells him to stand up. Masato Kanada does so. Whelan connects with a right that puts "MK12" off balance tumbling to the mat, as Whelan towers over him. Mark grabs a foot and kicks at Masato Kanadas thighs. He then backs off and Masato stands back up. After an exchange of punches, the fighters engage in the clinch. Mark gets double underhooks, and unleashes unanswered knees to the midsection. "MK12" attempts a knee but is taken down by a basic trip. "The Real Deal" lands in half guard. Whelan slams his knee into Masato Kanadas ribs. Masato Kanada uses the planted arm of Mark Whelan to push off and get back to guard position. The ref stops the fight as the round comes to an end.
Round 2 After an exchange of punches, the fighters engage in the clinch. Mark gets double underhooks, and unleashes unanswered knees to the midsection. Mark Whelan takes the back of Kanada who works for a kimura. Mark Whelan pulls his arm out of the hold and push Kanada away. Masato Kanada connects with a strong right hook. Whelan hits a lead uppercut and follows with a hard hook to the head of Masato Kanada. Mark dodges a jab and throws a knee to the midsection of "MK12". Mark Whelan connects with a right that puts "MK12" off balance tumbling to the mat, as Mark Whelan towers over him. Mark Whelan chucks Kanadas legs to a side to attempt a soccer kick but misses and he elects to sprawl into side control. The round comes to an end.
Round 3 Mark lands multiple inside leg kicks that have Masato circling away. Masato Kanada narrowly dodges a cross from Mark Whelan, but falls catching him in his guard. Kanada dodges some ground strikes from Whelan, and sends a few back of his own. A kimura attempt is defended well by Mark Whelan and he is able to sneak his leg through Kanadas loose guard, to half guard. Masato Kanada tries to slip his leg out to get full guard, but is having difficulty. "The Real Deal" slips out of half guard and into side control. Mark drops some good elbows to the face of Masato Kanada forcing him to give up his back. "MK12" starts to wiggle out of back control, "The Real Deal" lets him escape putting them both on their feet. Mark Whelan connects with numerous jabs to the face of "MK12". Round 3 is over.
Round 4 "The Real Deal" grabs the plum and lands a strong elbow to the head of "MK12". Kanada catches a leg kick from "The Real Deal", and puts him on the mat. Masato uses strikes to open Marks guard. Masato stands up and waves Mark Whelan up. Mark Whelan is cut open by a standing elbow strike. The ref stops the fight. The doctor take a look at the cut and determines Mark Whelan can continue. "MK12" connects with a hard punch making Mark Whelan bring him in to a tight clinch. Mark dodges an uppercut to the chin, though loses his balance and falls to the ground, with Kanada standing over him. Kanada stands over "The Real Deal", works his way through his open guard and lands some solid standing punches. "The Real Deal" cannot trap him in his guard and pushes him away instead. The ref stops the fight as the round comes to an end.
Round 5 Masato throws a powerful left hook, but is met with a strong jab from "The Real Deal". "The Real Deal" throws a hard leg kick but is checked by "MK12".Round 5 comes to a close.
Mark "The Real Deal" Whelan wins by Split Decision
