PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reece Gregory (ranked 3082 p4p, 3168 weight class) and Rex Hunt (ranked 338 p4p, 346 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.

Gregory
vs
Hunt

175 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Reece Gregory!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rex Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hunt decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hunt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hunt prevents Gregory from standing back up.
Gregory is trying to get back to full guard.
Gregory trying to control but Hunt postures up.

Hunt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gregory has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hunt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gregory is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hunt in particular looking to stall.
Gregory controlling the position well.
Hunt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Hunt is trying to work for a kimura but Gregory is defending well.
Gregory is doing well to control the position and prevent Hunt from advancing to side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hunt tries to clinch up.
Gregory changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hunt tries to avoid it but Gregory manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hunt to the ground. Hunt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gregory shoots in for a double leg but Hunt sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gregory tries to clinch up but Hunt circles away and keeps his distance.
No joy there for Gregory, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Gregory forces Hunt back against the cage and clinches.
Hunt is trying to pull guard but Gregory turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hunt has clasped his hands together around Gregory's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Gregory's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Hunt stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt tried to score with a low kick but Gregory checks it.

Hunt clinches up with Gregory and pushes him back against the cage.
Gregory misses with a knee to the head.
Hunt is looking to break free of the clinch but Gregory has double underhooks.
Gregory stops a takedown attempt from Hunt.
Hunt can't get the takedown.
Reece Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Hunt.

Gregory gets control of Hunt's arms and successfully pulls guard. Gregory will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hunt controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gregory looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hunt puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hunt seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gregory does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hunt content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregory is trying to control but Hunt passes into side control!
Gregory is trying to control Hunt's posture but Hunt avoids it.
Hunt working the ground and pound but Gregory is defending the strikes.
Gregory is trying to work for a sweep but Hunt has mounted him!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gregory is looking to get to half guard.
Gregory is working hard here to advance position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Hunt dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gregory throws a combination that misses
and Hunt counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gregory thinking.
Hunt throws a looping overhand right but Gregory ducks down to avoid it.
Gregory wants to slow Hunt down by chopping away at his legs.
Hunt shoots for a takedown but Gregory saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gregory manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hunt on his heels. He'll look to pass Hunt's guard now, I'm sure.

Hunt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gregory throws an elbow that misses. Hunt uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gregory's guard. Nice move by Hunt!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt trying to control but Gregory is working from the bottom.
Hunt is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gregory wants to get back to his feet but Hunt is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Gregory wants to sweep but no luck.
Gregory is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rex Hunt has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gregory has an active guard here but Hunt has managed to pass into half guard.
Gregory is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gregory tries to get to full guard but Hunt has control of the leg.
Gregory wants to control but Hunt is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Gregory keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hunt perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Gregory has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hunt is on him like a limpet, forcing Gregory back against the cage.

Hunt gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Hunt is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hunt is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Gregory defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gregory looking for submissions off his back.
Gregory wants to control but Hunt is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Hunt postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Gregory to stand up.
Gregory looks for a takedown but Hunt sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hunt looks for a takedown but Gregory sprawls well.
Gregory tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Hunt manages to circle out of the way.
Hunt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hunt is looking to clinch.
Hunt closes the distance and clinches up with Gregory, looking for a takedown. Hunt pushes Gregory against the cage but Gregory circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Reece Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Hunt.

Hunt gets a clinch.

Gregory manages to break the clinch.
Nice defenses there by Hunt.
Gregory looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hunt is fending him off so far but Gregory persists. Nope, Hunt circles away and we're back to standing.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gregory.

Hunt throws Gregory to one side and escapes!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gregory circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Hunt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Gregory's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hunt shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gregory as he avoids it easily.
Hunt gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hunt doesn't manage to clinch there - Gregory circles away.
Hunt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gregory moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt.
Hunt is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gregory sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Reece Gregory has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rex Hunt.

Gregory manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hunt on his heels. He'll look to pass Hunt's guard now, I'm sure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gregory with a nice head shot there.
Hunt is wriggling around but Gregory manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt wants to control but Gregory is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hunt wants to get back to his feet.
Gregory is trying to control. Hunt wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gregory wants to get back to his feet.

Hunt makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hunt with a poor takedown

and Gregory moves into the clinch.
Hunt wants a takedown but no success here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gregory lands a takedown into guard.

Hunt kicks Gregory off and gets to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt.
Gregory drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hunt sprawls and moves away.
Hunt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gregory shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hunt is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gregory working over Hunt with some ground and pound. Hunt looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gregory is keen to just control but Hunt is a slippery customer.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hunt manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hunt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hunt keeping full guard, as Gregory tries to pass.
Gregory throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hunt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gregory throwing strikes but missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hunt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gregory is one step ahead there.
Gregory looking to pass the guard.
Hunt thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gregory fails with a takedown attempt.
Reece Gregory has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rex Hunt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hunt tries a head kick but it misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Reece Gregory.
I think Hunt 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rex Hunt!