PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Twisty Kneereaper (ranked 3750 p4p, 2995 weight class) and Paul Hunt (ranked 437 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kneereaper
vs
Hunt

177 cm
33
170
15 - 10 - 0

188 cm
46
171
28 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 15 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Twisty Kneereaper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 21 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Paul Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hunt darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kneereaper tries to get to full guard but Hunt has control of the leg.
Kneereaper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kneereaper missing with punches from the bottom.
Hunt prevents Kneereaper from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kneereaper pushes Hunt off looking to stand but Hunt dives back in and keeps control.
Kneereaper is looking to control Hunt's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kneereaper avoid being mounted?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneereaper tries to get to full guard but Hunt has control of the leg.
Kneereaper is looking to escape.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt.
Kneereaper tries to counter with a takedown but Hunt is quick to defend against it.

Hunt bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kneereaper is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt in the domination position with Kneereaper hanging on.

Hunt has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Kneereaper scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hunt wants to control but Kneereaper postures up.
Kneereaper controlling from side mount.
Hunt regains half guard there - taking advantage of Kneereaper's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneereaper performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Kneereaper stands up and beckons Hunt to join him on the feet.
Hunt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kneereaper.
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hunt scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kneereaper keeping hold of Hunt's head, controlling as best he can.
Kneereaper trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kneereaper looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kneereaper wants to get back to full guard but Hunt has mounted him!

Hunt is standing up, even though he is in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kneereaper shoots in looking for a takedown but Hunt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kneereaper's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hunt misses with a shot to the body

and Kneereaper counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Come on Kneereaper - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kneereaper goes for a takedown attempt but Hunt pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Paul Hunt will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kneereaper's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hunt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hunt throws out a powerful jab.

Kneereaper scores with a takedown into Hunt's guard.

Kneereaper stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Twisty Kneereaper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kneereaper jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kneereaper looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hunt is fending him off so far but Kneereaper persists. Nope, Hunt circles away and we're back to standing.

Kneereaper clinches up against the cage.
Hunt misses with the head strike.
Kneereaper blocks a body shot from Hunt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kneereaper ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kneereaper no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hunt wanted to stand there but Kneereaper had control of the position.
Kneereaper wants to sweep here but Hunt controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneereaper wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hunt is now in half guard.
Kneereaper wants to get back to full guard.
Hunt perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kneereaper is trying to get back to full guard.
Kneereaper throws a strike from the bottom but Hunt passes into side control!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kneereaper bucks up and tries to throw Hunt off but instead Hunt has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneereaper is trying to stand back up.
Paul Hunt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kneereaper trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Hunt is hanging on to Kneereaper's back as he tries to escape.
Hunt not allowing Kneereaper to control his hands.
Hunt is hanging on to Kneereaper's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneereaper is working hard here to advance position.
Hunt controls the action.
Kneereaper trying to get back to his feet but Hunt is in full control for now.
Hunt controlling the position well here. Kneereaper rolled but Hunt kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Kneereaper just trying to survive but Hunt is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

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 has the hooks in. Kneereaper is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hunt trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kneereaper doesn't escape.
Hunt is hanging on to Kneereaper's back as he tries to escape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kneereaper trying to control the hands but Hunt won't let him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kneereaper.
Hunt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunt scores with a jab to the head.
Paul Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt stuffs the takedown attempt from Kneereaper. Kneereaper gets slowly back to his feet.

Kneereaper throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hunt was covering up waiting for the punch and Kneereaper finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kneereaper controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hunt is working an open guard so Kneereaper takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kneereaper tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hunt throws the left hand but Kneereaper avoids the punch easily.
Kneereaper misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hunt tries to counter by closing the distance.

Hunt gets caught napping as Kneereaper dives in and scores a takedown. Hunt manages to retain guard.
Hunt has Kneereaper pulled in close to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kneereaper prevents Hunt from getting back to his feet.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Kneereaper from controlling successfully.
Kneereaper looking to sit in guard and control but Hunt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kneereaper pulls Hunt in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneereaper looking to control.
Hunt is fighting to break Kneereaper's control of his arms but Kneereaper is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kneereaper looking for a sweep. Not yet Kneereaper, not yet.
Kneereaper is trying to keep Hunt in close.
Kneereaper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneereaper has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hunt has passed into side control.
Hunt remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kneereaper throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Kneereaper tries to bench press Hunt off him but Hunt keeps the position.
Kneereaper wants to control but Hunt postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hunt keeps the fight on the outside.

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 closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kneereaper did well to prevent Hunt getting side control.
Kneereaper tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Hunt has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Hunt content just to control the position here.
Kneereaper tries to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hunt is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Twisty Kneereaper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hunt drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kneereaper is wriggling around but Hunt manages to pass to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Twisty Kneereaper showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Hunt!
An out of breath Paul Hunt thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.