PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Travis Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buakaw Kit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hunter
vs
Kit

170 cm
27
141 lbs
20 - 9 - 0

172 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Charlie Wang's Nutrition and 95 % Laundry

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Travis Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buakaw Kit!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kit motions for Hunter to come forward. Kit throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Kit.
Kit pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kit wants to clinch up but Hunter keeps it at a distance.
Hunter just misses with a punch to the body.
Hunter shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hunter throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Kit counters with an outside leg kick.
Hunter takes a swing at Kit's ribcage but misses.
Kit throws the kick towards the body but Hunter avoids it.
Hunter misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kit.
Kit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jab by Hunter.
Hunter shoots for a double leg takedown but Kit sprawls well. He's pushed Hunter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hunter slips a jab and a cross from Kit.
Nice body kick from Kit.

Hunter decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kit trying to control but Hunter postures up.
Hunter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hunter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kit defending well though.
Kit is trying to stand up here but Hunter is controlling him well.
Hunter throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hunter winds up and cracks Kit with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kit tries to roll over but Hunter keeps him under control.
Hunter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kit defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kit on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kit is trying to control but can't.
Hunter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hunter has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kit won't allow Hunter to pass to mount.
Hunter looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kit with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hunter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kit defending well though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hunter prevents Kit from improving his position.
Kit wants to control but Hunter is keeping busy.
Kit tries to kick Hunter off but Hunter keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hunter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunter looking for a submission but Kit manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Hunter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kit preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hunter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunter is looking to work some ground and pound but Kit has wrist control.
Hunter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kit wants to control the position but Hunter says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Hunter is working for a kimura but Kit is defending it quite comfortably.
Kit is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to pass to full mount but Kit defends it.
Kit is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kit is defending against the submission attempts here by Hunter.
Hunter not landing any meaningful shots this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter wants to free his trapped foot but Kit is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Travis Hunter will probably get the nod.
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.

Hunter lands a nice shot to the body.
Hunter shoots in but Kit avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hunter scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kit's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hunter connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kit scrambles back to his feet.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kit sprawls well. Kit wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hunter gets slowly back to his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Kit.
Kit attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A jab from Kit does it's job there.
Hunter takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Buakaw Kit seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kit throws a sloppy head kick and Hunter moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kit turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
No joy there for Kit, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kit throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kit misses the body punch
enabling Hunter to counter with a crisp jab.
Hunter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kit circles away quickly and effectively.

Hunter closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hunter lands in his opponent's guard.
Kit wants to stand but Hunter is controlling the position.
Kit has Hunter pulled in close to control his posture.
Hunter postures up and lands a big shot to Kit's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hunter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunter throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hunter stopping the sweep attempt from Kit.
Kit working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kit is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunter won't allow Kit to sweep him here.
Kit avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunter tries to free his leg and advance position but Kit is retaining full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hunter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hunter lands a couple of digs.
Hunter throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunter throwing strikes but missing.
Kit seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter stopping the sweep attempt from Kit.
Hunter throws a big right hand that misses.
Hunter throws a big right hand that misses.
Kit working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hunter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hunter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunter won't allow Kit to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hunter ducks under a wild hook from Kit.
Hunter slips a jab from Kit.
Kit stuns Hunter with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kit fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hunter on the side of the head.

Hunter darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hunter thows a huge punch but Kit dodges it nicely.
Hunter lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hunter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Travis Hunter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hunter landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Hunter is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kit is just riding it out for now. Hunter eventually gives up the hold.
Hunter throws a strike but Kit avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hunter wants to pass the guard but Kit is defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hunter connects with a nice short shot to Kit's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kit actively working from the bottom here.
Hunter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Buakaw Kit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kit wants to get back to his feet.
Hunter thows a huge punch but Kit dodges it nicely.
Hunter missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kit is trying to stand up here but Hunter is controlling him well.
Hunter is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hunter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hunter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kit's head.
Kit keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hunter thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hunter trying to mount his opponent but Kit defends it.
Travis Hunter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hunter scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hunter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kit keeps working.
Hunter wants to free his trapped foot but Kit is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kit tries to get to full guard but Hunter has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter slows the pace down in half guard.
Hunter's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Travis Hunter has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kit misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hunter jabs Kit to the body, keeping him at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hunter takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunter connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis Hunter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hunter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Travis Hunter!
A relieved looking Travis Hunter thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.