PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim Ernst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jordan Mutch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ernst kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjVvhDwFnJk. Jordan Mutch has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ernst
vs
Mutch

180 cm
34
157 lbs
19 - 18 - 1

169 cm
28
154 lbs
16 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Ernst!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jordan Mutch!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mutch with a poor takedown
and Ernst cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mutch throws a lazy uppercut
letting Ernst counter with a right hand.

Mutch shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mutch looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ernst with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ernst is positioning himself well to prevent Mutch advancing to mount.
Mutch throwing shots but Ernst is blocking nicely.
Ernst trying to control here.
Ernst wants to get back to full guard.
Ernst keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Ernst on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mutch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ernst trying to control but Mutch postures up.
Mutch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernst has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mutch is working away from the top position though.
Ernst wants to get back to full guard.

Mutch is working for a submission of some sort.
Mutch working the head and body with strikes.
Ernst wants to get back to full guard.
Ernst is trying to control but can't.
Ernst moves into full guard.
Ernst not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mutch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ernst keeping full guard, as Mutch tries to pass.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ernst holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ernst'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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mutch accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tim Ernst.
Mutch misses with an uppercut
and Ernst counters with a right hand to the body.
Mutch lands an overhand right.
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!
Ernst throws a hook but Mutch avoids it easily.

Mutch rushes Ernst and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A knee to the head by Ernst.

Mutch gets a trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mutch throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mutch not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ernst blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mutch.
Ernst keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Ernst is looking for a sweep. Mutch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst is working hard here to advance position.
Ernst is trying to control but can't.
Ernst avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mutch.
Ernst trying to control but Mutch postures up.
Mutch trying to control from half guard but Ernst is working away.
Ernst is trying is best to control the position here.

We're going to have a standup here because Tim Ernst wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Mutch has Ernst up against the cage in a clinch.

Mutch pulls guard.
Ernst advances to half guard.
Ernst is keen to just control but Mutch is a slippery customer.
Mutch trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mutch is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Mutch looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Mutch is looking to control Ernst's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mutch avoid being mounted?
Mutch gets back to full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ernst slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Our spies down at at Academia Ipanema inform us that Mutch has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Mutch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ernst defends well.
Ernst definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ernst stopping the sweep attempt from Mutch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jordan Mutch dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ernst closes the distance and clinches.
Mutch tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ernst just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but Mutch blocks it.
Mutch blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ernst lands with a light punch inside.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Mutch blocks with his arms.
Mutch has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ernst avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ernst with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Mutch wants a takedown but no success here.
Tim Ernst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Mutch.
Ernst tries to land knees in the clinch but Mutch avoids the damage to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ernst obliges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernst throws a head punch that misses.
Ernst is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Mutch is defending well for now.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Ernst misses with a knee to the head.
Ernst misses with a punch to the body.
Ernst misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Mutch.
A head punch on the inside from Ernst fails to land.
Mutch managing to block the knees to the body from Ernst.
Ernst is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Mutch blocks with his arms.

Mutch jumps guard and drags Ernst to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ernst controlling from the top position.
Mutch has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mutch trying to control the position.
Mutch seems keen to control Ernst's posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Mutch darts in and clinches Ernst up against the cage.
Mutch drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ernst pulls his leg out and moves away.

Mutch gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Mutch.
A short right from Ernst.
Ernst with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ernst lands a right hand.
Ernst trying to land knees to the body.
Ernst throws a knee to the head but misses.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but Mutch blocks it.
Mutch is trying to drag Ernst to the mat but Ernst just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ernst looking to throw knees to the head but Mutch is blocking nicely.
Mutch tries to pull guard but Ernst forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ernst with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Mutch blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Tim Ernst has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mutch letting Ernst take a breather here.
Ernst scores with a nice hook to the head.
A right hand to the body from Ernst.
Mutch is trying to drag Ernst to the mat but Ernst just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ernst with an attempt at a knee that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ernst connects with a knee to the head.
Mutch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Mutch is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ernst gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Ernst dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mutch darts in and clinches Ernst up against the cage.
Ernst goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mutch prevents it.

Mutch breaks from the clinch.

Mutch takes the fight into the clinch.
Mutch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ernst tries to score a body lock takedown but Mutch shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ernst is stalling here.
Mutch has Ernst pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ernst manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mutch tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tim Ernst has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jordan Mutch.
Mutch takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernst looking to throw knees to the head but Mutch is blocking nicely.
Ernst tries to land a knee to the head but Mutch blocks with his arms.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Ernst misses with the head strike.
Mutch is trying to pull guard but Ernst turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Ernst.
Mutch looking for a takedown.
Mutch has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ernst is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Ernst's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A leg kick checked by Ernst.

Mutch closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Ernst.
Mutch on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ernst lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Mutch is trying to drag Ernst to the mat but Ernst just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ernst makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ernst tries a knee to the head but Mutch blocks it.
Mutch tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ernst holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ernst with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mutch's elbow.
Ernst gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mutch.
Nice elbow from Mutch.

It looks like Tim Ernst has been cut.

Mutch pulls guard.
Ernst not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Mutch is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ernst defends well.

Mutch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ernst trying to control the position from guard on top but Mutch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Mutch is looking for a triangle here but Ernst uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ernst controls the position.
Mutch sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ernst passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mutch!
Ernst trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mutch sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

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 Tim Ernst.
I think Ernst has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tim Ernst!
During a confident post fight interview, Tim Ernst thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.