PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Travis Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nisse Metaxa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Metaxa has chosen Skillet-Hero as his entrance music. Metaxa has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Travis Hunter has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hunter
vs
Metaxa

170 cm
38
156 lbs
29 - 18 - 0

165 cm
28
145 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Nisse Metaxa!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Edson Gomes and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hunter gets a takedown into half guard.
Metaxa looks winded!
Hunter tries to pass to full mount but Metaxa defends it.
Hunter seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hunter looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Metaxa!
Metaxa being controlled for a moment.
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.
Hunter working the body and head with strikes.
Metaxa is letting Hunter control him for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Metaxa tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Metaxa being controlled for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa wants to control but Hunter postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Metaxa tries to control but Hunter manages to take his back.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Hunter controlling the positon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter dominated that round.
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 is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Metaxa's half guard.
Well, if Hunter is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Metaxa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter uses his free foot to push down on Metaxa's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Metaxa.
Hunter content just to control the position here.
Hunter seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Metaxa for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Hunter.
Hunter is trying to take his opponent's back.
Travis Hunter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hunter content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter continues to stall.
Hunter continues to hold on tight.

Hunter is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Metaxa to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Metaxa shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hunter sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hunter looking to finish Metaxa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Metaxa!
Hunter controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hunter fails with a takedown attempt.
Hunter tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Metaxa defends well and Hunter ends up having to push Metaxa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Metaxa prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hunter gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Hunter pushing down on Metaxa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hunter in particular looking to stall.
Metaxa looks like he's trying to stand up.
Metaxa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter controlling the position easily from mount.
More hug and hope from Hunter.

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.
Hunter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Metaxa can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter clearly takes that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hunter drives through with a takedown into Metaxa's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hunter controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Metaxa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter forces his way into half guard.
Hunter controlling the action here.
Metaxa is trying to stand back up but Hunter is controlling him
Hunter controlling the action here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hunter fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Hunter shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hunter slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metaxa is looking to improve his position.
Hunter is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Metaxa!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hunter seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Metaxa is holding on tight.
Hunter controlling from the full mount.
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.
Metaxa is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Hunter controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter had his way with Nisse Metaxa in that round.
That's time! Hunter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hunter shoots in for a takedown but Metaxa shows good takedown defense.
Hunter fails to land the takedown.
Hunter bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hunter misses with a takedown attempt - Metaxa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Travis Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunter feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Metaxas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Hunter shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hunter showed some decent athleticism there.
Hunter content to control rather than advance.
Metaxa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hunter tries for a takedown but Metaxa sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunter manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Metaxa on his heels. He'll look to pass Metaxa's guard now, I'm sure.
Hunter sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hunter looking to pass the guard.
Metaxa is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Hunter dives into side control.
Hunter taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Further stalling from Hunter.

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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 50:42
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 50:42
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 50:42

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.