PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy West (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Garbutt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Garbutt's choice of entrance music: Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law. Kevin Garbutt has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Billy West's chin.

West
vs
Garbutt

192 cm
23
217 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

193 cm
24
215 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy West!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Garbutt!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garbutt tries a head kick but it misses.

West scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
West connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Garbutt some visible discomfort.
Garbutt manages to get back to half guard.
West is keen to just control but Garbutt is a slippery customer.
West throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Garbutt pushes West off looking to stand but West dives back in and keeps control.
West not landing any meaningful shots this time.
West missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Garbutt trying to hold on to West's head to control him but West postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbutt is refusing to be controlled, as West sits in half guard.
West working the head and body with strikes.
West thows a huge punch but Garbutt dodges it nicely.
West 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbutt trying to control but West postures up.
West takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Garbutt is refusing to be controlled, as West sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Garbutt gets back to full guard.
West scoring with some ground and pound.
Garbutt managing to control the position.
West postures up in Garbutt's guard and throws a big left but Garbutt blocks it.
West throwing strikes from guard but Garbutt blocks nicely.
West content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West is looking to work some ground and pound but Garbutt has wrist control.
West postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
West postures up.
West postures up in Garbutt's guard and throws a big left but Garbutt blocks it.
West in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Garbutt is trying to keep West in close.
Garbutt wants to sweep here but West controlling him for the moment.
Garbutt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Garbutt 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as West accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West postures up in Garbutt's guard and throws a big left but Garbutt blocks it.
West throwing strikes from guard but Garbutt blocks nicely.
Garbutt is trying to keep West in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
West throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
West postures up in Garbutt's guard and throws a big left but Garbutt blocks it.
West throwing strikes from guard but Garbutt blocks nicely.
Garbutt controlling West's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as West checks a leg kick.
West looks to land a left hand but Garbutt moved out of range nicely.
Garbutt throws a body punch but West moves out of range.
West connects with a body shot that sends Garbutt's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt tries for a takedown but West circles away easily
and West connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Garbutt fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but West is out of range.
West throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Garbutt feints the counter takedown.
West blocks a head kick by Garbutt.
No luck for West with that takedown attempt.
Garbutt changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Garbutt fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
West keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Garbutt closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
West misses with a straight right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy West dominated that round.
That's time! West's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

West scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from West finds it's way through Garbutt's defenses.
Garbutt throws a body punch but West moves out of range.
Garbutt looks to score with a jab to the body but West is just out of range.
Garbutt lands with a kick to the temple. West shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Billy West has been cut.
A low kick from Garbutt misses
and Garbutt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fighters circling - Garbutt throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Garbutt misses with a hook.
West shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Garbutt as he avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
West slips a jab and a cross from Garbutt.
Garbutt buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
West blocks a head kick by Garbutt.
West connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Garbutt momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West catches Garbutt with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Garbutt scores with a head kick.
Garbutt lands a nice looking body shot.
It looks like West has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
West throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Garbutt's waist but Garbutt gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing West off to one side.
Garbutt gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Garbutt goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

West is rocked!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Garbutt.
Garbutt shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has West pinned against the cage. West gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Garbutt is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down West rather than just go for the knockout.
A big left from West misses.
Garbutt looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Garbutt walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. West checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
West connects with a body shot that sends Garbutt's belly button to the back.
Garbutt buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Garbutt tries to move into range but West moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Garbutt takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Garbutt with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
West is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Garbutt.
Garbutt shoots in looking for a takedown but West manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Garbutt's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
West swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
West slips under a jab.
Garbutt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Billy West is winning the standup battle so far.
Garbutt throws a leg kick but West checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt moves away from the strike by West.
West misses with a hook. Garbutt ducked under it nicely.
Garbutt steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
West is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
West takes a jab right on the kisser.
A punch combination from West misses.
West cracks Garbutt with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Garbutt clobbers West with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
West fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Billy West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garbutt moves out of range of the strikes.
Garbutt throws a lazy body kick
and West cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
West tests Garbutt's chin there with a solid looking shot.
An inside leg kick from Garbutt misses.
West walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West scores with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A swing and a miss from West.
Garbutt uses good head movement to avoid the hook from West.
Garbutt slips under a jab.
Nice body kick there by Garbutt.
Garbutt tried to score with a low kick but West checks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as West checks a leg kick.
West misses with a body shot
and Garbutt counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Garbutt misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It looked like West wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Garbutt fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Billy West will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Billy West's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

West 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.

Garbutt gets caught flat footed, as West shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Garbutt keeping moving, preventing West from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garbutt is trying to keep West in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbutt pulls West in close to his closed guard and prevents West from doing any damage or advancing position.
Garbutt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
West is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Garbutt feints a jab promting West to slip. Garbutt then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. West slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
West misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Garbutt.
Garbutt fails in his attempt to clinch.
West scores with a hook to the body. Garbutt takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
West connects with the punch.
Kevin Garbutt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt with a lazy takedown attempt
and Garbutt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
West misses with a lunging right hand
and Garbutt counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
West cracks Garbutt with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Garbutt ducks under a wild hook from West.
Garbutt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from West.
Garbutt lands a nice leg kick that just misses West's sensitive parts.
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!
West shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Garbutt sprawls well. Garbutt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. West gets slowly back to his feet.
West takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West walks into a stiff left hand from Garbutt.
Oh West is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Billy West's cut is getting worse.
Garbutt fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and West has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A head kick misses from Garbutt.
West seems to have got his legs back now.
Garbutt shoots in for a takedown but West shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Garbutt misses with a hook to the body
and West cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Garbutt throws a sloppy body shot
and West counters with a straight right hand.
West connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Garbutt momentarily.
Garbutt takes one to the chin there.
West swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Garbutt fails to land with a series of punches.
Garbutt tries for a takedown but West circles away easily
and West counters with a straight right hand.
Billy West has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Garbutt.
Garbutt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
West throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Garbutt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
West lands with a straight right. Garbutt didn't see that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Garbutt. That's going to slow West down.

Garbutt lands a left and a right that send West crashing to the mat, dazed. Garbutt thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Garbutt wants to slow West down by chopping away at his legs.
West is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Garbutt.
West is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garbutt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Garbutt has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
West smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
West tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kevin Garbutt.
I think West 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy West!
Billy West seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.