PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kevin Garbutt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Degrizz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Garbutt comes to the cage accompanied by Saxon - Strong Arm of the Law. Degrizz has chosen Battle in prison as his entrance music. 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.

Garbutt
vs
Degrizz

193 cm
28
215 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

187 cm
37
217 lbs
25 - 19 - 0

Great wrestler
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kevin Garbutt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Degrizz!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garbutt takes a swing at Degrizz's ribcage but misses.
Degrizz feints a counter leg kick.
Garbutt tries for a takedown but Degrizz circles away easily
and Degrizz counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Garbutt thinking.
Degrizz looks to score with a jab to the body but Garbutt is just out of range.
Garbutt lands a nice looking body shot.
Degrizz pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice body kick from Degrizz.
Garbutt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Degrizz.
That kick from Garbutt tenderised Degrizz's leg. Degrizz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Garbutt fails to land the takedown.
Jim Degrizz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice jab there from Degrizz.
A nice leg kick lands there from Degrizz.
Degrizz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Degrizz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Garbutt at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Garbutt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Degrizz.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garbutt gets a double leg takedown into Degrizz's guard.
Garbutt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Degrizz looking for a sweep. Not yet Degrizz, not yet.
Garbutt trying to control but Degrizz is working from the bottom.
Garbutt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Garbutt prevents Degrizz from getting back to his feet.

Degrizz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garbutt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garbutt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garbutt postures up.
Degrizz wants to stand and escape but Garbutt is having none of it.

Degrizz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garbutt doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garbutt manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Garbutt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Degrizz swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Degrizz looking to control.
Garbutt lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Garbutt's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Garbutt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Garbutt controlling from the top position.
Garbutt connects with a couple of short punches.

Degrizz manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Garbutt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Garbutt feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Degrizz's calf.
Garbutt will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Degrizz lands with a thumping leg kick.

Garbutt closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Degrizz did well to prevent Garbutt getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Degrizz looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Garbutt wants to take a breather but Degrizz is having none of it.
Degrizz tries to roll over but Garbutt keeps him under control.
Degrizz is staying active underneath Garbutt, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Degrizz avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Garbutt.
Degrizz is trying to get back to full guard.
Degrizz moves into full guard.

Degrizz looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Garbutt wants to control from the top but Degrizz keeps moving.
Degrizz looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

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.

Degrizz throws his legs up looking for a submission but Garbutt uses it to pass to side control.
Garbutt working the ground and pound.
Degrizz is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Degrizz is trying to control Garbutt's posture but Garbutt avoids it.
Garbutt scoring with punches and elbows.
Garbutt is putting a hurting on Degrizz here, landing some big shots from side control.
Garbutt creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Garbutt grinds an elbow into Degrizz's temple.
Degrizz is trying to control Garbutt's posture but Garbutt avoids it.
Degrizz is looking to regain half guard here but Garbutt keeps moving and retains side control.
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 Kevin Garbutt will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Garbutt stuns Degrizz with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Garbutt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Degrizz.
Garbutt swings away with a body shot that misses
and Degrizz counters with a nice leg kick.
Degrizz fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Garbutt looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The fighters circling - Degrizz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Degrizz throws a right and a left that Garbutt avoids nicely.
Degrizz throws out a leg kick but Garbutt moves out of range and Degrizz only half commits.
Degrizz uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A nice inside leg kick there by Garbutt. That's going to slow Degrizz down.
Degrizz misses with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Degrizz avoids the head kick by Garbutt.
A solid leg kick lands there for Garbutt.
Garbutt digs a good hook to Degrizz's body.
Garbutt is looking to wear down Degrizz with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Garbutt tries for a takedown but Degrizz circles away easily
and Degrizz counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Degrizz throws a looping overhand right but Garbutt ducks down to avoid it.
Degrizz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Garbutt tries for a takedown but Degrizz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Degrizz scores with a shot to the body.
Degrizz catches Garbutt with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Garbutt will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Garbutt wants to clinch.
Garbutt lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Degrizz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Garbutt takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Garbutt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Jim Degrizz has been cut.
Garbutt looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt connects with a high kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Garbutt blocks a low kick nicely.
Degrizz's corner calls for a 1-2. Degrizz obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Degrizz throws a hook but Garbutt avoids it easily.
Degrizz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Garbutt was well out of range. Poor timing from Degrizz.
Degrizz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Degrizz throws a leg kick which misses Garbutt's front leg but catches the back leg as Garbutt tries to avoid it.
Degrizz checks a low kick from Garbutt.
Garbutt blocks a jab.
It looked like Garbutt was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Degrizz.
Degrizz leaves Garbutt with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Garbutt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Degrizz looks to land a right hand but Garbutt moved out of range.
Garbutt looks to score with a jab to the body but Degrizz is just out of range.
Degrizz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Degrizz throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Garbutt on the side of the head.
Jim Degrizz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt connects with a single shot there.
Degrizz throws an overhand right that lands on Garbutt's shoulder, as Garbutt tries to avoid the shot.
Garbutt finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
As Garbutt backs off Degrizz throws a huge counter combo but Garbutt manages to avoid it all.

Garbutt drives through with a takedown into Degrizz's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Garbutt looking to sit in guard and control but Degrizz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Degrizz wants to control from the top but Garbutt keeps moving.
Garbutt seems keen to control Degrizz's posture.
Kevin Garbutt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Garbutt wants to sweep but no luck.
Degrizz stays in close to Garbutt's body and controls the position.
Garbutt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Garbutt stops Degrizz from getting back to his feet.
Degrizz moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Degrizz 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.
Garbutt lands a couple of digs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garbutt preventing the sweep.
Degrizz is pulling down on Garbutt's head. It's preventing any offense from Garbutt, at least for the moment.

Degrizz working for a triangle but Garbutt defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Degrizz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jim Degrizz'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. And we move into the final round!

That kick from Degrizz tenderised Garbutt's leg. Garbutt is trying to keep his angry face on.
Garbutt throws a head kick but Degrizz moves out of range.
Garbutt is looking to land body kicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Degrizz misses the target.
Degrizz throws a shot to the body.
Garbutt moves out of range as Degrizz strikes.
Degrizz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Degrizz thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbutt displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Degrizz throws out the jab.
Degrizz throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Garbutt.
Garbutt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Degrizz manages to avoid it.
Degrizz misses with a hook. Garbutt ducked under it nicely.
Jim Degrizz seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Degrizz wants to land a leg kick but Garbutt is out of range.
As Degrizz backs away, Garbutt returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Garbutt keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Garbutt with a hook.
Degrizz throws a sloppy head kick and Garbutt moves out of range easily.
Garbutt appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Garbutt connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Degrizz lands a jab to the nose.
Degrizz checks a low kick from Garbutt.
Degrizz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Degrizz throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Garbutt feinted with a counter takedown.
Degrizz misses with a straight left.
A combination from Garbutt does no damage.
Degrizz throws a jab but it's blocked by Garbutt.
Degrizz misses with the combination.
Garbutt tried to counter with a leg kick but Degrizz avoided it.
Degrizz swings away with a body shot that misses
and Garbutt counters with a series of strikes. Degrizz will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Degrizz slaps away a takedown attempt from Garbutt, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Garbutt fails with the takedown.
Garbutt takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Degrizz connects with a solid leg kick.

Garbutt lands a big head kick that sends Degrizz tumbling to the mat! Garbutt takes a step backwards and waves Degrizz back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Degrizz is rocked!
Degrizz misses with a wild body shot.
Garbutt seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Degrizz is still on wobbly legs! Can Garbutt finish him?
Degrizz walks into a left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Degrizz. Garbutt does a little dance to reset his feet.
Degrizz listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Garbutt wants to slow Degrizz down by chopping away at his legs.

Garbutt lands a big uppercut and Degrizz crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Degrizz looks OK. Garbutt waves Degrizz back to his feet!
Garbutt throws a low kick but Degrizz avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garbutt tries for a takedown but Degrizz circles away easily
and Degrizz counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kevin Garbutt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Degrizz throws a body shot but no joy.
Degrizz scores with a jab.
Degrizz swings away with a body shot that misses
and Garbutt counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Degrizz thinking.
Degrizz throws a leg kick which misses Garbutt's front leg but catches the back leg as Garbutt tries to avoid it.
Degrizz seems to have recovered his senses.
Garbutt is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Degrizz swings for the body but Garbutt moves out of range.
Garbutt ducks under a wild hook from Degrizz.
Degrizz misses with a body shot.
Garbutt misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Degrizz jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
A head kick from Degrizz lands but Garbutt takes it in his stride.
Degrizz misses with a head kick.
Degrizz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Degrizz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Degrizz misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degrizz misses with a hook.
Degrizz lunges at Garbutt with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Garbutt's hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Degrizz misses with a body shot
and Garbutt cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Garbutt keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Garbutt looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Degrizz slaps away a takedown attempt from Garbutt, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Garbutt looks to land a left hand but Degrizz moved out of range nicely.
Garbutt misses with a series of wild punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Garbutt scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Degrizz lands a lovely overhand right.
Degrizz scores with a nice head shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jim Degrizz.
I think Degrizz 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29

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