PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Hunstad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vera's entrance music is Black Eyed Peas - Bebot. A fine choice. Brian Hunstad has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Michael Vera's chin.

Vera
vs
Hunstad

191 cm
18
205 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
201 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Self confident

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

[MMABR]: TechNutri - Ensuring the quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Vera!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Brian Hunstad!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Matheus Silva and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera misses with a low kick.
Hunstad doesn't manage to clinch there - Vera circles away.
Vera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hunstad tries to clinch up but Vera circles away and keeps his distance.
Michael Vera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vera uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Brian Hunstad has been cut.
Vera throws a series of punches but Hunstad avoids them all with ease.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hunstad tries to clinch but Vera moves out of range.
Vera lands a jab.
Good work by Hunstad as he checks the leg kick.
Vera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hunstad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hunstad chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Vera can pounce on him.
Hunstad throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vera's waist but Vera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hunstad off to one side.
Vera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hunstad blocks a low kick nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunstad tries to clinch up.
Vera looks for the body kick but Hunstad saw that one coming.
Vera throws a front kick aimed at Hunstad's knee but Hunstad avoids it well.
Vera throws a leg kick which misses Hunstad's front leg but catches the back leg as Hunstad tries to avoid it.
Hunstad tries to clinch but Vera is having none of it.
Hunstad moves in looking to clinch but Vera pushes him off.
Hunstad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Vera swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunstad.
Hunstad is looking to clinch but Vera is avoiding it.
Vera walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hunstad checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Vera misses with a series of wild punches.
Vera throws a low kick, looking for Hunstad's leg but Hunstad calmly moves out of range.

Hunstad gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vera is looking to break free of the clinch but Hunstad has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunstad.
Hunstad takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vera looking to throw knees to the head but Hunstad is blocking nicely.
Vera goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hunstad prevents it.
Vera lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hunstad backwards.
Vera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vera struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunstad controls his hands.
Vera lands an uppercut.
Hunstad prevents Vera from breaking the clinch.
Vera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Vera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunstad is defending well for now.
Hunstad slowing the pace effectively.
Vera has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hunstad has Vera pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Vera manages to break the clinch.
Vera feints and then cracks Hunstad's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hunstad down.
Hunstad tries to clinch there but Vera circles away.
Vera throws a head kick but Hunstad moves out of range.
Vera wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hunstad on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hunstad tries to clinch up.
Vera looks to land a body kick but Hunstad moved away.
Vera throws a head kick but Hunstad moves out of range.
Vera throws a combination. Hunstad tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Vera throws a series of punches but Hunstad moves out of range.
Hunstad tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hunstad tries to clinch there but Vera circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunstad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Michael Vera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Hunstad feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hunstad lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hunstad lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hunstad throwing strikes but missing.
Hunstad loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunstad lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hunstad accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vera looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hunstad puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

Vera makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hunstad steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Vera. That one must have hurt.
Vera misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Vera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brian Hunstad's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Hunstad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A head kick misses from Vera.
Hunstad bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vera throws a head kick but Hunstad moves out of range.
Vera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hunstad moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hunstad is looking to clinch.

Hunstad clinches.
Vera throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Vera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vera throws a leg kick but Hunstad moved away.
Hunstad fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hunstad closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Vera looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hunstad is nestled in close to Vera, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hunstad really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vera. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunstad seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hunstad throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hunstad stops Vera from standing up.
Vera manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Hunstad is trying to escape the mount.
Vera wants to stand but Hunstad is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Vera throws some wild stikes that Hunstad manages to avoid easily.
Hunstad is desperately trying to improve his position but Vera has a good base and remains in mount.
Vera thowing shots but they're missing.
Hunstad slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hunstad does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hunstad gets full guard.
Hunstad has a closed guard, preventing Vera from standing up.
Hunstad lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.

Hunstad working for a triangle but Vera defends it easily.
Vera wants to control from the top but Hunstad keeps moving.
Hunstad throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Vera thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hunstad looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunstad, not yet.
Hunstad throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hunstad can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hunstad looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hunstad throws and elbow that misses. Vera uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hunstad's guard. Nice move by Vera!

Vera decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vera will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hunstad on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vera. Vera obviously looking to wear him down.
Vera catches Hunstad with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vera looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunstad is just out of range.
Hunstad tries to clinch up but Vera circles away and keeps his distance.
Vera shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hunstad holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hunstad stalling against the cage.
Hunstad has Vera pressed against the cage, preventing Vera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hunstad blocks it with crossed arms.
Vera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hunstad smiles and moves away.
Hunstad checks the leg kick nicely there.
Michael Vera is winning the standup battle so far.
Hunstad is looking to clinch but Vera is avoiding it.
Hunstad is looking to clinch but Vera is avoiding it.

Hunstad has managed to clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hunstad takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Vera throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Vera.
Vera is trying to break the clinch but Hunstad has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Hunstad showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Brian Hunstad's cut.
That's time! Vera's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Hunstad moves out of range easily.
Hunstad tries to clinch but Vera is having none of it.
Vera misses with a head kick.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Vera.
Hunstad wants to clinch up but Vera keeps it at a distance.
Hunstad avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hunstad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vera misses with a head kick.
Hunstad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vera paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vera tries to work over Hunstad's front leg with a kick but Hunstad checks it.
Hunstad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunstad fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hunstad bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Vera sneaks back into half guard.
Nice strikes from Hunstad there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunstad seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Vera actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vera moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Hunstad drops back looking for a leg! Vera is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vera manages to kick Hunstad off! Hunstad jumps back into Vera's guard.
Vera wants to sweep but no luck.
Brian Hunstad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunstad content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hunstad postures up in Vera's guard and throws a big left but Vera blocks it.
Vera trying to control the position.
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hunstad drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hunstad jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vera misses with a low kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Vera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Vera manages to break the clinch.

Vera gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hunstad distracts Vera with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hunstad thows a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vera is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to stand but Hunstad is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hunstad thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Vera passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.
Vera blocks the strikes from Hunstad.
Vera tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hunstad.
Hunstad is refusing to be controlled, as Vera sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vera misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vera shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunstad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vera circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hunstad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vera tried to score with a low kick but Hunstad checks it.
Vera looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vera looks to land a combination but Hunstad avoids it well.
Michael Vera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hunstad doesn't manage to clinch there - Vera circles away.
Hunstad walks into a jab.

Hunstad has managed to clinch.
Hunstad will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vera up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Hunstad really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Brian Hunstad's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vera throws a right hand that Hunstad ducks under and follows up with a left that Hunstad also avoids with ease.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vera keeps the fight on the outside.
Vera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vera tried to score with a low kick but Hunstad checks it.
Vera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hunstad. That did some damage!
Vera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Hunstad takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Vera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hunstad.
Vera fails to land with a series of punches.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Vera with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Hunstad blocks the low kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunstad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hunstad shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Vera taking some punishment here, with Hunstad in his half guard.
Vera is looking for a sweep. Hunstad is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hunstad working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hunstad is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hunstad tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Vera looks like he's trying to stand up.

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

Hunstad is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vera trying to control here.
Hunstad is pressing down on Vera's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vera is holding on for now.

Hunstad wants to work for an arm triangle but Vera is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vera plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Vera misses with a head kick.
Vera misses with a body kick.
Vera lands a head kick!
Vera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunstad blocks a jab.
Vera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunstad wants to clinch.
Hunstad doesn't manage to clinch there - Vera circles away.
A head kick misses from Vera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunstad doesn't manage to clinch there - Vera circles away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vera.
Hunstad tries to clinch but Vera moves out of range.

Hunstad has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hunstad blocks it with crossed arms.
Vera lands a good knee to the midsection. Hunstad won't want to take too many of those.
Vera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hunstad content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Vera wants to break free but Hunstad has control.
Hunstad holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Vera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hunstad stalling against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Michael Vera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Brian Hunstad's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A left and a right from Vera both land. Nice combination.
Vera scoring well with a low kick there.

Hunstad instigates a clinch.
Vera throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vera is trying to stall.
Vera looking to throw knees to the head but Hunstad is blocking nicely.
Hunstad is trying to maintain a safe position but Vera gets an underhook and turns Hunstad into the cage.
Vera is looking to break free of the clinch but Hunstad has double underhooks.
Hunstad's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hunstad takes a knee right on the jaw!
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hunstad tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hunstad drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hunstad avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunstad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vera jumps guard but Hunstad stands there with Vera around his waist. Vera gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vera lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hunstad backwards.
Hunstad controlling the action here for a moment.
Vera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunstad is defending well for now.

Vera breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vera misses with a low kick as Hunstad jumps back.
Vera thuds a left hand into Hunstad's body.
Vera swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunstad.
Vera looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hunstad checks a low kick from Vera.
Hunstad moves out of range of the leg kick from Vera.
Vera circles away from the clinch attempt.
A shot to de liver by Vera. Beautiful body shot.
Vera keeps the fight on the outside.
Vera dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hunstad. That did some damage!
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Hunstad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hunstad has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Vera.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunstad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vera misses the body punch

and Hunstad counters with a takedown into side control.
Hunstad cracks Vera with a big right hand but Vera just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hunstad creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hunstad lands a decent elbow from side control.
Hunstad working away.
Hunstad landing strikes.
Vera manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hunstad's best efforts.
Vera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Hunstad there.
Hunstad tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vera knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Hunstad is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vera has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vera slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Vera throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vera has his foot on Hunstad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hunstad works his way back into a safe position though.
Hunstad stopping the sweep attempt from Vera.
Hunstad postures up and lands a big shot to Vera's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Hunstad.
I think Hunstad 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 47:48
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 47:48
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brian Hunstad!
Brian Hunstad is the new light heavyweight champion!