PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ulf Minutsak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jenson Button (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ulf Minutsak has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Minutsak
vs
Button

173 cm
23
171 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ulf Minutsak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jenson Button!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Button shoots in for a takedown but Minutsak shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Minutsak wants to clinch up but Button keeps it at a distance.
Some wild striking there from Minutsak.
Minutsak stuffs the takedown.
Minutsak throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Button.
Minutsak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Button.
Ulf Minutsak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jenson Button.
No luck for Button with that takedown attempt.
Minutsak tries to clinch up but Button circles away and keeps his distance.
Button fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Minutsak throws a nice looking combination but Button bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Minutsak throws a sloppy head kick and Button moves out of range easily.
Minutsak tries to bum rush Button with a series of wild strikes but Button uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Button.
Button working away.
Button misses with the ground and pound.
Button working the ground and pound but Minutsak is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Button working the strikes but Minutsak uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Button with the ground and pound but Minutsak uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Minutsak keeping full guard, as Button tries to pass.
Minutsak trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Minutsak throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Minutsak pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A head kick misses from Minutsak.
Minutsak throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Minutsak misses with a series of wild punches.

Minutsak moves into range and clinches up with Button.
Button takes an elbow to the forehead.

Minutsak breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Minutsak stalls.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Button is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Minutsak jumps guard.
Button throws a strike but Minutsak rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Minutsak working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Minutsak stops Button from standing up.
Button looks gassed!
Minutsak throwing strikes but missing.
Minutsak cracks Button with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Minutsak trying to control but Button is working from the bottom.
Minutsak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Minutsak throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minutsak's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Minutsak thows a big elbow that misses.
Minutsak trying to control the position from guard on top but Button is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Minutsak advances position into side control!
The ground and pound from Minutsak seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Minutsak looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Button is avoiding damage well.
Sloppy strikes there by Minutsak.
Minutsak fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Minutsak throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Minutsak throws a right and a left that both miss.
A head kick misses from Minutsak.

Minutsak gets a takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulf Minutsak dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Button with a lazy takedown attempt

and Minutsak counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Minutsak is looking to work some ground and pound but Button has wrist control.
Minutsak working some strikes from top position.
Minutsak postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Minutsak is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Minutsak loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Minutsak slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Button is breathing heavily.
An elbow from Minutsak crashes against the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Button is working to avoid the ground and pound but Minutsak connects with a decent elbow.
Button is not content to let Minutsak control the position.
Button dodges the ground and pound from Minutsak.
Minutsak in side control, throwing shots but Button defends.
Button taking punishment in the form of punches.
The strikes coming from Minutsak are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

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.
Minutsak working the head with strikes.
Minutsak landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Minutsak tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Button can do anything to dispel that myth.
Button avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Minutsak.

Minutsak is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Button knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Minutsak cracks Button with a big right hand but Button just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak is putting a hurting on Button here, landing some big shots from side control.
Button is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Minutsak throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Minutsak stands up.
Minutsak connects with a looping right hand.

Minutsak moves into the clinch.
Minutsak manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Minutsak gets control of Button's arms and successfully pulls guard. Minutsak will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Button throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Minutsak lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Button!
Minutsak with a couple of short strikes.
Minutsak misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Minutsak lands a big elbow.
Minutsak thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ulf Minutsak dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Minutsak there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ulf Minutsak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Minutsak moves into the clinch.
Button is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Minutsak pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Minutsak using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Minutsak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Minutsak clinches up with Button and pushes him back against the cage.
Minutsak utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Button's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

Minutsak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Minutsak gets a clinch.

Minutsak manages to break the clinch.
Button shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Minutsak counters by clinching up.
Nice elbow from Minutsak.
Minutsak utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Minutsak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Minutsak lands with a kick to the temple. Button shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minutsak throws a right and a left that both miss.
Minutsak fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Minutsak will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Button with a poor takedown

and Minutsak counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Minutsak.
Ulf Minutsak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jenson Button.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minutsak pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Minutsak lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Minutsak.
Button tries for a takedown but Minutsak circles away easily

and Minutsak counters by clinching up.

Minutsak drags the fight down to the ground.
Button postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Minutsak manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Minutsak won't let Button get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Button is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Minutsak working Button over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak punching from mount but Button doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Minutsak is landing with some decent strikes but Button is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Button is bucking up trying to escape but Minutsak cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Minutsak thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Minutsak misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Button really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Minutsak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Minutsak can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Button is looking to escape.
Minutsak 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.
Minutsak scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Button?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak is landing with some decent strikes but Button is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Jenson Button has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minutsak lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Minutsak connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Minutsak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Button can do to turn this around?
Button wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Minutsak cracks Button with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Button takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Minutsak throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minutsak lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Button hang on?
The referee warns Button that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Button avoids a series of strikes thrown by Minutsak.
Minutsak working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minutsak cracks Button with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Ulf Minutsak is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Minutsak wants to finish this one by submission but Button is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Minutsak.
Minutsak landing strikes, looking to finish!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ulf Minutsak showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Minutsak has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:25
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ulf Minutsak!