PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Iwamura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hunt
vs
Iwamura

180 cm
27
155 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

178 cm
25
153 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mike Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoshihiro Iwamura!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunt throws a front kick that sends Iwamura stumbling back into the cage.
Hunt looks for the body kick but Iwamura saw that one coming.
Hunt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Iwamura avoids the head kick by Hunt.

Iwamura gets a clinch.
Iwamura avoids a wild elbow strike from Hunt.
Hunt has Iwamura pressed against the cage, preventing Iwamura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Iwamura tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hunt lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hunt misses with a knee to the head.
Iwamura missing with knees to the body.
Iwamura misses with a knee strike.
Iwamura misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Iwamura blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Iwamura is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunt is defending well for now.
Iwamura wants a takedown.
Hunt crunches a lovely knee into Iwamura's ribcage.
Iwamura creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hunt's defenses.

Iwamura breaks from the clinch.
Hunt throws a sloppy head kick and Iwamura moves out of range easily.
Iwamura blocks a head kick by Hunt.
Hunt displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Iwamura.
Mike Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Iwamura.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Iwamura gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hunt keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Iwamura's efforts to push away.

Hunt breaks the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Hunt. Those never looked like landing.
Hunt lets loose with a powerful body kick. Iwamura will feel that in the morning.

Iwamura pushes Hunt up against the cage in a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Hunt.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Iwamura looking to throw knees to the head but Hunt is blocking nicely.
Iwamura trying to land knees to the body.
Iwamura missing with knees to the body.
Hunt lands a nice uppercut.
Hunt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the head but Hunt blocks with his arms.
Iwamura looks gassed!
Hunt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hunt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A knee to the head by Hunt.
Hunt lands a knee to the head.
Hunt with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt misses with a knee strike.
Hunt scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hunt misses with a knee to the head.
Hunt is pushing Iwamura up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hunt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Iwamura blocks an elbow strike.
A knee to the head by Iwamura.
Iwamura lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hunt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hunt managing to block the knees to the body from Iwamura.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunt avoids it.
Iwamura managing to block the knees to the body from Hunt.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunt avoids it.
Hunt looking to throw knees to the head but Iwamura is blocking nicely.
Iwamura is pushing Hunt up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Iwamura avoids a wild elbow strike from Hunt.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunt avoids it.
A bit of stalling here from Iwamura.
Hunt looking to throw knees to the head but Iwamura is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwamura can't get the takedown.
Hunt avoiding damage as Iwamura throws knees to the body.
Hunt managing to block the knees to the body from Iwamura.
Iwamura looking to slow down the pace here.

Hunt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hunt misses the shot to the body.
Good work by Iwamura as he checks the leg kick.
Mike Hunt is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hunt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Iwamura moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Good work by Iwamura as he checks the leg kick.

Iwamura moves into the clinch.
Hunt will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Iwamura up against the cage.
Iwamura tries to break free but Hunt pushes him back against the cage.
Hunt looking to throw knees to the head but Iwamura is blocking nicely.
Iwamura tries to stall but Hunt uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hunt can't break the clinch.
Iwamura lands a nice shot to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hunt as Iwamura tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Iwamura with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hunt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Iwamura is trying to force a seperation but Hunt has the dominant position.
Hunt looking to throw knees to the head but Iwamura is blocking nicely.
Hunt working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Iwamura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hunt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Iwamura dodges an elbow strike from Hunt.
Hunt being controlled against the cage.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the head but Hunt blocks with his arms.
Iwamura misses with a knee to the head.

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

Iwamura drives through and clinches with Hunt against the cage.
Hunt tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hunt misses with a knee to the head.

Iwamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hunt looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Iwamura closes the distance and clinches.
Iwamura drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hunt pulls his leg out and moves away.

Iwamura closes the distance and pushes Hunt back into the cage.
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 Mike Hunt will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Iwamura gets a clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Iwamura just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hunt's brow.

Hunt breaks the clinch.

Iwamura moves into the clinch.

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

Hunt clinches up with Iwamura and pushes him back against the cage.
Hunt avoiding damage as Iwamura throws knees to the body.
Hunt connects with a nasty looking knee right to Iwamura's face.
A body shot lands from Iwamura.

Iwamura breaks the clinch.
Hunt lands a nice looking body shot.
Iwamura gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hunt counters with a one-two to the body.

Iwamura moves into range and clinches up with Hunt.
Hunt leaning against his opponent.
Iwamura is working for takedown but Hunt is calmly controlling the position for now.
Iwamura with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hunt misses with a knee strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Iwamura with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hunt misses with a knee to the head.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hunt manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hunt lands a nice elbow.
Hunt is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Iwamura blocks it.
Iwamura looking to throw knees to the head but Hunt is blocking nicely.
Hunt throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Iwamura blocks it with crossed arms.
Hunt takes an elbow to the temple.
Iwamura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunt.
Iwamura just leaning against Hunt, taking a breather.
Iwamura looking to throw knees to the head but Hunt is blocking nicely.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the head but Hunt blocks with his arms.
Iwamura misses with an elbow strike.
Iwamura throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hunt landing knees to the head.
Iwamura pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hunt gets underhooks to prevent Iwamura's takedown attempt.
Mike Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Iwamura.
Iwamura swings wildly with an uppercut but Hunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hunt throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunt avoids it.
Iwamura changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hunt fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Iwamura drives through and clinches with Hunt against the cage.
Hunt throws a knee to the head but misses.

Hunt breaks from the clinch.
Mike Hunt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Iwamura misses with a takedown
letting Hunt counter with a right hand.
Iwamura walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hunt.

Iwamura gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Iwamura looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Iwamura wants to break free but Hunt has control.

Hunt manages to break the clinch.

Iwamura has closed the distance and engaged Hunt in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt landing knees to the head.
Hunt with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Iwamura gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hunt scores a nice knee to the body.
Iwamura avoiding damage as Hunt throws knees to the body.
Iwamura connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hunt's face.
Iwamura drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hunt gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hunt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hunt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Iwamura has managed to clinch.
Iwamura looking to throw knees to the head but Hunt is blocking nicely.

Hunt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Iwamura closes the distance and pushes Hunt back into the cage.
Hunt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Iwamura.
Iwamura is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hunt is defending well for now.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Iwamura blocks it.
Hunt on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Iwamura throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwamura throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hunt blocks it with crossed arms.
Iwamura throws an elbow but it misses.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Iwamura blocks it.
Iwamura throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Hunt manages to break the clinch.

Iwamura clinches up against the cage.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Iwamura blocks it.
Iwamura tries a knee to the head but Hunt blocks it.
Hunt is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hunt avoids it.
Hunt landing knees to the head.
Iwamura unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hunt lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Iwamura tightens his grip and picks Hunt up, before dumping him to the ground. Hunt manages to land in guard.
Hunt on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hunt tries to get out of the position.

Hunt pushes Iwamura off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Iwamura with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hunt counters with a body kick.

Iwamura forces Hunt back against the cage and clinches.
Hunt lands a knee to the head.
Iwamura holding his opponent close, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yoshihiro Iwamura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Hunt.
Hunt misses with a head kick.
Iwamura shoots and misses
and Hunt counters with an inside leg kick.
Iwamura shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hunt counters with a nice leg kick.
Iwamura tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Both fighters circling a little - Hunt finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hunt connects with a high kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hunt.
Crunch! Hunt slams his shin into Iwamura's torso.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hunt moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hunt lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt misses with the body kick

and Iwamura counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Iwamura.

Hunt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Iwamura has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hunt.

Iwamura moves into the clinch.
Hunt holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A knee to the head by Hunt.

Iwamura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Iwamura moves out of range of the body kick.

Iwamura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hunt, pushing him back against the cage.
Hunt with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hunt managing to block the knees to the body from Iwamura.
Hunt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Iwamura goes for a takedown attempt but Hunt pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Mike Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Iwamura.
Nice body kick from Hunt.
Hunt throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwamura shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hunt counters with a nice body kick.

Iwamura moves into the clinch.

Hunt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Iwamura misses with a takedown attempt
and Hunt counters with a head kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hunt.
Hunt feints and then cracks Iwamura's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Iwamura down.
Hunt throws a lazy head kick

and Iwamura counters by clinching up.
Iwamura misses with a knee strike.
Iwamura throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hunt landing knees to the head.
Iwamura throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hunt blocks it with crossed arms.
Hunt is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Hunt misses with a knee to the head.
Hunt missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Iwamura throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Iwamura using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hunt has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Iwamura changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hunt fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hunt throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Iwamura rushes Hunt and presses him up against the cage.
Iwamura misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hunt.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hunt - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Iwamura missing with knees to the body.
Hunt prevents a body shot from Iwamura.
Iwamura tries to land a knee to the head but Hunt blocks with his arms.

Hunt breaks the clinch.
Hunt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Iwamura with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hunt counters with a left and a right that stings Iwamura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hunt forces Iwamura back against the cage and clinches.
Hunt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hunt has Iwamura pressed against the cage, preventing Iwamura from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Iwamura with a knee to the head.
Hunt misses with a knee to the head.
Iwamura trying to land knees to the body.
Hunt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Iwamura takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hunt gets underhooks to prevent Iwamura's takedown attempt.
Hunt pushes Iwamura back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Iwamura misses with a knee strike.
Hunt throws a knee to the head but misses.
Iwamura tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hunt misses with an elbow over the top.
Hunt looking to throw knees to the head but Iwamura is blocking nicely.
Iwamura is pushing Hunt up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Iwamura blocks it.
Iwamura lands a body shot.
Hunt gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Iwamura.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Hunt showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hunt 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Hunt!