PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Butterworth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James The Hit Man (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James The Hit Man will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Butterworth
vs
The Hit Man

180 cm
23
212 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
204 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Paul Butterworth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, James The Hit Man!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Butterworth is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in The Hit Man's half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Butterworth is controlling the pace.
The Hit Man misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Butterworth with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
The Hit Man really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Butterworth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Butterworth uses his free foot to push down on The Hit Man's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for The Hit Man.
The Hit Man keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The Hit Man is squirming around, avoiding Butterworth's attempts to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hit Man regains half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Butterworth in particular looking to stall.
The Hit Man is looking to improve his position.
Butterworth is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Butterworth is trying to control. The Hit Man wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Paul Butterworth has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Horrible takedown by Butterworth or perhaps it was just good defense by The Hit Man which made him look bad.
The Hit Man avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butterworth shoots in for a takedown but The Hit Man shows good takedown defense.
Butterworth swats away the attempt to clinch by The Hit Man.
The Hit Man shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Butterworth as he avoids it easily.
The Hit Man shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Butterworth shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. The Hit Man manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Butterworth controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The Hit Man keeping moving, preventing Butterworth from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The Hit Man can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Butterworth controls the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Butterworth.

Butterworth throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. The Hit Man was covering up waiting for the punch and Butterworth finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Butterworth sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Butterworth stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The Hit Man swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Butterworth trying to control but The Hit Man is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butterworth passes The Hit Man's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The Hit Man is refusing to be controlled, as Butterworth sits in half guard.
Butterworth content to control rather than advance.

Butterworth is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and The Hit Man defends it well.
Butterworth stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Butterworth dominated that round.
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 Hit Man throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Butterworth's waist but Butterworth gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing The Hit Man off to one side.
The Hit Man closes the distance and clinches up with Butterworth, looking for a takedown. The Hit Man pushes Butterworth against the cage but Butterworth circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The Hit Man looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Butterworth is fending him off so far but The Hit Man persists. Nope, Butterworth circles away and we're back to standing.
Paul Butterworth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James The Hit Man.
The Hit Man with a lazy takedown attempt

and Butterworth counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The Hit Man's guard now.
The Hit Man is trying to keep Butterworth in close.
The Hit Man keeping moving, preventing Butterworth from controlling successfully.
Butterworth forces his way into half guard.
Still in half guard, Butterworth seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hit Man is refusing to be controlled, as Butterworth sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Butterworth.
The Hit Man changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Butterworth tries to avoid it but The Hit Man manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Butterworth to the ground. Butterworth escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The Hit Man is breathing heavily.

Butterworth is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in The Hit Man's half guard.
Butterworth slows the pace down in half guard.
The Hit Man has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Butterworth is working away from the top position though.
Butterworth takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butterworth is trying to control the action in half guard but The Hit Man is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Paul Butterworth.
The Hit Man tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Butterworth paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Hit Man misses with a straight left.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Hit Man is defended easily by Butterworth.

Butterworth forces The Hit Man back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butterworth leaning his opponent against the cage.
Butterworth tries a body shot but The Hit Man blocks it.

Butterworth is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. The Hit Man can't fight it off and eventually Butterworth manages to take the fight to the floor. The Hit Man looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The Hit Man being controlled here, momentarily.
Butterworth pushing down on The Hit Man's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Butterworth moves into full mount! The Hit Man won't be happy about that!

Butterworth working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Hit Man is squirming around, avoiding Butterworth's attempts to control the action.
Butterworth looking to control and managing it successfully.
Paul Butterworth overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Butterworth wants to take The Hit Man's back but he can't do it this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Butterworth looking to control and managing it successfully.
The Hit Man is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Butterworth dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Butterworth drives through with a takedown into The Hit Man's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Butterworth slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Butterworth has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Butterworth postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by James The Hit Man.

Butterworth pushes The Hit Man up against the cage in a clinch.

Butterworth turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Butterworth manages to end up in side control.
Butterworth trying to control the position but The Hit Man is working away.
The Hit Man can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butterworth trying to control the position but The Hit Man is working away.
The Hit Man is trying to get back to half guard.
The Hit Man takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Butterworth is trying to get an arm triangle but The Hit Man is defending well.

Butterworth thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Butterworth advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butterworth can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as The Hit Man is looking to escape.
Butterworth takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The Hit Man tries to reverse the position but Butterworth maintains control.
The Hit Man looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Butterworth lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Butterworth is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that The Hit Man can do to turn this around?
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Butterworth punishes The Hit Man with strikes from the back mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butterworth controls the position.
Butterworth lands with a hammerfist to the side of The Hit Man's head.

Butterworth has managed to slip his arm under The Hit Man's chin. This could be all over... yep, The Hit Man is tapping out! Submission win for Butterworth.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Paul Butterworth!