PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Ninjaman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ninjaman
vs
Hunt

195 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

210 cm
18
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Steve Ninjaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Oliver Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ninjaman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ninjaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ninjaman wants to get up but he can't break Hunt's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ninjaman stopping the sweep attempt from Hunt.
Ninjaman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ninjaman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ninjaman throwing strikes but missing.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Ninjaman drops back looking for a leg! Hunt is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hunt manages to kick Ninjaman off! Ninjaman jumps back into Hunt's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is trying to control the position but Ninjaman postures up.
Hunt wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Ninjaman from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ninjaman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ninjaman postures up.
Ninjaman advances to half guard.

Ninjaman is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hunt doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ninjaman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman is thwarting Hunt's attempts to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ninjaman thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hunt's head.
Hunt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ninjaman is working away from the top position though.
Hunt is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Ninjaman is staying active.
Ninjaman trying to mount his opponent but Hunt defends it.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Oliver Hunt.
Hunt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ninjaman lands a head kick. Hunt smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Oliver Hunt has been cut.
Ninjaman stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunt. Hunt gets slowly back to his feet.
Ninjaman is looking to clinch.

Ninjaman manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hunt on his heels. He'll look to pass Hunt's guard now, I'm sure.
Ninjaman wants to pass the guard but Hunt is keeping the position.
Ninjaman wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.
Ninjaman is really struggling to control Hunt but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunt keeping full guard, as Ninjaman tries to pass.
Ninjaman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hunt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ninjaman is aware though and is defending well.
Hunt looks winded!
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hunt thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Ninjaman from controlling successfully.
Ninjaman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Ninjaman dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Oliver Hunt'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.

Hunt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ninjaman doesn't manage to clinch there - Hunt circles away.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ninjaman but Ninjaman pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Ninjaman has Hunt up against the cage in a clinch.
Ninjaman tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.

Ninjaman breaks from the clinch.
Ninjaman connects with a leg kick. Hunt looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Ninjaman is looking to clinch.
Ninjaman moves away from the strike by Hunt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ninjaman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ninjaman works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Ninjaman can't find room to land a body shot as Hunt controls the action.

Ninjaman breaks the clinch.
Hunt shoots in but no luck this time.
Hunt is breathing heavily.
Ninjaman misses with a head kick.
Ninjaman doesn't manage to clinch there - Hunt circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ninjaman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Ninjaman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Ninjaman trying to control but Hunt is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman controlling from mount.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Ninjaman here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ninjaman sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Ninjaman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hunt is looking to escape.

Ninjaman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hunt has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Hunt is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hunt wants to hold on but Ninjaman pushes him away.
Ninjaman controlling the pace for now.
Poor strikes thrown by Ninjaman there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ninjaman throws some wild stikes that Hunt manages to avoid easily.
Hunt tries to lock up and control but Ninjaman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ninjaman trying to control but Hunt is having none of it.
Ninjaman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ninjaman looking to ground and pound but Hunt is blocking nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ninjaman controlling his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Ninjaman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Oliver Hunt's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ninjaman throws the kick towards the body but Hunt avoids it.

Hunt gets caught napping as Ninjaman dives in and scores a takedown. Hunt manages to retain guard.
Steve Ninjaman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ninjaman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Ninjaman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ninjaman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ninjaman throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunt controls Ninjaman momentarily but Ninjaman frees himself.

Hunt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Hunt seems keen to control Ninjaman's posture.

Hunt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ninjaman defends it easily.
Hunt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ninjaman with a nice head shot there.
Ninjaman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ninjaman wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hunt is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ninjaman is aware though and is defending well.
Ninjaman wants to pass the guard but Hunt is keeping the position.
Ninjaman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ninjaman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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

Ninjaman shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hunt's guard.

Hunt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hunt working a defensive guard but Ninjaman manages to pass into side control anyway.

Ninjaman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt tries to buck Ninjaman off but Ninjaman is having none of it.
Hunt can't do much from the bottom here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Ninjaman is looking to take a break and control but Hunt is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Hunt's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ninjaman controls the position.
Hunt dodges the ground and pound from Ninjaman.

Ninjaman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Hunt swings widly with a right hand
and Ninjaman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ninjaman scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ninjaman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ninjaman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Oliver Hunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Steve Ninjaman 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.

Ninjaman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Ninjaman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ninjaman 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 Josh West scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Ninjaman!