PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Don Joe (ranked 679 p4p, 19 weight class) and Steve Butabi (ranked 1093 p4p, 32 weight class). Joe comes into the arena with Johnny Cash - Big Iron blaring out of the sound system. Butabi has chosen I'm so bad (baby I don't care) as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Joe
vs
Butabi

187 cm
27
190 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

205 cm
26
290 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

IniTech Nutrition

IniTech Nutrition
Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Don Joe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Butabi!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butabi just misses with a punch to the body.
As Butabi tries to get set, Joe tries to push him back and clinch up but Butabi manages to avoid the attempt.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Butabi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Butabi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
A swing and a miss from Butabi.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.

Butabi clinches up against the cage.

Butabi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Butabi just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Butabi darts in and clinches Joe up against the cage.
Joe slowing the pace effectively.
A short left from Butabi.
Butabi displaying some good clinch control by pressing Joe up against the cage.
Butabi has Joe pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butabi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Butabi. Joe does a little dance to reset his feet.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Butabi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
Steve Butabi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Butabi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Joe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Butabi.
Butabi misses with a lunging right hand

and Joe counters by moving into the clinch.
Butabi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Butabi stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Butabi lands with a short shot to the head.
Joe misses with a body punch.
Butabi keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Joe's efforts to push away.
Butabi manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Butabi breaks from the clinch.
Joe moves away from the strike by Butabi.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
A slow jab from Butabi misses its intended target.
Joe moves out of range of the strikes.
As Butabi tries to get set, Joe tries to push him back and clinch up but Butabi manages to avoid the attempt.
Butabi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.
Butabi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Butabi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Butabi has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Joe is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Butabi fails to land with a series of punches.
Butabi misses with a series of wild punches.
Joe looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Butabi has managed to clinch.
Butabi lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Joe lands a shot to the body.
Joe looking to slow down the pace here.
Butabi tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Joe tries to stall but Butabi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Butabi misses with a punch to the body.

Butabi manages to break the clinch.
Butabi misses with a wild body shot.
Joe tries to counter by clinching up but Butabi breaks away and moves out of range.
Joe defending well as Butabi loads up on a big left hand.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Butabi moves in looking to clinch but Joe pushes him off.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butabi swings for the body but Joe moves out of range.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
Butabi connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Butabi lands a jab to the head.
Joe moves forwards but Butabi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Butabi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.
Butabi throws a body punch but Joe moves out of range.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Butabi throws an overhand right that lands on Joe's shoulder, as Joe tries to avoid the shot.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
Butabi misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Joe counters by clinching up.
Still in the clinch, Butabi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Joe letting Butabi take a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Butabi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Butabi looks to land a left hand but Joe moved out of range nicely.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Butabi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Joe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Butabi.

Butabi rushes Joe and presses him up against the cage.

Butabi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Butabi throws a shot from downtown. Joe moves away and avoids it.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
Butabi misses with an uppercut. Joe saw that one coming.
Joe tries to counter by clinching up but Butabi breaks away and moves out of range.
Joe uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Butabi.
Joe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Butabi.
Joe uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Butabi.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.
Butabi is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Butabi.
Joe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Butabi.
Butabi fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butabi forces Joe back against the cage and clinches.
Joe can't find room to land a body shot as Butabi controls the action.
Joe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Joe tries to throw a body punch but Butabi avoids it by throwing Joe back against the cage.

Butabi manages to break the clinch.
Joe needs to keep his hands up - Butabi had a free shot at his head there.
Butabi misses with a right hand

and Joe counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Butabi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Joe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Butabi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Butabi keeps control of Joe as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Butabi lands a shot to the body.
Steve Butabi seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Butabi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Butabi throws a big shot that misses.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joe slips under a jab.
Butabi jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.
Butabi throws an off balance right hand

and Joe holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Butabi manages to break the clinch.
Butabi tries to clinch there but Joe circles away.
Joe tries to counter by clinching up but Butabi breaks away and moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Butabi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Butabi has Joe pressed against the cage, preventing Joe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Joe is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Butabi stalling in the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A left hand lands to the body for Joe.

Butabi breaks from the clinch.
Joe takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butabi lands a jab to Joe's midsection.
Butabi scores with a shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Butabi connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Butabi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Joe was well out of range. Poor timing from Butabi.
Butabi tries to clinch but Joe moves out of range.
Butabi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Joe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Butabi.
Decent striking displayed by Butabi there.
Butabi lands an overhand right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butabi misses with a looping right.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Butabi in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Butabi connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Butabi misses with a hook.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
Butabi misses with a straight left.
A big right from Butabi misses.

Butabi forces Joe back against the cage and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Butabi is struggling to control the position.

Butabi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Butabi fails in his attempt to clinch.
As Butabi tries to get set, Joe tries to push him back and clinch up but Butabi manages to avoid the attempt.
Butabi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Butabi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Butabi moves in looking to clinch but Joe pushes him off.
Joe tries to counter by clinching up but Butabi breaks away and moves out of range.
Butabi looks to score with a jab to the body but Joe is just out of range.
Butabi catches Joe with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Butabi lands a left and a right that send Joe crashing to the mat, dazed. Butabi thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Joe staying out of range there.
A swing and a miss from Butabi.
Joe is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Butabi.
Butabi misses with a hook. Joe ducked under it nicely.
Butabi throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Joe sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Joe avoids the body shot from Butabi.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Butabi throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butabi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Joe is looking to counter the offense by Butabi and move into the clinch.
Joe on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Joe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Butabi throws out the jab.
Butabi misses with a looping right.
Joe displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Butabi throws out the jab.
Joe tries to counter by clinching up but Butabi breaks away and moves out of range.
Butabi misses with a two punch combination.
Butabi throws an off balance right hand

and Joe counters by moving into the clinch.

Butabi manages to break the clinch.
Butabi scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Butabi misses.
Butabi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Butabi throws a lazy right hand but Joe sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Joe defending well as Butabi loads up on a big left hand.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Joe takes one on the button.
Joe avoids the body shot from Butabi.
As Butabi tries to get set, Joe tries to push him back and clinch up but Butabi manages to avoid the attempt.
Butabi throws out a loose jab but Joe uses good head movement to avoid it.
Joe tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Butabi manages to circle out of the way.

Butabi clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Butabi prevents Joe from breaking the clinch.

Butabi breaks from the clinch.
Butabi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Joe paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butabi misses with a body shot

and Joe counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Joe.
Joe taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Joe scores with a shoulder strike.
Joe tries to work over Butabi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Butabi is stalling here.

Butabi breaks from the clinch.
Butabi misses with a body shot.
Butabi throws a looping overhand right but Joe ducks down to avoid it.
Butabi misses with a few strikes there.
Joe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Butabi.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Butabi moves into the clinch.
Joe blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Butabi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Butabi stalling in the clinch but Joe improves position.
Butabi is working Joe over against the cage.
Joe is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Joe blocking some punches.
Butabi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Steve Butabi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Joe struggles to land a body shot inside as Butabi controls his hands.

Butabi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A big right from Butabi misses.
Joe wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Steve Butabi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Butabi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joe.
Joe seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Butabi connects with a good right hand that stumbles Joe. Joe circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Butabi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Butabi has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Butabi!
Steve Butabi made sure to mention his sponsor, IniTech Nutrition in his post fight interview.