PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reed Hightower (ranked 1628 p4p, 209 weight class) and Phol Hunt (ranked 1513 p4p, 191 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hightower
vs
Hunt

179 cm
32
171 lbs
16 - 11 - 0

181 cm
40
180 lbs
45 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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 16 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reed Hightower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 45 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phol Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hightower throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hightower circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hightower throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hunt avoids it.
Hunt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hunt avoids the body shot from Hightower.
Hunt tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An attempted straight right counter from Hightower misses the target.
Hightower is looking to chop away at Hunt's legs.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Hightower circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hightower makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hunt takes the fight into the clinch.
Hunt lands with a light punch inside.

Hightower breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hunt wants to clinch up but Hightower keeps it at a distance.
Hightower tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunt closes the distance and pushes Hightower back into the cage.
Hightower blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hightower will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hunt up against the cage.
Hunt lands a nice knee to the body.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Hunt blocks it.
Hightower lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Hightower blocks it.
Hunt takes a shot to the head.
Hightower leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hunt misses with the head strike.
Hunt managing to block the knees to the body from Hightower.
Hunt tries a body shot but Hightower blocks it.
Hunt lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A hook to the body from Hightower.
Hunt lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hunt.
Hunt avoiding damage as Hightower throws knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hightower pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hightower circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hightower counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hightower lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hunt's sensitive parts.
Reed Hightower is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hightower throws a half hearted mid kick.

Hunt clinches with his opponent.
Hunt lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hightower gets through Hunt's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hunt will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hightower up against the cage.
Hightower blocks an uppercut.
Hightower lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunt controls his hands.
Hightower has Hunt pressed against the cage.

Hightower breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hightower is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Hunt shoots and misses
and Hightower counters with a right hand to the body.
Hightower misses with a head kick.
Hightower looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hunt dives in for a single leg takedown but Hightower sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hightower swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hightower connects with a body shot that sends Hunt's belly button to the back.
Hightower lands a slapping body shot.
Hightower scores with a kick to the midsection.
Hightower misses with a hook.
Hightower just misses with a punch to the body.

Hunt looking to score a takedown here. Hightower is defending well but Hunt drives through and ends up in Hightower's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunt passes Hightower's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Hightower looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Hightower actively working from the bottom here.
Hunt wants to pass the guard but Hightower is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reed Hightower dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hightower has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hunt.

Hunt shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hunt was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hunt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hightower keeps working.
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.
Hunt trying to control the action but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Hightower tries to buck Hunt off but Hunt is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower is letting Hunt control him for a moment.
Hunt working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt trying to control the position but Hightower is working away.
Hightower struggling a bit here.
Hunt trying to control the position but Hightower is working away.
The strikes coming from Hunt are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hightower is trying to get back to half guard.
Hightower gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hunt is just content to waste time from the top position. Hightower takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Hunt content to stall in guard here.
Let's hope that Hunt has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Hunt wants to control from the top but Hightower keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hunt pushing down on Hightower's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hunt keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hunt moves nicely into side control.
Hightower is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt trying to control the action but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Hightower being controlled for a moment.
Hunt tries to move into full mount but can't pass Hightower's legs.
You can see the frustration on Hightower's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hunt tries to advance to mount but Hightower denies him.
Hunt taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hunt passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Hightower!
Hunt controlling his opponent.
Hunt wants to control the pace but Hightower is squirming around nicely.
Hunt controlling the pace for now.
Hunt wants to control the pace but Hightower is squirming around nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hightower tries to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Hightower slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Hunt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hunt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hightower counters with a stiff right hand.
Hightower scores with the left hand. Hunt knows he should have avoided that one.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Hightower circles away and keeps his distance.

Hunt drives through with a takedown into Hightower's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Hunt stopping the sweep attempt from Hightower.
Hightower is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hunt wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower controlling the pace.
Hunt regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hightower is in close to Hunt's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt controlling the position.
Hightower trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hightower prevents Hunt from getting back to his feet.
Hightower looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hightower wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hightower with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hightower throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hunt delivers a nice body kick.

Hightower gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hunt to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hightower tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hunt is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Hunt gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown but Hightower shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
It looked like Hightower was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hunt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt wants to slow Hightower down by chopping away at his legs.
Hightower scores with a push kick.
Hightower looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hunt blocks a low kick nicely.
Hunt avoids a kick to the body.
Phol Hunt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hunt shoots and misses
and Hightower counters with a nice uppercut.
Reed Hightower has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phol Hunt.
Hunt's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hightower connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hunt scrambles back to his feet.

Hunt darts in and clinches Hightower up against the cage.
Hunt misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hunt.
Hunt scores with a knee to the head.
Hightower lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hunt tries a knee to the head but Hightower blocks it.

Hightower breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hightower swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick from Hightower lands but Hunt takes it in his stride.
Hunt walks into a stiff left hand from Hightower.
Hunt tries to clinch up.
Hunt moves in looking to clinch but Hightower pushes him off.
Hightower throws a leg kick but Hunt sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hunt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hightower throws a quick counter kick to the body but Hunt avoids it.
Hunt gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hightower counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hunt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hunt misses with a double jab
and Hightower counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hunt shoots in looking for a takedown. Hightower tries to sprawl out of it but Hunt keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hightower manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hightower throws a counter high kick but Hunt was just alert enough to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reed Hightower showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hightower 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reed Hightower!
Reed Hightower decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, Phol Hunt stepped up to the mic, saying 'vittu'.