PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herb Hurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jaa has chosen Cochise by Audioslave as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Tony Jaa will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hurt
vs
Jaa

178 cm
23
172 lbs
7 - 11 - 0

172 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Steve's Services - All of my services are free!

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 7 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Herb Hurt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Gregory Folan and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hurt tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jaa swivels and escapes.
Jaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hurt looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Jaa!

Hurt is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Hurt misses with a straight left.
Jaa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hurt swats away the attempt to clinch by Jaa.
Jaa lands a nice shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hurt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Jaa lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hurt fails with an attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Hurt, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hurt drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jaa wants to sweep here but Hurt controlling him for the moment.
Jaa is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jaa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hurt stopping the sweep attempt from Jaa.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jaa is on top in guard.
Jaais looking to pass into half guard but Hurt pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hurt is in guard.
Jaa really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hurt. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hurt stands and throws Jaa's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jaa tries to improve position but can't.
Hurt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jaa keeps working.

Hurt decides to stand back up. Hurt steps back and let's Jaa get back to his feet.
Hurt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jaa scores with a jab to the head.
Jaa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Jaa counters with a nice uppercut.

Hurt drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Hurt stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jaa tries to clinch but Hurt is having none of it.
Jaa throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hurt chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Jaa can pounce on him.
Hurt is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hurt.
Jaa fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hurt on the side of the head.
Hurt takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jaa feints and then cracks Hurt's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hurt down.
Jaa comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hurt takes a kick to the side of the head.
Jaa lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hurt takes a step back to recover.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hurt drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Jaa scores with a push kick.
Jaa stalks Hurt and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hurt's face. Hurt staggers backwards, shaken.
Hurt takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Nice body kick from Jaa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa lunges at Hurt with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hurt's hand.
Jaa lands a nice hook to Hurt's body. Hurt takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Jaa scores with a nice head shot.
Hurt gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jaa throws a shot to the body.
Hurt on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Jaa lands a jab.
Tony Jaa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab lands there for Jaa.
Jaa cracks a nice hook into Hurt's ribs.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jaa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hurt takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Jaa swings for the body but Hurt moves out of range.
A head kick by Hurt misses
and Jaa counters with a stiff right hand.
Jaa listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Jaa 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 fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hurt tries to keep at a distance but Jaa has taken the fight into the clinch.
The referee calls for Hurt to work.
Jaa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch on the inside from Jaa fails to land.
Jaa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jaa misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hurt.
Hurt prevents a body shot from Jaa.
Hurt can't get the takedown.
Jaa effectively controlling the action here.

Jaa is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hurt is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Jaa to the mat. Jaa regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Jaa trying to control the position here.
Hurt postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurt wants to control from the top but Jaa keeps moving.
Jaa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hurt!
Jaa tries to control but Hurt wriggling away.
Jaa is landing with some decent strikes but Hurt is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Jaa tries to control but Hurt wriggling away.
Hurt tries to hold on but Jaa pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Poor strikes thrown by Jaa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Jaa thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Jaa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Jaa controlling from mount.

Jaa moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hurt has worked his arm free - good work by Hurt!
Jaa tries to get to his feet but Hurt is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Jaa in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurt has his hands on Jaa's head, controlling the position.
Hurt has a closed guard, preventing Jaa from standing up.
Jaa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hurt working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Jaa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jaa is looking to stand up but Hurt won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jaa blocks a head kick by Hurt.
Jaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hurt moves away.
Jaa looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tony Jaa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Hurt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jaa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hurt shoots for a double leg takedown but Jaa sprawls well. He's pushed Hurt's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Jaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hurt was well out of range. Poor timing from Jaa.
Jaa misses the shot to the body.
Jaa plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Jaa.
Jaa misses with a series of wild punches.
Jaa scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hurt misses with a takedown
and Jaa counters with a straight right hand.
Jaa connects with a right hand. Hurt shakes it off.
Jaa throws a leg kick which misses Hurt's front leg but catches the back leg as Hurt tries to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Jaa. Hurt does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hurt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jaa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jaa moves into range and clinches up with Hurt.
Jaa leaning against his opponent.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hurt as Jaa tries to tie him up.
Hurt takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hurt avoiding damage as Jaa throws knees to the body.
Jaa throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Jaa stalling.
Jaa stalling in the clinch but Hurt improves position.
Jaa is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hurt lands a left hand.
Jaa pushes Hurt back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jaa lands a right hand.
Hurt has Jaa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jaa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Herb Hurt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jaa digs a right hand into Hurt's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hurt's gas tank.
Jaa looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurt is struggling to control the position.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Jaa.
Hurt jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jaa walks away with a smile on his face. Hurt gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hurt has his takedown stuffed
and Jaa counters with a nice body shot.
Jaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Jaa scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Jaa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hurt in his tracks.
Jaa lands with a good body shot.
A jab from Jaa does it's job there.
Tony Jaa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jaa throws a combination. Hurt tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Jaa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Jaa connects with the punch.
Hurt has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Jaa.
A cross from Jaa lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurt avoids the body shot from Jaa.
Hurt takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A jab from Jaa does it's job there.
Hurt moves forwards but Jaa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jaa connects with a high kick.
Hurt misses with a takedown attempt
and Jaa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Jaa looks to score with a jab to the body but Hurt is just out of range.
Jaa connects with the punch.
Tony Jaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jaa lands a two punch combo.
Herb Hurt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jaa lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Jaa lands with a shot to the body.
Hurt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hurt takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Jaa connects with a solid leg kick.
Jaa lands with a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa scores with a shot to the body.

Jaa moves into range and clinches up with Hurt.
Jaa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hurt.
Jaa stalling the fight.
Jaa looking to throw knees to the head but Hurt is blocking nicely.
Hurt has Jaa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Jaa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hurt goes for a takedown in the clinch but Jaa prevents it.
Jaa stalling against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Jaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Jaa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Jaa!