PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sho Kasugi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Kasugi
vs
Hunt

172 cm
26
155 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

170 cm
23
155 lbs
8 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sho Kasugi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hunt.
Kasugi checks a leg kick.
Kasugi looks for the body kick but Hunt saw that one coming.
Hunt throws a right and a left that Kasugi avoids nicely.
Kasugi throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kasugi lands with a nice body kick.
Kasugi throws a front kick that sends Hunt stumbling back into the cage.
Hunt looks gassed!
A slapping body kick lands there for Kasugi.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kasugi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kasugi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kasugi scores with a head kick. Hunt tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Mike Hunt has been cut.
Mike Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kasugi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Kasugi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hunt was covering up waiting for the punch and Kasugi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kasugi trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasugi is stalling in the full guard.

Kasugi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hunt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kasugi.

That's two 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 keeping moving, preventing Kasugi from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kasugi stands and throws Hunt's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hunt is trying to get back to half guard.
Kasugi trying to control the position but Hunt is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasugi works to advance to full mount. Hunt defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Kasugi trying to control but Hunt is having none of it.
Hunt is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kasugi throwing strikes here but Hunt is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kasugi raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hunt blocking the ground and pound.
Kasugi tries to control but Hunt wriggling away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kasugi has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hunt's face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Kasugi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Hunt's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kasugi connects with an inside leg kick.
Hunt misses with a wild combination.
Kasugi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hunt lands with a shot to the body.

A big head kick from Kasugi and Hunt is sent sprawling to the canvas!

Hunt is rocked!
Kasugi preventing the sweep.
Hunt is still in real trouble! Can Kasugi finish him?
Kasugi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hunt seems to have recovered his senses.
Kasugi trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kasugi tries to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Hunt looking to ground and pound but Kasugi is blocking nicely.
Hunt throws some wild stikes that Kasugi manages to avoid easily.
Hunt throws some wild stikes that Kasugi manages to avoid easily.

That's two 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 throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hunt misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kasugi is trying desperately to improve position.

Hunt jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kasugi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kasugi managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hunt.
Kasugi parries the strikes from Hunt easily there. Hunt is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kasugi to escape.
Kasugi dodges the ground and pound from Hunt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kasugi to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hunt decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hunt tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Nice takedown defense from Kasugi. No joy for Hunt on that attempt.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Kasugi circles away and keeps his distance.
Kasugi turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kasugi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kasugi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hunt throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kasugi misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hunt tries to clinch up.
Hunt takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hunt dives in and grabs Kasugi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kasugi pushes down on Hunt's head and hops out.
A telegraphed right hand from Kasugi misses the target.
Kasugi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt blocks a head kick by Kasugi.
Kasugi fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hunt.
Hunt is looking to clinch but Kasugi is avoiding it.
Mike Hunt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kasugi, as that shot connected.
Kasugi tries to clinch up but Hunt circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt misses with a takedown attempt
and Kasugi counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Sho Kasugi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Hunt.
A head kick misses from Kasugi.
Hunt fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kasugi manages to avoid it.
Kasugi throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hunt shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kasugi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hunt misses with an uppercut. Kasugi saw that one coming.
Kasugi lands a front kick.
Kasugi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hunt shoots in looking for a takedown but Kasugi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hunt's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A swing and a miss from Hunt.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch but Kasugi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kasugi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hunt tries to avoid it but Kasugi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hunt to the ground. Hunt escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sho Kasugi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Hunt's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hunt fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hunt tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kasugi counters with a good low kick that Hunt was not able to check.
Hunt walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kasugi.
Kasugi cracks the inside of Hunt's front leg.
Hunt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kasugi connects with a leg kick. Hunt looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kasugi moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Kasugi throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kasugi throws a head kick that misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hunt is defended easily by Kasugi.
Hunt tries to clinch
and Kasugi counters with a good, hard body kick but Hunt shrugs it off.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hunt is defended easily by Kasugi.
Sho Kasugi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Hunt.

Hunt shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kasugi's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hunt forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is looking to advance position but Kasugi won't allow it.

Hunt is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kasugi defends it well.
Kasugi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hunt is working away from the top position though.
Hunt passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Kasugi!
Mike Hunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kasugi is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Hunt jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kasugi manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kasugi is looking to reverse the position.
Hunt in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kasugi taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunt tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hunt has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kasugi sneaks back into half guard.

Hunt is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Sho Kasugi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kasugi works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hunt postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kasugi is controlling Hunt's posture.

Hunt drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kasugi manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hunt has Kasugi in his guard.
Kasugi keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hunt's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sho Kasugi.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kasugi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sho Kasugi!