PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Raylan Givens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boot Head (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Head's choice of entrance music: Requiem For A Dream. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Givens
vs
Head

187 cm
24
195 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

183 cm
27
195 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Dangerous GnP
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raylan Givens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Boot Head!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Bruno Lombardi and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Head loads up on a big right hand but Givens slips the punch.
Head throws a series of punches but Givens moves out of range.
Givens dives in and grabs Head's left leg, looking for a takedown. Head pushes down on Givens's head and hops out.
Head fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Givens manages to avoid it.
Givens has his takedown stuffed
and Head counters with a straight right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Givens looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Head darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Givens lands the left hand.
Head scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Givens doesn't seem bothered though.

Head gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Givens to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Givens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Head's head.
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!
Givens prevents Head from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head looking to control.
Head managing to control the position.

Givens stands up and waves to Head to follow him.

Givens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Givens showed some decent athleticism there.
Head tries to kick Givens off in order to stand up. Givens Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Givens working the ground and pound but Head is defending the strikes.
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.
Head is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Givens has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Givens stands up and beckons Head to his feet.
Givens moves out of range as Head strikes.
Givens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Head throws out a loose jab but Givens uses good head movement to avoid it.
Givens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Givens closes this distance looking for a takedown but Head circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Givens bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Head struggling a bit here.
Givens misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Givens has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Givens tries for a takedown but Head sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Head has taken the fight to the clinch.
Head gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Givens.
Givens jumps guard but Head stands there with Givens around his waist. Givens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Head is pressed up against the cage. Givens has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Head down to the mat. Head avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The fighters circling - Head throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Givens staying out of range there.
Head keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Head.

Givens shoots in and bounces Head off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Givens is looking to stand up but Head won't let him.
Head looking for a sweep. Not yet Head, not yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Givens cracks Head with a solid left hand.
Givens postures up in Head's guard and throws a big left but Head blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Givens stands up from Head's guard - Givens perhaps looking for a knockout.

Givens scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raylan Givens dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Givens scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Givens lands a nice looking body kick.
Head waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Givens.
Head lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Givens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Head.
Head throws a series of strikes that have Givens backpedaling.
Head misses with a low kick.
Head paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Givens ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Givens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Head looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Givens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Head keeps working.
Givens scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Head to see if he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Givens stands up.
Head pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Givens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Head pinned against the cage. Head gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Head might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Givens works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Head tries to score with a low kick but Givens moves his leg out of the way.
Head takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Givens fails with a takedown attempt.
Boot Head is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Givens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Head pinned against the cage. Head gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Head bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Head throws a hook to the side of Givens's head but Givens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Boot Head seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Head lands a body shot.
Givens closes the distance and clinches up with Head, looking for a takedown. Givens pushes Head against the cage but Head circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Head does no damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Head thuds his right hand into Givens's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Givens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Head sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Givens has a takedown stuffed.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Head leaves Givens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Head does it's job there.
Head keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A jab from Head misses.
Head takes one on the button.
Givens fails to land the takedown.
Head connects with a nice looking jab.
Givens staying out of range there.
Givens walks forward, straight into a front kick from Head.
Givens shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens closes this distance looking for a takedown but Head circles away.
Head misses with a jab, cross combination.
Head throws the left hand but Givens avoids the punch easily.
Givens steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Head.
Head swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Head throws a jab but it's blocked by Givens.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Givens shoots for a double leg takedown but Head sprawls well. He's pushed Givens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nice defenses there by Givens.
Givens shoots in looking for a takedown but Head manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Givens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Givens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice sprawl there from Head as Givens shoots in.
Head throws a hook to the side of Givens's head but Givens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Givens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Raylan Givens will probably get the nod.
That's time! Givens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Head looks to throw the jab but Givens is out of range.
Head scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Head with a nice cross.
Givens tries to score a power double leg takedown but Head sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Givens somewhat.
Head lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Head throws a right hand that misses
and Givens counters with a good low kick that Head was not able to check.
Head looks to land a right hand but Givens moved out of range.
Head slaps away a takedown attempt from Givens, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Givens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raylan Givens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Head. No joy for Givens on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Head lands a right hook to the body.
Givens tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Givens looks for the body kick but Head saw that one coming.
Givens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Head is fending him off so far but Givens persists. Nope, Head circles away and we're back to standing.
Givens avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Givens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Givens ducks under a wild hook from Head.
Head connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Head works Givens's body with a nice hook.
Head misses with an uppercut.
Givens looks for a takedown but Head sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Head misses with an uppercut.
Givens walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Head lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Head scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Head misses with a hook. Givens ducked under it nicely.
Head misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Givens slips a straight right by Head.
Head connects with a body shot.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Givens.
Head throws a wild body kick that Givens sees coming a mile off.
Givens gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Head fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Givens looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Head swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Givens.
Givens shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Head as he jumps to the side.
Head cracks Givens with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Boot Head has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Head uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Givens.
Raylan Givens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Givens misses with a takedown
and Head counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Givens swings for the body but Head moves out of range.
Givens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Head counters with a left and a right that stings Givens.
Head looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Head takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Givens misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Givens looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Head throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Head throws a jab when Givens was well out of range.
Head wants to land a leg kick but Givens is out of range.
Givens moves out of range of the strikes.
Givens lands with a slapping head kick.
Horrible takedown by Givens or perhaps it was just good defense by Head which made him look bad.
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!
Head tries a head kick but it misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Givens.
Givens shoots for a double leg takedown but Head sprawls well. He's pushed Givens's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boot Head comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Givens 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!