PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Craig Hanks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Hunter (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.

Hanks
vs
Hunter

179 cm
23
175 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
182 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Undead clothing. All items 10$
1337 ANZAC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Hanks!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jay Hunter!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Hunter looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hunter forces his way into half guard.
Hunter is stalling here. Hanks is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Hunter seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hanks has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Hunter is looking to regain half guard here but Hanks keeps moving and retains side control.
Hunter gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter wants to get back to full guard.
Hunter wants to get back to full guard but Hanks has mounted him!
Hunter is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hunter is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hanks sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hunter is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Hunter looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hanks is trying to control. Hunter wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hunter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hunter is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hanks jumps into side control!
Hunter wants to control but Hanks postures up.
Hunter is looking for a sweep.
Hunter is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hanks off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunter is looking for the choke from the back position but Hanks is controlling his hands well.
Hanks trying to control the position but Hunter manages to sink in the hooks.
Hunter lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Hunter.
Hunter has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Hanks.
Hanks covering up well and avoiding damage.
Hanks finds himself mounted whilst avoiding strikes.

Hunter moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hanks has worked his arm free - good work by Hanks!
Hanks managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hunter.
Hanks takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
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!
Hunter working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter is putting a hurting on Hanks here, landing some big shots from side control.

Hunter tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hunter has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hunter tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hanks manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hunter's best efforts.
Hanks is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter wants to control but Hanks is keeping him busy.
Hunter has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hunter throws a strike but Hanks avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hunter pushes down on Hanks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Hunter dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hanks throws a leg kick
and Hunter makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hunter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hanks circles away.
Hanks feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hunters jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hunter slips under a jab.
Hunter needs to keep his hands up - Hanks had a free shot at his head there.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hunter.
Hunter avoids the body shot from Hanks.
Hanks lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hanks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hunter walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hanks connects with a body shot.
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!
Hanks wants to land a leg kick but Hunter is out of range.
Hunter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanks pinned against the cage. Hanks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Craig Hanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Hunter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter shoots in but no luck this time.
Hunter misses with a wild body shot.
Hanks fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hunter checks it well.
Hanks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hanks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hanks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hanks looks to land a left hand but Hunter moved out of range nicely.
Hanks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Craig Hanks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hanks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hanks throws an overhand right that lands on Hunter's shoulder, as Hunter tries to avoid the shot.
Hanks lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hanks. Hunter does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hanks.

Hanks tries to sprawl but Hunter drives through with a takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The fighters are battling for position here. Hanks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hunter scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jay Hunter has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunter works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hunter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hanks defending well though.
Hunter slows the pace down in half guard.

Hunter is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hanks has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hanks tries to get to full guard but Hunter has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter working over Hanks with some ground and pound. Hanks looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Hunter is working for a kimura but Hanks is defending it quite comfortably.
Hanks regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hanks keeping full guard, as Hunter tries to pass.
Hunter throwing strikes from guard but Hanks blocks nicely.
Hunter pushes down on Hanks's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanks's head.
Hanks is looking to control Hunter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hanks avoid being mounted?
Hunter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hanks's head.

Hunter is working for a kimura but Hanks is defending it quite comfortably.
Hunter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hanks wants to get back to full guard.
Hunter missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hunter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hanks defending well though.
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 Craig Hanks will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hanks throws a right hand that Hunter ducks under and follows up with a left that Hunter also avoids with ease.
Hanks lands a head kick!
Hunter lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hanks is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hunter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hunter looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hanks is fending him off so far but Hunter persists. Nope, Hanks circles away and we're back to standing.

Hunter shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hanks's guard.
Hunter trying to control but Hanks is working from the bottom.
Hunter works over Hanks with some ground and pound from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunter throws a strike but Hanks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hunter looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hanks is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hunter is on top in guard.
Hunter pushing down on Hanks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hunter is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hunter unloading with bombs!
Hanks can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter punching from mount but Hanks doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hunter tries to control but Hanks wriggling away.
Hunter lands a big shot there that rocks Hanks but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hunter unloads with some shots from mount but Hanks bucks and avoids them well.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hanks is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hunter trying to control but Hanks is having none of it.
Hunter throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hunter with shots to the head and body - Hanks looks very uncomfortable down there.

It looks like Craig Hanks has been cut.
Hunter lands a nice shot to the head.
Hanks tries to buck Hunter off but he can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter wants to control the pace but Hanks is squirming around nicely.
Hanks holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hunter tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hanks tries to lock up and control but Hunter gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hunter lands a heavy elbow.
Hanks wants to hold on but Hunter pushes him away.
Hanks is looking to get to half guard.
Hanks wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hunter.
Hanks is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to control but Hanks wriggling away.
Hunter sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The referee warns Hanks that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
A nice elbow there by Hunter.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunter raining down shots from the mount!
Hunter cracks Hanks with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Craig Hanks's cut is getting worse.
Hanks tries to lock up and control but Hunter gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunter throwing strikes here but Hanks is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hunter thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hanks manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Hunter really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Craig Hanks's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hunter cracks a nice hook into Hanks's ribs.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hanks. That's going to slow Hunter down.
Hunter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hanks defends it nicely.
Craig Hanks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunter uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hanks has time to react.
Hunter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hanks throws a shot from downtown. Hunter moves away and avoids it.
Hunter shoots for a double leg takedown but Hanks sprawls well. He's pushed Hunter's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Craig Hanks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jay Hunter.
Hunter moves out of range of the leg kick from Hanks.
Hanks misses with a hook. Hunter ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanks throws a low kick, looking for Hunter's leg but Hunter calmly moves out of range.
Hanks finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hanks scores with a three punch combo!
Hanks swinging wildly here.
Hunter misses with a wild body shot.
Hunter takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hanks lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hanks keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hanks's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hunter under the eye.
Hanks looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunter is just out of range.
Hanks connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hunter fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunter. Hanks does a little dance to reset his feet.

Hunter bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hanks is looking for a sweep.
Hunter misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The strikes coming from Hunter are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hanks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Hunter wants to get back to full guard but Hanks has passed into side control.
Hunter tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Hanks decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunter fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hanks sprawls well initially but Hunter persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hunter misses with a head shot. Hanks uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hunter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hunter wants to control from the top but Hanks keeps moving.
Hunter lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hunter passes Hanks's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hunter prevents Hanks from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hanks gets full guard.
Hunter wants to control from the top but Hanks keeps moving.
Hunter throwing strikes but missing.
Hunter lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hunter accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Jay Hunter will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Craig Hanks's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hunter swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hanks.

Hunter is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hanks's half guard.
Hanks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hunter.

Hunter is working for a submission of some sort.

Hunter looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hunter winds up and cracks Hanks with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter throwing shots but Hanks is blocking nicely.
Hunter lands with a punch from half guard.
Hunter is pressing down on Hanks's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hanks is holding on for now.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hunter lands a nice short elbow.
Hanks is staying active underneath Hunter, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hanks manages to get to full guard.
Hunter trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Craig Hanks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hanks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hanks has control of Hunter's left arm, preventing Hunter from doing any damage.
Hunter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunter wants to pass the guard but Hanks is keeping the position.
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Jay Hunter is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hanks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hunter manages to get himself to full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunter trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter trying to control the position here.
Hunter is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hunter is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hanks won't allow Hunter to sweep him here.
Hanks is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Craig Hanks just wasn't active enough.
Hanks fails to land with a series of punches.
Hanks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hunter shoots in but Hanks avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hanks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hanks misses with an uppercut.
Hunter defending well as Hanks loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunter shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hanks pinned against the cage. Hanks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hunter throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jay Hunter comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hunter has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 46:49
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 46:49
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Hunter!
Jay Hunter is the new welterweight champion!
Our winner, Jay Hunter, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.