PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Yankee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hunt might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Comfortably Numb. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hunt
vs
Yankee

175 cm
25
170 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

180 cm
33
178 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Brute
Fighters First Nutrition

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 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of London, Jim Yankee!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yankee is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hunt.
Hunt throws a low kick but Yankee moves out of range easily.
Yankee scores with the left hand. Hunt knows he should have avoided that one.
Merik Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Yankee.
Hunt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yankee.
Yankee connects with a nice looking jab.
Yankee throws a head kick but Hunt moves out of range.
Yankee misses with a looping right.
Hunt closes this distance looking for a takedown but Yankee circles away.
Yankee slips a jab from Hunt.
Hunt misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Yankee tries to clinch there but Hunt circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Donk. Yankee catches Hunt right on the button with a cross.
Hunt dodges the punch combination from Yankee.
Hunt has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merik Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yankee bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hunt's head.
Yankee checks a low kick from Hunt.
Yankee misses with a looping right.
Hunt throws the left hand but Yankee avoids the punch easily.
Nice shot by Hunt.
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a leg kick but Yankee moved away.
Hunt bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Hunt darts in and clinches Yankee up against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Yankee.

Yankee's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Yankee tries to bum rush Hunt with a series of wild strikes but Hunt uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Yankee ducks under a wild hook from Hunt.
Yankee fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hunt feints and as Yankee raises his hands in defense, Hunt changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Yankee looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hunt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hunt seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hunt trying to control but Yankee is working from the bottom.
Yankee is trying to keep Hunt in close.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hunt takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hunt wants to land a leg kick but Yankee is out of range.
Yankee keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hunt throws a leg kick but Yankee sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Yankee looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Yankee misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Yankee is looking to clinch but Hunt is avoiding it.
Hunt throws a low kick but Yankee avoids it.
Hunt takes a swing at Yankee's ribcage but misses.
Hunt listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Yankee stuffs the takedown attempt from Hunt. Hunt gets slowly back to his feet.
Yankee misses with a straight left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yankee throws a lazy right hand but Hunt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hunt fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jim Yankee will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hunt's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Yankee connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hunt scrambles back to his feet.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Yankee as he avoids it easily.
Yankee lands a jab.
Yankee on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Yankee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Jim Yankee seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hunt takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Yankee tries to clinch there but Hunt circles away.
Hunt moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Yankee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hunt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt blocks a jab.
Yankee takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hunt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hunt throws a leg kick
and Yankee counters with an inside leg kick.
Hunt cracks Yankee with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice sprawl there from Yankee as Hunt shoots in.
Jim Yankee is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A low kick from Hunt is predictable there
and Hunt takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Yankee 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.
Hunt dodges the punch combination from Yankee.
Hunt punishes Yankee's body with a nice straight punch.
Hunt takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yankee ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yankee slips a jab from Hunt.
Yankee throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hunt throws a series of punches but Yankee moves out of range.
Hunt loads up on a big right hand but Yankee slips the punch.
Yankee connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Yankee throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Hunt looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Yankee!
Yankee tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hunt tries to control but Yankee wriggling away.
Yankee is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yankee is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Yankee tries to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Yankee sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hunt looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Yankee with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hunt is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Yankee looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hunt looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Yankee gets full guard.
Hunt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt with a nice head shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hunt looking to pass the guard.
Hunt trying to control but Yankee is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt prevents Yankee from getting back to his feet.
Hunt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hunt is working Yankee over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt trying to control but Yankee is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that second round.
That's time! Hunt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Yankee slaps away a takedown attempt from Hunt, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Yankee goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown but Yankee shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hunt shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Hunt is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Yankee has managed to free his arm - good work.
Yankee is not content to let Hunt control the position.

Yankee kicks Hunt off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hunt. Yankee does a little dance to reset his feet.
Yankee jabs Hunt right on the nose. Hunt blinks but takes it well.
Hunt keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Yankee.
Yankee throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hunt on the side of the head.
Yankee throws a body kick that misses.
Hunt throws an off balance right hand
and Yankee counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Yankee looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunt is just out of range.
Yankee walks into a jab.
Hunt connects with a looping right hand.
Yankee scores with a decent looking hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt shoots in but Yankee avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merik Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Yankee is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hunt.
A low kick from Hunt misses
and Yankee counters with a three punch combo that has Hunt backing up. Hunt nods at Yankee to acknowledge the strikes.
Yankee looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunt is just out of range.
Yankee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hunt.
Nice uppercut lands for Yankee. That snapped Hunt's head back.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Yankee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hunt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hunt looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hunt misses with a series of wild punches.
No luck for Hunt with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yankee with a nice cross.
Hunt throws a looping overhand right but Yankee ducks down to avoid it.
Hunt misses with a hook. Yankee ducked under it nicely.
Yankee misses with a straight right.
Yankee will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hunt is looking to land body kicks.
Hunt tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Yankee is able to avoid easily.
Yankee scores with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yankee stuffs the takedown.
Hunt misses with a leg kick
and Yankee counters with a stiff right hand.
Hunt misses with a leg kick
and Yankee counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Yankee slips a jab from Hunt.
Hunt shoots in looking for a takedown. Yankee tries to sprawl out of it but Hunt keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Yankee manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yankee takes a swing at Hunt's ribcage but misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Yankee scores with a nice strike.
Hunt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Yankee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Yankee really dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hunt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hunt misses with a low kick.
Yankee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hunt paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hunt fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Yankee sprawls well initially but Hunt persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hunt wants to lay and pray for a moment but Yankee keeps working.
Hunt not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hunt working the head and body with strikes.
Yankee is looking to get back to is feet but Hunt passes into side control.
Hunt is looking to take a break and control but Yankee is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hunt tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yankee tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hunt wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Yankee manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hunt's best efforts.

Hunt is looking for a kimura here.
Hunt is controlling the pace.
Yankee tries to roll over but Hunt keeps him under control.
Yankee trying to hold on to Hunt's head to control him but Hunt postures up.
Hunt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt wants to take a breather but Yankee is having none of it.
Hunt tries to pass to full mount but Yankee defends it.
Hunt works his way into full mount!
Yankee is trying to stand.
Yankee wants to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Yankee is in a horrible position here. Hunt smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
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!
Yankee wants to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Hunt scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hunt landing strikes, looking to finish!

Yankee is rocked!
Hunt is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Yankee can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Yankee is still in real trouble! Can Hunt finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yankee is working to get back to half guard.
Hunt is in full mount looking to finish with strikes. He lands a big shot, followed by another and Yankee goes limp! The ref jumps in to end the fight - a big win for Hunt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:21 of round 4, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Merik Hunt!
Merik Hunt retains his welterweight title!
A victorious Merik Hunt thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.