PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Toro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunt comes to the cage accompanied by Comfortably Numb. Toro has chosen Knife Party / Bonfire as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hunt
vs
Toro

175 cm
27
170 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

175 cm
25
163 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

The Choke´s On You
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gustavo Toro!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toro ducks under a wild hook from Hunt.

Hunt gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hunt.
Toro lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hunt lands a left hand.
Hunt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunt throws a punch but it's blocked by Toro.
Hunt's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hunt.
Toro tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Hunt fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toro.
Toro blocking some punches.
Toro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toro lands a body punch.
Hunt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hunt content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Toro cracks Hunt with a nice body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hunt manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Toro.
Toro takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Toro checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Toro scoring well with a low kick there.
Hunt on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hunt misses with a body shot.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Toro forces Hunt back against the cage and clinches.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short uppercut from Hunt.
Toro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toro lands with a short shot to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Toro misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toro.
Toro is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A short left from Toro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toro tries to throw a body punch but Hunt avoids it by throwing Toro back against the cage.
Hunt tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Toro.
A shot in the inside from Hunt.
A short uppercut from Hunt.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hunt throws an elbow but misses.
Toro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Toro blocking some punches.
Toro misses with a punch on the inside.
Hunt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Toro misses with a punch on the inside.
Toro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Toro swings wildly with an uppercut but Hunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hunt scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hunt can't get the takedown.
Hunt lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a head punch that misses.
Hunt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hunt stalling in the clinch.
Hunt tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short right from Toro.
Hunt blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Toro throws a punch but it's blocked by Hunt.
Toro prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merik Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunt is trying to stall.
Toro blocking some punches.
Toro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Toro presses Hunt against the cage and delivers a mid-strength 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!

Hunt turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hunt in side control, throwing shots but Toro defends.
Toro tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunt is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Toro knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hunt in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Toro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Toro is trying to get back to full guard.
Hunt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Toro wants to control but Hunt is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gustavo Toro will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hunt throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hunt has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Toro.
Toro throws a leg kick but Hunt moved away.
Toro takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hunt avoids the head kick by Toro.
Hunt misses the jab.
Toro digs a good hook to Hunt's body.
A telegraphed right hand from Toro misses the target.
Hunt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hunt connects with a leg kick. Toro looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hunt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Toro feints and then cracks Hunt's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hunt down.
Hunt misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toro checks a low kick from Hunt.
Toro lands the left hand.
Hunt staying out of range there.
Toro ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hunt moves away.
Hunt keeps the fight on the outside.
Toro dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hunt. That did some damage!

Hunt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toro.
Hunt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hunt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Hunt breaks the clinch.
Gustavo Toro seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hunt on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Toro. Toro obviously looking to wear him down.
Toro slips a jab from Hunt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toro throws a nice inside leg kick.
Toro throws a head kick that misses.
A swing and a miss from Toro.
Hunt displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Toro throws out the jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Toro looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunt is just out of range.
Hunt wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Toro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Toro rushes Hunt and presses him up against the cage.
Toro scores with a shot to the side of Hunt's head.
Hunt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Hunt fails to land.
Toro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hunt.
Toro blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt misses with a punch on the inside.
Toro tries to work over Hunt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hunt misses with a punch on the inside.
Toro blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Toro - that landed with a thud.
Nice body punch from Toro - that landed with a thud.
Hunt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Toro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Hunt's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Toro gets tackled into the cage by Hunt. Hunt maintains the clinch.
Hunt tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Toro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunt swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hunt blocking some punches.
Hunt prevents a body shot from Toro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toro blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hunt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunt gets through Toro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hunt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hunt tries a body shot but Toro blocks it.
Toro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toro lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hunt backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short uppercut from Hunt.
Toro prevents the takedown attempt.
Hunt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hunt blocking some punches.
Hunt trying to stall but Toro improves his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt has a couple of punches blocked by Toro.
Toro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hunt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hunt has Toro pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Toro manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gustavo Toro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hunt wants to slow Toro down by chopping away at his legs.
Toro loads up on a big right hand but Hunt slips the punch.
Toro throws a right and a left that Hunt avoids nicely.
That kick from Hunt tenderised Toro's leg. Toro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hunt connects with an inside leg kick.
Hunt lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hunt misses with an uppercut.
Good leg kick by Toro there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hunt.
Toro tries to improve position but can't.
Hunt with the ground and pound but Toro regains half guard under the barage of strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Toro to regain full guard.
Hunt tries to free his leg and advance position but Toro is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Toro is on top in guard.
Hunt being controlled here, momentarily.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Toro from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toro tries to stand but Hunt is controlling from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gustavo Toro.
Hunt throws a sloppy head kick and Toro moves out of range easily.
Hunt scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a jab when Toro was well out of range.
Hunt misses with a right hand
and Toro cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Toro. Hunt does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hunt is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A nice inside leg kick there by Toro. That's going to slow Hunt down.
Toro takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Toro tries a head kick but it misses.
Merik Hunt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Toro moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Toro throws a leg kick which misses Hunt's front leg but catches the back leg as Hunt tries to avoid it.
Hunt showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Toro.
Toro jabs Hunt right on the nose. Hunt blinks but takes it well.
Toro throws a big shot that misses.
Gustavo Toro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Toro throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hunt stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Toro keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Toro fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hunt shoots for a takedown but Toro saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Toro throws out a powerful jab.
Hunt pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gustavo Toro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Toro uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hunt.
Toro takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Merik Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt misses with a body punch
and Toro counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Toro misses with a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Toro feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hunt's calf.
Toro slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustavo Toro comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Toro 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gustavo Toro!
Gustavo Toro thanked the fans post fight for their support.