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 kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Comfortably Numb. Toro comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Knife Party / Bonfire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Hunt
vs
Toro

175 cm
28
170 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

175 cm
26
163 lbs
19 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Brute

Perkele!
FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gustavo Toro!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunt lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hunt misses with a low kick.
Hunt connects with a body shot.
Hunt tries to land a leg kick but Toro saw it coming and moves away.
Hunt moves out of range of the body kick.
Hunt cracks Toro with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hunt swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Toro walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A slow jab from Toro misses its intended target.
Toro lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hunt throws a right and a left that Toro avoids nicely.
Hunt turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hunt chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Toro swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hunt.
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 digs a good body shot into Toro's ribs.
Hunt throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt throws a body punch but Toro moves out of range.
Hunt scores with a push kick.
Toro blocks a leg kick.

Toro clinches up against the cage.

Hunt breaks from the clinch.
Hunt bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Toro's head backwards.

Hunt closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Toro's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hunt's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Toro is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hunt is looking to work some ground and pound but Toro has wrist control.
Hunt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Toro's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Toro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Toro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hunt wants to control from the top but Toro keeps moving.
Hunt preventing the sweep.
Hunt with a nice head shot there.
Hunt content to stall in guard here.
Hunt working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hunt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Toro is pulling down on Hunt's head. It's preventing any offense from Hunt, at least for the moment.
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Toro wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hunt is now in half guard.
Hunt sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt misses with a head shot. Toro uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hunt scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunt passes Toro's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hunt throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Toro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hunt.
Toro lands the left hand.
Toro stuffs the takedown.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Toro checks a leg kick.
Nice shot by Hunt.
Toro throws a hook to the side of Hunt's head but Hunt sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hunt cracks Toro with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Toro throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hunt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Toro on the side of the head.
Toro throws a body punch but Hunt moves out of range.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Hunt - that will leave a mark!
Toro moves out of range as Hunt throws a body kick.
Toro swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toro wants to clinch up but Hunt keeps it at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sloppy strikes from Toro. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Toro.
Hunt lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Merik Hunt is winning the standup battle so far.
A big left from Toro misses.
Toro lets loose with a powerful body kick. Hunt will feel that in the morning.
Toro walks forward, straight into a front kick from Hunt.
Gustavo Toro is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Toro cracks Hunt with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hunt dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Toro. That did some damage!
Toro moves out of range as Hunt throws a body kick.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Toro lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hunt takes a step back to recover.
Toro throws the left hand but Hunt avoids the punch easily.
Hunt takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunt lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hunt feints and then cracks Toro's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Toro down.
Hunt blocks a head kick by Toro.

Toro has Hunt up against the cage in a clinch.
Toro working aggressively here.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Toro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Hunt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fighters circle momentarily. Toro darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Hunt throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Hunt misses with a leg kick.
Toro misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hunt.
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt checks a leg kick nicely.
Toro throws a leg kick

and Hunt counters with a shoot takedown. Toro fights it but they end up in guard.
Hunt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hunt passes Toro's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hunt not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hunt prevents Toro from improving his position.
Hunt is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hunt is trying to control the action in half guard but Toro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toro wants to improve his position but Hunt is controlling well.
Toro avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hunt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunt takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Nice strikes from Hunt there.
Hunt throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hunt thows a huge punch but Toro dodges it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunt throwing shots but Toro is blocking nicely.
Hunt is trying to control the action in half guard but Toro is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Toro is trying to stand up here but Hunt is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hunt blocks a head kick by Toro.
Toro misses with an uppercut. Hunt saw that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hunt. That's going to slow Toro down.
Hunt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hunt connects with the punch.
Hunt wants to land a leg kick but Toro is out of range.
Hunt throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hunt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hunt throws a low kick, looking for Toro's leg but Toro calmly moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Toro.
Hunt scores with a jab. Toro acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Toro slips a jab from Hunt.
Merik Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hunt, as that shot connected.
Hunt misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Toro looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Toro fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunt avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Toro instigates a clinch.
Toro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Toro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nice body punch from Hunt.
Toro tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Toro lands with a right to the head.
Hunt blocking some punches.
A short uppercut from Hunt.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hunt.

Hunt pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hunt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Toro looks to throw the jab but Hunt is out of range.
Toro fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hunt shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Toro's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hunt lands a couple of elbows.
Hunt throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Toro wants to hit a switch here but Hunt passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Toro there!
Hunt avoids the attempt from Toro to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throwing strikes here but Toro is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Toro is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hunt thowing shots but they're missing.
Toro is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hunt has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Toro wants to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Hunt trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hunt raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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.
Toro tries to lock up and control but Hunt gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Merik Hunt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hunt throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Poor strikes thrown by Hunt there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Toro wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hunt.
Hunt with a couple of short strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt with the ground and pound from mount.
Hunt can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Toro is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hunt fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Toro checks it well.
Hunt takes a jab right on the kisser.
Toro's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hunt fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice shot by Toro.
Hunt lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jab from Hunt.
Hunt throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hunt looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hunt throws a head kick but Toro moves out of range.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Toro as he jumps to the side.
Hunt throws a leg kick but Toro sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt misses with a low kick as Toro jumps back.
An inside leg kick from Hunt misses.
Hunt fails with a takedown attempt.
Toro tests Hunt's chin there with a solid looking shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Toro throws a punch but it's blocked by Hunt.
Hunt tries to throw a body punch but Toro avoids it by throwing Hunt back against the cage.
Hunt goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hunt blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toro lands with a light punch inside.

Hunt escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hunt fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Merik Hunt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunt throws a lazy uppercut
and Toro counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hunt tries to move into range but Toro moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Toro stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Toro wants it to stay on the feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Toro moves out of range of the strikes.
Hunt tried to score with a low kick but Toro checks it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Toro clinches up with Hunt and pushes him back against the cage.

Hunt breaks the clinch.
A combination from Hunt does no damage.
Hunt misses with a lunging right hand
and Toro counters with a right hand to the body.
Good work by Toro as he checks the leg kick.
Toro misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Toro throws a quick inside leg kick.
Toro connects with a leg kick. Hunt looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Toro lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Toro.
Toro connects with a leg kick. Hunt looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hunt throws a leg kick that is checked
and Toro counters with a nice uppercut.
Toro is looking to clinch.
Hunt blocks a leg kick.
Toro lands a jab.
A jab from Toro misses.
Toro swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toro misses with an uppercut.
Hunt throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunt throws a solid leg kick but Toro takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hunt.
Hunt misses with a shot to the body
and Toro counters with a straight right hand.
Toro steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hunt.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hunt avoids the head kick by Toro.
A right-left combo lands from Toro.

Hunt is rocked!
Donk. Toro catches Hunt right on the button with a cross.
Oh Hunt is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Toro scores with a kick to the body.

Toro closes the distance and clinches.
Toro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Toro throws a punch but it's blocked by Hunt.
Toro has a couple of punches blocked by Hunt.
Toro swings wildly with an uppercut but Hunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Toro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Toro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Toro.
Toro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunt throws an elbow but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustavo Toro dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hunt throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hunt seems to have got his legs back now.
That kick from Hunt tenderised Toro's leg. Toro is trying to keep his angry face on.
Toro lands a nice shot to the body.
Hunt tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunt throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Toro checks a leg kick.
Toro misses with a hook

and Hunt decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Toro's guard.
Toro is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hunt postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Toro trying to control the position.
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Gustavo Toro has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hunt blocks a leg kick.
Hunt lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hunt waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Toro.
Hunt shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hunt throws a leg kick which misses Toro's front leg but catches the back leg as Toro tries to avoid it.
Toro tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hunt was well out of range. Poor timing from Toro.
Toro checks a leg kick nicely.
Nice shot by Toro.
Hunt misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Toro misses the target.
Toro stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hunt throws a lazy right hand but Toro sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Toro checks the leg kick nicely there.
Toro tries to clinch up.
Hunt checks a low kick from Toro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt lands a leg kick that knocks Toro off balance momentarily.
Hunt throws a hook but Toro blocks it.
Hunt works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A jab lands there for Toro.
Good leg kick by Hunt there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hunt fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Toro checks it well.
Toro comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Toro throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hunt throws a body punch but Toro moves out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hunt.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hunt takes one to the chin there.
Toro misses the jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toro scores with a kick to the body.
Toro waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hunt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Toro scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hunt goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hunt is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Toro.
Gustavo Toro has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunt throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Toro fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hunt tries to land a leg kick but Toro saw it coming and moves away.
Toro wants to clinch up but Hunt keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunt misses the shot to the body.
Toro takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Toro misses with a body shot.

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 Merik Hunt.
I think Hunt 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 49:46
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merik Hunt!
Merik Hunt is the new lightweight champion!
A very excited looking Merik Hunt made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.