PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Raphson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Hyatt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hyatt has chosen Street fighter as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Raphson
vs
Hyatt

192 cm
22
223 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Carl Raphson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jimmy Hyatt!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Robert Twigg and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raphson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch but Raphson keeps him there for the moment.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raphson has Hyatt pressed against the cage, preventing Hyatt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Raphson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hyatt's efforts to push away.
Hyatt tries to break free but Raphson pushes him back against the cage.
Hyatt is trying to break free.
Raphson prevents Hyatt from breaking the clinch.
Raphson slowing the pace effectively.
Hyatt is trying to force a seperation but Raphson has the dominant position.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Raphson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hyatt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson is controlling him.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raphson controlling the action here for a moment.
Hyatt is trying to push Raphson away but Raphson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raphson has Hyatt pressed against the cage, preventing Hyatt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hyatt has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Raphson just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hyatt's brow.
Hyatt is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Raphson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Hyatt wants to get back to striking at distance but Raphson won't allow it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Raphson unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hyatt working hard to break the clinch.
Hyatt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A bit of stalling here from Raphson.
Hyatt is looking to break free of the clinch but Raphson has double underhooks.
Hyatt avoids a wild elbow strike from Raphson.
Raphson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raphson stalling in the clinch.
Hyatt is trying to push Raphson away but Raphson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hyatt blocks an elbow strike from Raphson.
A frustrated look appears on Hyatt's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hyatt tries to circle away but Raphson has him pinned against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson is controlling him.
Raphson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hyatt wants to get back to striking at distance but Raphson won't allow it.
Raphson stalling.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Carl Raphson.
Hyatt takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Good shot there by Hyatt.
Raphson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hyatt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hyatt buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hyatt cracks Raphson with an open hand slap.
Raphson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hyatt throws a hook to the side of Raphson's head but Raphson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hyatt closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Raphson throws a low kick, looking for Hyatt's leg but Hyatt calmly moves out of range.
Hyatt lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hyatt lands a really nice looking cross but Raphson seems unphased.

Raphson forces Hyatt back against the cage and clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hyatt is trying to force a seperation but Raphson has the dominant position.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Raphson lands an elbow just above Hyatt 's eye.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hyatt is looking to break free of the clinch but Raphson has double underhooks.
Hyatt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.
Raphson throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raphson leaning against his opponent.
Hyatt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hyatt is trying to break free.
Raphson looking to stall.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson is controlling him.
Hyatt wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
A short left from Raphson.
Come on Raphson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Raphson trying to control the position but instead, Hyatt has worked for underhooks and has pushed Raphson into the cage.
Raphson avoiding damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Raphson with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch but Raphson keeps him there for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jimmy Hyatt will probably get the nod.
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.

Hyatt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Raphson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hyatt with a hook.
Raphson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hyatt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hyatt throws a nice looking combination but Raphson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hyatt. Raphson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hyatt fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Raphson on the side of the head.
Hyatt pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Carl Raphson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Raphson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hyatt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Raphson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hyatt paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hyatt throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hyatt scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Raphson doesn't seem bothered though.
Hyatt throws a poor cross that misses

and Raphson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Raphson.
Raphson tries to work over Hyatt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Raphson has Hyatt pressed against the cage, preventing Hyatt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hyatt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Raphson.
Raphson scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hyatt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Raphson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Raphson misses with a body punch.
Carl Raphson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hyatt is trying to push Raphson away but Raphson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Raphson keeps control of Hyatt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hyatt tries to break free but Raphson pushes him back against the cage.
Raphson taking a breather.
The referee is keeping an eye on Raphson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Raphson taking a breather.
A bit of stalling here from Raphson.
Nice elbow from Raphson.
Hyatt is trying to push Raphson away but Raphson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
A frustrated look appears on Hyatt's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raphson has Hyatt pressed against the cage, preventing Hyatt from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A frustrated look appears on Hyatt's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hyatt avoids a wild elbow strike from Raphson.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hyatt avoids the elbow strike from Raphson, against the cage.
Hyatt is looking to break free of the clinch but Raphson has double underhooks.
Hyatt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.
Hyatt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hyatt is trying to push Raphson away but Raphson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hyatt blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Raphson prevents Hyatt from breaking the clinch.
Hyatt working hard to break the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Raphson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raphson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hyatt can't break the clinch.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.
Hyatt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hyatt looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hyatt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hyatt is trying to break free.
Raphson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hyatt's efforts to push away.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Raphson pressing his opponent against the cage.
Raphson lands with a right to the head.
Hyatt dodges an elbow strike from Raphson.
Raphson tries to land knees in the clinch but Hyatt avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raphson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hyatts head.
Raphson keeps control of Hyatt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson is controlling him.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Hyatt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Raphson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hyatt is keeping busy.
Hyatt working hard to break the clinch.
Hyatt wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Raphson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Raphson keeps control of Hyatt as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hyatt has had enough of the clinch but Raphson keeps him there for the moment.
Hyatt wants to get back to striking at distance but Raphson won't allow it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hyatt is trying to break the clinch but Raphson has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Raphson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jimmy Hyatt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hyatt slips under a jab from Raphson.
Hyatt thuds his right hand into Raphson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Raphson throws a solid leg kick but Hyatt takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Raphson.
Hyatt missing with a left hand there. Raphson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hyatt throws a right and a left that Raphson avoids nicely.
Raphson wants to clinch.

Raphson darts in and clinches Hyatt up against the cage.
Raphson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hyatt blocks an elbow strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Raphson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Raphson trying to control the position but instead, Hyatt has worked for underhooks and has pushed Raphson into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raphson avoiding damage.
Hyatt wants to break free but Raphson has control.
Come on Raphson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Carl Raphson.
Raphson takes one to the side of the head.
Raphson checks a leg kick.
Raphson wants to clinch
enabling Hyatt to counter with a crisp jab.
Raphson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Raphson tries to clinch up
and Hyatt counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hyatt misses with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raphson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Raphson drives through and clinches with Hyatt against the cage.
Raphson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Raphson lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Jimmy Hyatt has been cut.
Raphson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hyatt's efforts to push away.
Stalling in the clinch from Raphson.
A short uppercut from Raphson.
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!
Raphson just leaning against Hyatt, taking a breather.
Raphson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hyatt's efforts to push away.
Hyatt tries to break free but Raphson pushes him back against the cage.
Raphson creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hyatt tries to break free but Raphson pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raphson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hyatt is keeping busy.

Hyatt manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Raphson. Those never looked like landing.
Hyatt throws an overhand right that lands on Raphson's shoulder, as Raphson tries to avoid the shot.
Hyatt misses with a body shot.
Raphson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hyatt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Raphson tries to clinch up
and Hyatt counters with a straight right hand.
Hyatt scores with a jab to the jaw.
Raphson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Jimmy Hyatt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Raphson is looking to clinch.
Jimmy Hyatt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hyatt scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Carl Raphson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raphson tries to clinch but Hyatt is having none of it.
Hyatt connects with a looping right hand.
Raphson looks to clinch
and Hyatt connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Raphson swinging wildly here.
Hyatt fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Raphson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Raphson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hyatt, pushing him back against the cage.
Raphson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hyatt avoiding damage as Raphson throws knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hyatt letting Raphson take a breather here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raphson has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Raphson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

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 Carl Raphson.
I think Hyatt 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Hyatt!
During a confident post fight interview, Jimmy Hyatt thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.