PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Povetkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Povetkin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hunter
vs
Povetkin

182 cm
32
184 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

185 cm
34
181 lbs
23 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Meet the Future

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 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vincent Hunter!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Alexander Povetkin!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Povetkin.
Povetkin misses the jab.
The crowd cheers as Povetkin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hunter doesn't seem phased though.

Povetkin clinches.
Hunter lands a hook that snaps the head of Povetkin backwards.
Povetkin tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hunter.
Povetkin working hard to break the clinch.

Povetkin manages to break the clinch.
Povetkin cracks the inside of Hunter's front leg.

Povetkin instigates a clinch.
Hunter working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hunter lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Povetkin or not.
Hunter lands a body punch.
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 swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hunter prevents a body shot from Povetkin.
We've been hearing reports that Hunter has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Povetkin lands a body punch.
Hunter misses with a body punch.
Povetkin is trying to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter misses with a short punch on the inside.
Povetkin is trying to force a seperation but Hunter has the dominant position.
Hunter misses with a punch to the body.
Povetkin lands a body punch.
Hunter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hunter prevents a body shot from Povetkin.
Hunter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Povetkin lands a right hand.
Povetkin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hunter lands with a short shot to the head.
Povetkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hunter's elbow.
Hunter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Povetkin's efforts to push away.
Hunter lands a shoulder strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Povetkin breaks from the clinch.
Hunter throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Povetkin counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Povetkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hunter manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hunter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hunter ducks under a wild hook from Povetkin.
Hunter ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hunter scores with a shot to the body.
Povetkin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Alexander Povetkin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hunter.
Povetkin is looking to clinch.
Povetkin jabs Hunter right on the nose. Hunter blinks but takes it well.
Povetkin blocks a jab.
Povetkin lands a nice shot that snaps Hunter's head back.
Hunter chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Povetkin can pounce on him.
Jab, jab by Povetkin - just one landing.
Povetkin fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin is looking to clinch.
A jab from Povetkin misses.
Povetkin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hunter slips a jab and a cross from Povetkin.
Hunter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Povetkin throws out the jab.
A low kick from Povetkin is predictable there
letting Hunter counter with a right hand.
Hunter moves away from the strike by Povetkin.
Hunter bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hunter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Povetkin throws out the jab.
Hunter tries to work over Povetkin's front leg with a kick but Povetkin checks it.
A telegraphed right hand from Povetkin misses the target.
Povetkin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hunter. Hunter obviously looking to wear him down.
Povetkin misses the jab.

Povetkin takes the fight into the clinch.
Povetkin throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter lands a hook that snaps the head of Povetkin backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunter lands a right hand.
Povetkin tries to throw a body punch but Hunter avoids it by throwing Povetkin back against the cage.

Povetkin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Povetkin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hunter paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Povetkin moves forwards but Hunter connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Povetkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Alexander Povetkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Povetkin throws out a loose jab but Hunter uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jab from Povetkin.
Povetkin cracks the inside of Hunter's front leg.
Hunter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Povetkin moves away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunter delivers a nice body kick.
Povetkin misses with a hook. Hunter ducked under it nicely.
Povetkin misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Povetkin 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.

Hunter throws a hook but Povetkin avoids it easily.
Hunter throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A jab from Povetkin misses.
Povetkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Hunter as he connects with a hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hunter.
Povetkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hunter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Povetkin throws a low kick but Hunter avoids it.
Povetkin is looking to clinch.
Hunter jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hunter avoids the body shot from Povetkin.
Hunter looks to score with a jab to the body but Povetkin is just out of range.
Hunter with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Povetkin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
No joy there for Povetkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Povetkin throws a series of punches but Hunter avoids them all with ease.
Povetkin scores with a hook to the body. Hunter takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Povetkin misses with a right hand

and Hunter counters with a nice double leg into side control. Povetkin won't be happy with that.
Hunter in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Povetkin defending against the ground and pound.
Povetkin defending against the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunter wants to lay and pray for a moment but Povetkin keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Povetkin tries to buck Hunter off but Hunter is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter controls the position from side control.
Povetkin sneaks back into half guard.
Hunter is keen to just control but Povetkin is a slippery customer.
Povetkin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hunter.
Hunter drops an elbow to the side of Povetkin's head.
Hunter trying to mount his opponent but Povetkin defends it.

Hunter is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin is trying to get back to full guard.
Povetkin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Hunter wants to take a breather but Povetkin is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hunter throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hunter thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Povetkin's head.
Hunter is keen to just control but Povetkin is a slippery customer.
Povetkin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Povetkin holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Povetkin is trying to control but can't.
Hunter trying to control the action but Povetkin is working from the bottom.

Alexander Povetkin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hunter dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Hunter dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Povetkin misses with a straight left.
Povetkin fails to land with a series of punches.
Povetkin slips a straight right by Hunter.
Povetkin takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hunter swats away the attempt to clinch by Povetkin.
Povetkin swings for the body but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Povetkin lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hunter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Povetkin manages to avoid it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Povetkin. That's going to slow Hunter down.
Hunter connects with an inside leg kick.
Povetkin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hunter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Povetkin manages to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hunter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Povetkin manages to avoid it.

Povetkin moves into the clinch successfully.
Povetkin working hard to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hunter.
Hunter tries a body shot but Povetkin blocks it.
Povetkin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Povetkin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hunter's elbow.
Hunter trying to control the position but instead, Povetkin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hunter into the cage.
Povetkin can't find room to land a body shot as Hunter controls the action.
Hunter misses with the head strike.
Vincent Hunter has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Povetkin tries to throw a body punch but Hunter avoids it by throwing Povetkin back against the cage.
Hunter blocks a body shot from Povetkin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hunter misses with a punch to the body.
Hunter throws a punch but it's blocked by Povetkin.
Povetkin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hunter.
Hunter has a couple of punches blocked by Povetkin.
Hunter throws a head punch that misses.
Hunter tries a body shot but Povetkin blocks it.

Povetkin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Povetkin.
Povetkin tries to clinch there but Hunter circles away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hunter misses with a kick to the body.
Povetkin tries to close the distance and clinch but Hunter swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hunter will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Povetkin misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin takes one to the side of the head.
Hunter connects with a right hand. Povetkin shakes it off.
Povetkin tries to clinch up but Hunter circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunter is looking to clinch.
Hunter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Povetkin.
Povetkin misses with an uppercut.
Povetkin tries to clinch up.
Povetkin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hunter.

Povetkin closes the distance and pushes Hunter back into the cage.
Hunter swings wildly with an uppercut but Povetkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Povetkin blocks a body shot from Hunter.

Hunter has picked Povetkin up - he's going for a ride! Hunter dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Povetkin is refusing to be controlled, as Hunter sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hunter is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Hunter is looking for a kimura but Povetkin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hunter to get the leverage.
Povetkin tries to get to full guard but Hunter has control of the leg.
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.
Hunter sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Povetkin defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Hunter clearly takes that round.
That's time! Hunter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Povetkin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hunter - the referee stops the clock and Povetkin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hunter. Povetkin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hunter throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Povetkin.
Povetkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A slapping leg kick lands for Hunter.
Hunter connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Povetkin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Povetkin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Povetkin tried to score with a low kick but Hunter checks it.
Povetkin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Povetkin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Povetkin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunter tries to clinch up.
Good work by Povetkin as he checks the leg kick.
Povetkin throws a series of punches but Hunter avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Povetkin is looking to clinch but Hunter is avoiding it.
Hunter dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Povetkin. That did some damage!
Povetkin uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hunter has time to react.

Povetkin has closed the distance and engaged Hunter in a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hunter takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A short uppercut from Hunter.
Hunter misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Povetkin fails to land.
Povetkin tries to throw a body punch but Hunter avoids it by throwing Povetkin back against the cage.
Good body shot from Hunter.
Hunter tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunter misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hunter blocks a body shot from Povetkin.
Hunter scores with a shot to the side of Povetkin's head.
Povetkin tries to work over Hunter's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Povetkin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hunter tries to throw a body punch but Povetkin avoids it by throwing Hunter back against the cage.
Povetkin digs a right hand into Hunter's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hunter's gas tank.
Povetkin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunter misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hunter is looking to take this one to the mat.
Povetkin misses with a body punch.
Hunter tries a body shot but Povetkin blocks it.
Povetkin digs a right hand into Hunter's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hunter's gas tank.
Hunter lands a left hand.
Povetkin is trying to force a seperation but Hunter has the dominant position.
Hunter working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short uppercut from Hunter.
Hunter tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hunter tries a body shot but Povetkin blocks it.
Povetkin misses with a punch on the inside.
Povetkin lands a shot to the body.
A short right from Hunter on the inside.
Hunter makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hunter is looking to control Povetkin's arms but Povetkin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hunter has his back to the cage.
Povetkin wants to break free but Hunter has control.
Povetkin throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Povetkin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hunter working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunter can't find room to land a body shot as Povetkin controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin tries to break free but Hunter pushes him back against the cage.
Hunter lands a shoulder strike.
Povetkin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Povetkin misses with a body punch.
Povetkin misses with a body punch.
Povetkin blocking some punches.
Povetkin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A right handed body shot lands from Povetkin.
A head punch on the inside from Hunter fails to land.
Hunter misses with a body punch.

Povetkin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hunter lands with a cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hunter tries to close the distance and clinch but Povetkin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Povetkin, as that shot connected.

Hunter has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Hunter had his way with Alexander Povetkin in that round.
That's time! Hunter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Povetkin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Povetkin tries a body shot but Hunter blocks it.

Povetkin is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hunter is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Povetkin to the mat. Povetkin regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hunter in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Povetkin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunter wants to control from the top but Povetkin keeps moving.
Hunter throwing strikes but missing.
Povetkin has his hands on Hunter's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Povetkin misses with a few strikes there.
Povetkin buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hunter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Povetkin.
Povetkin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hunter under the eye.
Povetkin takes a swing at Hunter's ribcage but misses.
Hunter misses with a kick to the body.
Povetkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Povetkin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Povetkin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hunter lands the left hand.
Hunter waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Povetkin.
Povetkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Povetkin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Povetkin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Povetkin throws a solid leg kick but Hunter takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Povetkin.
Hunter tries a head kick but it misses.
Hunter throws a sloppy head kick and Povetkin moves out of range easily.

Povetkin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hunter lands an uppercut.
Hunter doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Povetkin breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin connects with a body shot.
Hunter moves forwards but Povetkin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hunter avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Povetkin throws out the jab.
Hunter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Povetkin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hunter cracks a nice hook into Povetkin's ribs.

Povetkin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Povetkin tries to throw a body punch but Hunter avoids it by throwing Povetkin back against the cage.
Alexander Povetkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunter has Povetkin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Povetkin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Povetkin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Povetkin tries a body shot but Hunter blocks it.
Hunter pushes Povetkin back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hunter working aggressively here.
Povetkin presses Hunter against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Povetkin digs a right hand into Hunter's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hunter's gas tank.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Povetkin misses with a punch to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Povetkin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hunter tries to throw a body punch but Povetkin avoids it by throwing Hunter back against the cage.
Povetkin tries a body shot but Hunter blocks it.
Hunter lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Povetkin or not.
Hunter lands a shot to the body.
Hunter tries to work over Povetkin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hunter misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hunter lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Povetkin tries a body shot but Hunter blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hunter tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Povetkin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Povetkin tries to throw a body punch but Hunter avoids it by throwing Povetkin back against the cage.
Hunter lands a right hand.

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 Vincent Hunter.
I think Hunter 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 49:46
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Hunter!
Vincent Hunter is the new welterweight champion!
A very excited looking Vincent Hunter 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.