PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jurmas Uusisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunt comes to the cage accompanied by Comfortably Numb. Uusisto has chosen System Of A Down - B.Y.O.B. as his entrance music. Jurmas Uusisto has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hunt
vs
Uusisto

175 cm
32
170 lbs
32 - 14 - 0

177 cm
30
178 lbs
30 - 10 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear
xXx Clothing (Nothing Over $20)

Hellbent
Milwaukee's Best 160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jurmas Uusisto!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uusisto has a takedown stuffed.
Hunt pivots, looking for a leg kick but Uusisto is out of range and Hunt settles back down.
Hunt lands a jab to the head.
Hunt with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Uusisto to score with a decent uppercut.

Uusisto feints and as Hunt raises his hands in defense, Uusisto changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Uusisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Uusisto trying to control the position from guard on top but Hunt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Uusisto is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uusisto throwing strikes but missing.
Uusisto trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jurmas Uusisto was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Uusisto works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Uusisto throws a low kick but it's checked well by Hunt.
Merik Hunt seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hunt throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hunt throws a leg kick but Uusisto moved away.
Hunt doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Uusisto, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uusisto displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hunt throws out the jab.
We've been hearing reports that Hunt has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Uusisto checks a leg kick.
Uusisto throws a half hearted mid kick.
Uusisto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Uusisto on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hunt avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A good leg kick by Uusisto.
Uusisto checks a leg kick.
Hunt throws a body punch but Uusisto moves out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Uusisto there.
Hunt looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hunt avoids a kick to the body.
Uusisto lands a nice looking body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Uusisto scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nice shot lands for Hunt.
Uusisto scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A big right from Uusisto misses.
Hunt throws a predictable looking body shot

and Uusisto counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hunt's guard now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hunt can't keep his opponent in guard - Uusisto advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Uusisto wants to free his trapped foot but Hunt is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hunt is staying active underneath Uusisto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uusisto is pressing down on Hunt's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hunt is holding on for now.
Hunt gets back to full guard.
Uusisto looking to sit in guard and control but Hunt gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hunt connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Uusisto seems keen to control Hunt's posture.
Hunt preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jurmas Uusisto dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Uusisto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hunt was well out of range. Poor timing from Uusisto.
Hunt tries to clinch but Uusisto moves out of range.
Uusisto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hunt scoring well with a low kick there.
Hunt throws a leg kick

and Uusisto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Uusisto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Uusisto throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hunt is trying to get back to full guard.
Hunt controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Hunt is refusing to be controlled, as Uusisto sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uusisto sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Uusisto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hunt defending well though.
Jurmas Uusisto has got the better of the ground game so far.
Uusisto is looking to stall here but Hunt recovers full guard.
Uusisto wants to pass the guard but Hunt is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Uusisto manages to get himself to full guard.
Uusisto looking to control.
Uusisto manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hunt manages to get himself to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hunt is on top in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt postures up.

Uusisto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hunt defends it easily.
Hunt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Uusisto's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Uusisto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hunt is aware though and is defending well.
Hunt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Uusisto trying to control the position.
Uusisto looking for a sweep. Not yet Uusisto, not yet.
Hunt connects with a couple of short punches.
Hunt won't allow Uusisto to sweep him here.
Uusisto keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
Hunt working some strikes from top position.

Uusisto is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hunt defends well.
Uusisto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hunt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Uusisto throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hunt is working Uusisto over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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 sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hunt trying to control but Uusisto is working from the bottom.
Uusisto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Uusisto is on top in guard.
Uusisto is looking to work some ground and pound but Hunt has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jurmas Uusisto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hunt misses with a double jab

and Uusisto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Uusisto tries to pass to full mount but Hunt defends it.
Uusisto takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Uusisto is just content to waste time from the top position. Hunt takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Uusisto from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Uusisto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Uusisto wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jurmas Uusisto hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Uusisto swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunt.
Hunt defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Uusisto.
Uusisto cracks Hunt with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hunt throws a leg kick

and Uusisto counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Uusisto trying to control but Hunt is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt wants to sweep but no luck.
Uusisto looking to pass the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Uusisto advances to half guard.
Uusisto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hunt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Uusisto is trying to control. Hunt wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uusisto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hunt is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Uusisto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Uusisto's back!
Hunt scores with punches from the back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Uusisto rolls, trying to escape but Hunt keeps control of the position.
Hunt is punishing Uusisto with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt lands a shot to the body.
Hunt trying to control.
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!
Uusisto is in bad spot here.
Hunt is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Uusisto up.
Hunt lands punches and elbows.
Uusisto tries to roll but Hunt sticks to his back.
Hunt trying to control momentarily.
Hunt throwing damaging strikes from the back! Uusisto could be in trouble here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Uusisto grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Hunt doesn't have the hooks in and Uusisto manages to turn into his guard.
Hunt keeping moving, preventing Uusisto from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jurmas Uusisto just about did enough to take it.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Uusisto keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunt walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Uusisto connects with a crisp jab.
Hunt ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hunt throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Uusisto fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hunt is out of range.

Hunt forces Uusisto back against the cage and clinches.
Hunt tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hunt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hunt goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hunt misses with some punches.
Uusisto throws a punch but it's blocked by Hunt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Uusisto fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hunt sprawls well initially but Uusisto persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Uusisto working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Uusisto tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hunt knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hunt is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Uusisto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Uusisto's back!
Hunt lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Hunt connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Uusisto to escape the position.
Hunt lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunt throwing sloppy strikes.
You can see the frustration on Uusisto's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Uusisto tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Uusisto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uusisto wants to hold on but Hunt pushes him away.
Hunt is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Uusisto can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hunt fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Uusisto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hunt postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Uusisto looks a forlorn figure.
Hunt lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Uusisto taking shots to the head.
Hunt lands a big elbow.

Uusisto is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Uusisto covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:19 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Merik Hunt!
During a confident post fight interview, Merik Hunt thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.