PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Semore Butkiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Butkiss comes to the cage accompanied by Mama said. Ward has chosen "Backwoods" By Red Hot Chili Peppers as his entrance music. Semore Butkiss looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Butkiss
vs
Ward

185 cm
29
175 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

185 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Semore Butkiss!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Billy Ward!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Chris Saunders and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Butkiss misses with a series of wild punches.
Butkiss misses with a wild combination.
Ward slips a jab and a cross from Butkiss.

Butkiss has Ward up against the cage in a clinch.
Ward can't break the clinch.
Butkiss stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ward is trying to force a seperation but Butkiss has the dominant position.

Butkiss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ward showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Butkiss.
Ward has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Butkiss is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Butkiss pushes Ward up against the cage in a clinch.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butkiss shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Butkiss is breathing heavily.

Butkiss moves into the clinch.
Ward working hard to break the clinch.
Ward tries to circle away but Butkiss has him pinned against the cage.
Ward tries to land a knee to the head but Butkiss blocks with his arms.
Ward wants to break free but Butkiss has control.
Butkiss has been working on his balance at The Cave Fighting Team, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Ward.
Ward tries a knee to the head but Butkiss blocks it.
Butkiss blocks an elbow strike.

Butkiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Butkiss throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ward sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Butkiss moves into the clinch successfully.
Ward misses with a knee to the head.
Ward can't break the clinch.

Butkiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Butkiss throws a head kick but Ward moves out of range.
Ward showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Butkiss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butkiss swinging wildly here.
Butkiss throws a right hand that Ward ducks under and follows up with a left that Ward also avoids with ease.
Butkiss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Butkiss tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Butkiss is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.

Butkiss has closed the distance and engaged Ward in a clinch.
Ward wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward tries a knee to the head but Butkiss blocks it.
Ward creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Butkiss's defenses.
Butkiss dodges an elbow strike from Ward.

Butkiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sloppy strikes from Butkiss. Those never looked like landing.
Butkiss wants to clinch.
Butkiss will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Semore Butkiss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Butkiss is looking to clinch but Ward is avoiding it.
Butkiss throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward circles away from the clinch attempt.

Butkiss moves into the clinch.
Butkiss avoids the elbow strike from Ward, against the cage.
Butkiss keeps control of Ward as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ward working hard to break the clinch.
Ward is trying to break the clinch but Butkiss has him pressed against the cage.

Butkiss breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Butkiss clinches with his opponent.
Butkiss dodges an elbow strike from Ward.

Butkiss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Butkiss tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ward swivels and escapes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Butkiss throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.
Butkiss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ward's waist but Ward gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Butkiss off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Semore Butkiss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butkiss wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Semore Butkiss dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Butkiss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ward's waist but Ward gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Butkiss off to one side.
Butkiss throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Butkiss.
Butkiss misses with a jab, cross combination.
Butkiss fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butkiss tries to close the distance and clinch but Ward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Butkiss fails with an attempt to clinch.
Butkiss throws a right hand that Ward ducks under and follows up with a left that Ward also avoids with ease.
Butkiss rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ward moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butkiss misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The fight stays on the outside here - Butkiss looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Butkiss throws a right and a left that both miss.
Butkiss moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.
Butkiss swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a head kick.
Butkiss moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.
Butkiss misses with a double jab
and Ward counters with a stiff right hand.
Butkiss wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butkiss fails with the takedown.
Butkiss swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Butkiss shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ward defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Semore Butkiss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butkiss tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ward was well out of range. Poor timing from Butkiss.
Butkiss throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ward defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Butkiss.
Butkiss tries to close the distance and clinch but Ward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butkiss misses with a head kick.
Butkiss tries to clinch up but Ward circles away and keeps his distance.
Butkiss shoots for a takedown but Ward saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Butkiss.
Butkiss shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ward as he avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Ward.
Butkiss moves in looking to clinch but Ward pushes him off.
Butkiss swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Semore Butkiss is winning the standup battle so far.
Butkiss throws a head kick that misses
and Ward counters with a three punch combo that has Butkiss backing up. Butkiss nods at Ward to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward dodges the punch combination from Butkiss.
Butkiss misses with a double jab.
Butkiss wants to clinch up but Ward keeps it at a distance.
Butkiss is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butkiss throws a combination that misses
enabling Ward to counter with a crisp jab.
Butkiss misses with a combination
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Butkiss.
Butkiss throws a nice looking combination but Ward bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Butkiss throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Semore Butkiss 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ward keeps the fight on the outside.
Butkiss throws a shot from downtown. Ward moves away and avoids it.

Butkiss closes the distance and clinches.

Butkiss's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Butkiss is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ward sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Butkiss darts in looking for a takedown but Ward gets double underhooks and turns Butkiss into the cage.
Ward with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Butkiss keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ward's efforts to push away.
Ward is trying to push Butkiss away but Butkiss has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Butkiss has Ward pressed against the cage, preventing Ward from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ward tries to break free but Butkiss pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Butkiss escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Butkiss throws a leg kick
enabling Ward to counter with a crisp jab.
Butkiss throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ward counters with a head kick. That will keep Butkiss thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butkiss throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.
Butkiss throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Butkiss throws a right and a left that both miss.
Butkiss looks to score with a jab to the body but Ward is just out of range.
Ward avoids a punch combination nicely.
Butkiss is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ward sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Semore Butkiss. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butkiss is looking to clinch.
Butkiss fails in his attempt to clinch.
Butkiss throws a left and a right that both miss
and Butkiss takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Billy Ward has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butkiss missing with a left hand there. Ward was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Butkiss wants to clinch.
Butkiss tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Butkiss throws a sloppy head kick and Ward moves out of range easily.
Ward avoids the head kick by Butkiss.
Butkiss misses with a jab, cross combination.
Butkiss throws a lazy right hand but Ward sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butkiss throws a series of punches but Ward moves out of range.

Butkiss clinches up against the cage.
Ward wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Butkiss avoids a wild elbow strike from Ward.
Ward wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Ward escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Butkiss is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butkiss throws a nice looking combination but Ward bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Butkiss tries to bum rush Ward with a series of wild strikes but Ward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Semore Butkiss is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Butkiss.
Butkiss pivots, looking for a leg kick but Ward is out of range and Butkiss settles back down.
Semore Butkiss is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butkiss wants to clinch.
Butkiss shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ward bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Butkiss shoots in but Ward avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ward has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Butkiss finds it's way round the side to connect with Ward's head.
Butkiss throws a nice looking combination but Ward bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Semore Butkiss showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Butkiss has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Semore Butkiss!
Our winner, Semore Butkiss, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.