PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Garrett Huff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kantemir Gaunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kantemir Gaunov told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Huff
vs
Gaunov

218 cm
18
151 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

164 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Garrett Huff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kantemir Gaunov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gaunov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Huff.
Gaunov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Gaunov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Huff really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Huff is trying is best to control the position here.
Gaunov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Huff is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huff manages to get to full guard.
Huff looking for a sweep. Not yet Huff, not yet.
Huff trying to control the position here.
Huff is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gaunov is controlling him.
Huff wants to sweep here but Gaunov controlling him for the moment.
Huff throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huff keeping moving, preventing Gaunov from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Gaunov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Huff sprawls well initially but Gaunov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Huff is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Huff looks like he's trying to stand up.
Huff is trying to get back to full guard.
Gaunov thows a huge punch but Huff dodges it nicely.
Huff trying to control but Gaunov postures up.
Huff has his hands clasped together around Gaunov's back. He's all about the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Garrett Huff just wasn't active enough.

Huff closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gaunov is looking to reverse the position.
Huff lands some shots froms side control.
Huff looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Gaunov is avoiding damage well.
Huff controlling the position.
Huff tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Gaunov tries to buck Huff off but Huff is having none of it.
Gaunov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Huff connects with a decent elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov looks to move to half guard but instead Huff has passed into mount! Damn!
Gaunov is trying desperately to improve position.
A nice elbow there by Huff.
Huff looking to control but Gaunov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Huff putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Huff tries to control but Gaunov wriggling away.
Huff takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Huff trying to control but Gaunov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huff has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gaunov's face.
Huff fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Huff controlling from mount.
Gaunov is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garrett Huff dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice takedown defense from Gaunov. No joy for Huff on that attempt.

Gaunov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Huff to the ground. Gaunov is now in Huff's guard.
Huff will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Huff doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Huff is trying to keep Gaunov in close.
Gaunov prevents Huff from getting back to his feet.
Garrett Huff overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Huff pulls Gaunov in close to prevent any damage.
Gaunov working some strikes from top position.
Gaunov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gaunov is breathing heavily.
Huff controls Gaunov momentarily but Gaunov frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaunov won't allow Huff to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Garrett Huff just wasn't active enough.
Huff looks for a takedown but Gaunov sprawls well.

Gaunov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Huff was covering up waiting for the punch and Gaunov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Gaunov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Huff is keeping the position for now.
Huff lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gaunov!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Huff controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov wants to hold on but Huff pushes him away.
Gaunov is working to get back to half guard.
Huff working Gaunov over with strikes here.
Huff controlling his opponent.
Gaunov wants to control but Huff is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gaunov is squirming around, avoiding Huff's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Huff trying to control but Gaunov is having none of it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Gaunov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Huff landing shots from mount.
Gaunov is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huff lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gaunov hang on?
Huff scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Huff looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Huff trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Huff jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gaunov manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Gaunov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Huff trying to control the action but Gaunov is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Garrett Huff will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Huff feints a jab promting Gaunov to slip. Huff then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Gaunov slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Gaunov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Huff quickly recovers to half guard.
Huff is concentrating on defense, preventing Gaunov from advancing position.
Huff is trying to maintain the position but Gaunov is very close to passing his half guard.
Gaunov stops Huff from getting back to his feet.
Huff trying to hold on to Gaunov's head to control him but Gaunov postures up.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Gaunov stops Huff from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Huff controlling the position for now.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Garrett Huff wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Gaunov slaps away a takedown attempt from Huff, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gaunov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Huff's guard.
Huff wants to stand and escape but Gaunov is having none of it.
Huff is trying to control the position but Gaunov postures up.
Gaunov distracts Huff with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Huff trying to control the position.

Huff throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaunov working some strikes from top position.
Huff is trying to keep Gaunov in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huff wants to stand up but Gaunov is controlling him.
Huff controls Gaunov momentarily but Gaunov frees himself.
Gaunov looking to pass the guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gaunov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Gaunov stops Huff from standing up.

Gaunov has gone for a leg lock! Huff slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gaunov's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Gaunov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Huff has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Gaunov looking for a sweep. Not yet Gaunov, not yet.

Huff stands and steps away. Gaunov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Huff shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Gaunov sprawls well. Gaunov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Huff gets slowly back to his feet.

Gaunov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Gaunov lands in his opponent's guard.
Gaunov trying to control but Huff is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Huff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gaunov works over Huff with some ground and pound from guard.
Huff is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gaunov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gaunov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gaunov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Huff looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Huff looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Huff!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Gaunov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kantemir Gaunov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Huff 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Garrett Huff!