PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Dydra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunter kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genuis that is Dance Monkey -Sage Francis. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hunter
vs
Dydra

171 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sammy Dydra!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dydra misses with a body kick.

Dydra clinches with his opponent.
Hunter fails to pull guard.
Dydra is looking to break free of the clinch but Hunter has double underhooks.
Hunter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dydra trying to stall but Hunter improves his position.
Hunter goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dydra prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hunter breaks the clinch.

Dydra shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hunter's guard.

Dydra drops back looking for a leg! Hunter is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hunter manages to kick Dydra off! Dydra jumps back into Hunter's guard.
Dydra wants to get up but he can't break Hunter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dydra trying to control but Hunter is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Dydra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dydra drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hunter dives on top into guard.
Hunter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Dydra working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hunter doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hunter manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dydra looks gassed!
Hunter with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunter passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hunter looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hunter decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sammy Dydra seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Dydra or perhaps it was just good defense by Hunter which made him look bad.
Dydra shoots in for a takedown but Hunter shows good takedown defense.
Dydra shoots in for a takedown but Hunter shows good takedown defense.

Hunter shoots in and bounces Dydra off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hunter trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Dydra is looking for a triangle but Hunter pushes his legs off easily.

Hunter drops back looking for a leg! Dydra is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dydra manages to kick Hunter off! Hunter jumps back into Dydra's guard.

Hunter gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dydra circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hunter blocks the body kick.
Dydra has his takedown stuffed

and Hunter counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hunter trying to control but Dydra is working from the bottom.

Dydra is looking for a triangle but Hunter pushes his legs off easily.
Hunter trying to control the position from guard on top but Dydra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dydra wants to hit a switch here but Hunter passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Dydra there!
Hunter landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dydra shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hunter counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Dydra looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hunter passes into half guard.
Hunter seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hunter scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Dydra actively working from the bottom here.

Hunter is working for a kimura but Dydra is defending it quite comfortably.

Hunter postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Dydra to stand up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dydra.

Dydra gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Dydra has his foot on Hunter's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hunter works his way back into a safe position though.

Hunter stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hunter lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dydra's sensitive parts.

Hunter moves into range and clinches up with Dydra.

Hunter breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dydra jumps guard but Hunter stands there with Dydra around his waist. Dydra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hunter wants the takedown. Dydra is fighting it off but Hunter persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dydra's guard against the cage.
Matt Hunter overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter trying to control but Dydra is working from the bottom.

Dydra has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Hunter is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Dydra.
Hunter working the head and body with strikes.
Dydra struggling a bit here.

Hunter stands up and beckons Dydra to his feet.
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 darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dydra looking for submissions off his back.
Hunter passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dydra!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hunter is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Dydra drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hunter is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dydra working away.
Dydra wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hunter keeps working.
Dydra advances to full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunter tries to hold on but Dydra postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hunter dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dydra throws a leg kick

and Hunter counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dydra!
Dydra is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hunter looking to control but Dydra is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dydra tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hunter wants to control the pace but Dydra is squirming around nicely.
Dydra is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hunter wants to take Dydra's back but he can't do it this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dydra really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hunter working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter prevents Dydra from getting the reversal.
Dydra takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Hunter stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Dydra doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hunter counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Hunter is working for a kimura but Dydra is defending it quite comfortably.
Dydra regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dydra manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hunter manages to get himself to full guard.
Hunter keeping moving, preventing Dydra from controlling successfully.

Dydra drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hunter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dydra has Hunter in his guard.
Dydra trying to keep a closed guard but Hunter is proving a slippery customer.

Dydra working for a triangle but Hunter defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter wants to control from the top but Dydra keeps moving.

Hunter gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Hunter moves into the clinch successfully.
Hunter fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hunter wants a takedown.
Hunter tries to pull guard but Dydra won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hunter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dydra slowing the pace effectively.
Dydra jumps guard but Hunter stands there with Dydra around his waist. Dydra gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dydra displaying some good clinch control by pressing Hunter up against the cage.
Dydra goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hunter prevents it.
Sammy Dydra has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hunter has Dydra pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dydra manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dydra blocks an elbow strike from Hunter.
Dydra tries to land knees in the clinch but Hunter avoids the damage to the body.
Hunter wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dydra goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dydra wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hunter lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Hunter escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dydra throws a leg kick that is checked

and Hunter counters with a single leg into guard. Dydra didn't expect that.
Matt Hunter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hunter trying to control but Dydra is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hunter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hunter 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Hunter!