PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Travis Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rasul Khasbulaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rasul Khasbulaev struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Rasul Khasbulaev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hunter
vs
Khasbulaev

170 cm
38
156 lbs
27 - 18 - 0

168 cm
26
154 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

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 27 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Travis Hunter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rasul Khasbulaev!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khasbulaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hunter counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Khasbulaev shoots and misses
letting Hunter counter with a right hand.

It looks like Rasul Khasbulaev has been cut.
Khasbulaev looks winded!
Khasbulaev tries for a takedown but Hunter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Travis Hunter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rasul Khasbulaev.

Hunter gets the takedown into side control.
Khasbulaev tries to control but Hunter manages to take his back.
Hunter really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Khasbulaev.
Hunter's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter not allowing Khasbulaev to control his hands.
Khasbulaev wants to escape the position.

Hunter has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Khasbulaev has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hunter has the hooks in. Khasbulaev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Khasbulaev's body.
I really don't envy Khasbulaev right now.
Hunter biding his time, looking for the opening.
Hunter seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Khasbulaev for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter keeps control of the position as Khasbulaev tries to break free.
Khasbulaev just trying to survive but Hunter is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Khasbulaev tries to escape but Hunter has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Khasbulaev manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hunter's guard. Nice work there by Khasbulaev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter managing to control the position.

Khasbulaev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Khasbulaev wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hunter tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Khasbulaev wants to control from the top but Hunter keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rasul Khasbulaev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hunter jabs Khasbulaev right on the nose. Khasbulaev blinks but takes it well.

Hunter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Khasbulaev is trying to defend but Hunter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Khasbulaev is looking to control Hunter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Khasbulaev avoid being mounted?

Khasbulaev looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khasbulaev is looking to improve his position.
Khasbulaev is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khasbulaev is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Hunter jumps into side control!
Khasbulaev is looking to reverse the position.
Hunter just content to control the position.
Hunter gets to mount! Khasbulaev was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hunter controlling the pace for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter avoids the attempt from Khasbulaev to control.
Hunter controlling the pace for now.
Khasbulaev is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hunter controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Khasbulaev is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khasbulaev is trying to stand but he's just given Hunter his back.
Khasbulaev trying to control but not successfully.
What can Khasbulaev do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunter has the hooks in. Khasbulaev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Travis Hunter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rasul Khasbulaev's cut.
That's time! Hunter's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hunter shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Khasbulaev napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hunter slows the pace down.
Khasbulaev wants to get back to his feet.
Khasbulaev is looking to get back to his feet here but Hunter is keeping cool and he's managed to take Khasbulaev's back.
Hunter has the hooks in. Khasbulaev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Khasbulaev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khasbulaev is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hunter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter has the hooks in. Khasbulaev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Khasbulaev keeps trying to improve his position.
Hunter just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Further stalling from Hunter.

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.
Khasbulaev is in bad spot here.
Hunter just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Khasbulaev trying to control the position but Hunter manages to sink in the hooks.
Hunter has the hooks in. Khasbulaev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hunter is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khasbulaev trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Hunter just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Hunter controlling well, preventing Khasbulaev from escaping the position.
Hunter controlling the position well here. Khasbulaev rolled but Hunter kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Khasbulaev wants to control his opponent's hands but Hunter gets his hands free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hunter is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Khasbulaev trying to control the hands but Hunter won't let him.
I really don't envy Khasbulaev right now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunter is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
Travis 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:26
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:25
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:26

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