PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ali Burch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Hunter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Justin Hunter has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ali Burch's chin.

Burch
vs
Hunter

163 cm
24
178 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ali Burch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Justin Hunter!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Josh West and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunter goes for a double leg but Burch avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burch continues to drive forward.
As Hunter looks to move away, Burch throws a big counter combo bu Hunter just gets out of the way.

Hunter takes the fight into the clinch.
Burch fails to pull guard.
Burch tries to break the clinch but Hunter is controlling the position.
Burch tries to pull guard but Hunter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Burch breaks the clinch.
Burch tries to clinch but Hunter is having none of it.
Hunter tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burch sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hunter somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter throws a sloppy head kick and Burch moves out of range easily.

Hunter clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burch is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hunter to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Burch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burch is trying to pull guard but Hunter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Burch successfully pulls guard.
Burch could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Burch working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hunter.
Burch is looking to stand up but Hunter isn't so interested in that idea.
Burch wants to sweep here but Hunter controlling him for the moment.

Burch had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hunter defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burch wants to get back to his feet but Hunter is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunter tries to stand but Burch is controlling from the bottom.
Burch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hunter must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hunter decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hunter with a poor takedown
letting Burch counter with a right hand.
Hunter shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Burch defends it nicely.
Hunter steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Burch.
Hunter tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burch sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hunter somewhat.
Burch appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Burch as he avoids it easily.
Hunter shoots in looking for a takedown but Burch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hunter's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hunter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Burch as he jumps to the side.
Hunter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Burch swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Burch seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Burch shoots in but Hunter avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hunter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Burch tries to avoid it but Hunter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Burch to the ground. Burch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Burch was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burch is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hunter tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burch defends well and Hunter ends up having to push Burch into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hunter looks winded!
Burch misses with a head kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Hunter or perhaps it was just good defense by Burch, which made it look bad.
Hunter bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As Burch backs off Hunter throws a huge counter combo but Burch manages to avoid it all.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunter lands with a nice body punch.
Hunter moves away from the strike by Burch.
Hunter tries to counter by closing the distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Burch dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A head kick misses from Hunter.
It looked like Burch wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hunter dives in and grabs Burch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burch pushes down on Hunter's head and hops out.
Burch throws a counter high kick but Hunter was just alert enough to avoid it.
Hunter tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Burch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hunter throws a body kick that misses.
Hunter throws a leg kick but Burch moved away.
Burch throws a looping overhand right but Hunter ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunter digs a good hook to Burch's body.
Nice sprawl there from Burch as Hunter shoots in.
Burch shoots in looking for a takedown. Hunter tries to sprawl out of it but Burch keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hunter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hunter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Burch circles away quickly and effectively.
Hunter tries to clinch there but Burch circles away.
Burch tries to clinch but Hunter moves out of range.
Hunter changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Burch throws a head kick but Hunter moves out of range.
Burch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hunter.
Ali Burch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Hunter.
Burch's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hunter under the eye.
Hunter misses with a kick to the body.
Ali Burch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burch tries to clinch but Hunter is having none of it.
Burch stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Burch wants it to stay on the feet.
Hunter is breathing heavily.
Burch misses with an uppercut. Hunter saw that one coming.
Hunter raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Burch throws a sloppy head kick and Hunter moves out of range easily.
Hunter feints the counter takedown.
Hunter misses with a head kick.
Burch is looking to counter punch.
Hunter fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Burch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hunter showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Burch.
Burch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunter fails with a takedown attempt.
Hunter moves in looking to clinch but Burch pushes him off.
Hunter goes for a double leg but Burch avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Burch continues to drive forward.
Hunter is looking to clinch.
A big left from Burch misses.
Hunter throws a sloppy head kick and Burch moves out of range easily.
Hunter shoots in but Burch avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little feinted left hand from Burch on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burch instigates a clinch.

Burch's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A punch combination from Burch misses.

Burch scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Burch cracks Hunter with a big elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burch wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hunter, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burch lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ali Burch dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Hunter tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Burch throwing a counter right hand but Hunter manages to avoid it.
Burch tries to clinch there but Hunter circles away.

Burch feints and as Hunter raises his hands in defense, Burch changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hunter has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Burch can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hunter lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burch wants to stand but Hunter is controlling the position.
Hunter trying to control the position from guard on top but Burch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burch is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hunter trying to control but Burch is working from the bottom.
Hunter throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burch works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunter won't allow Burch to get back to his feet.
Burch thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Hunter looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Hunter gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ali Burch is winning the standup battle so far.

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 tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Burch paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Burch swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunter.
Burch is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hunter can do to turn this around?
Burch defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hunter.
Burch was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Burch shoots in for a takedown but Hunter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Burch keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Burch misses.
Burch circles away from the clinch attempt.
Burch avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Burch.
Hunter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hunter misses with a kick to the body.

Hunter takes the fight into the clinch.
Burch trying to stall but Hunter improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunter is trying to push Burch away but Burch has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Burch is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hunter to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Burch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burch fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Burch is trying to pull guard but Hunter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Burch is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hunter to keep the fight standing.
Hunter tries for a takedown but Burch manages to get underhooks.
Hunter looking for a takedown.
Hunter trying to land knees to the body.
Burch tries for a takedown but Hunter manages to get underhooks.
Burch is trying to pull guard but Hunter has him pressed against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Burch jumps guard.
Hunter controls from within his opponent's guard.
Justin Hunter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ali Burch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hunter is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Justin Hunter.
I think Burch 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Josh West scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ali Burch!