PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cormac Gutz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Hall (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gutz's entrance music is Everyday. A fine choice. Justin Hall 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!

Gutz
vs
Hall

185 cm
36
187 lbs
35 - 21 - 3

183 cm
30
181 lbs
13 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 1 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 35 - 21 - 3, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cormac Gutz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Justin Hall!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Russell Pearce and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gutz misses with a two punch combination.
Cormac Gutz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gutz shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Gutz connects with a jab.
Gutz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hall slips a straight right by Gutz.
Hall looks to land a body kick but Gutz moved away.
Gutz looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Gutz throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gutz throws a jab but it's blocked by Hall.
Hall takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Gutz throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gutz throws the left hand but Hall avoids the punch easily.
Gutz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hall manages to avoid it.
Gutz bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hall lands with a shot to the body.
Gutz connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gutz lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hall at a distance.
Gutz getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Gutz fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Hall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hall ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hall connects with an inside leg kick.
Gutz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hall moves away.
Gutz connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hall momentarily.
Hall cracks Gutz with a right hand to the side of the head.
Gutz loads up on a big right hand but Hall slips the punch.
Nice uppercut there from Gutz.
Nice shot lands for Gutz.
Gutz walks into a stiff left hand from Hall.
Gutz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hall was well out of range. Poor timing from Gutz.
Hall takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gutz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hall manages to avoid it.
A low kick from Hall is predictable there
and Gutz connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hall lands a nice looking body kick.
A good leg kick by Hall.
Gutz walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hall checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Gutz with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gutz slips under a jab.
Gutz throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Gutz rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Hall counters with a takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Hall are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Hall has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gutz is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hall connects with a decent elbow.
Hall is looking to take a break and control but Gutz is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gutz looking for a sweep but Hall has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Hall trying to control but Gutz is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hall is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hall avoids the attempt from Gutz to control.
Hall punching from mount but Gutz doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Gutz tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gutz takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Gutz suckers Hall into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Gutz is now in Hall's guard!
Gutz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hall controls Gutz momentarily but Gutz frees himself.
Gutz throws an elbow that misses. Hall uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gutz's guard. Nice move by Hall!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Gutz wants to sweep here but Hall controlling him for the moment.
Gutz trying to control the position here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hall looking to sit in guard and control but Gutz gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hall is on top in guard.

Gutz looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hall is one step ahead there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gutz trying to control the position.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Hall won't allow Gutz to sweep him here.
Hall keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gutz's head.
Gutz utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gutz is on top in guard.

Gutz wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Gutz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gutz wants to control from the top but Hall keeps moving.
Gutz throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hall works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Gutz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from Hall misses.
Hall connects with an inside leg kick.
Gutz throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hall misses with an attempted mid kick.
Gutz tries to work over Hall's front leg with a kick but Hall checks it.
Hall throws out a powerful jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gutz.
Hall looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
That kick from Gutz tenderised Hall's leg. Hall is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hall bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hall will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Gutz thumps Hall with a low kick.
Gutz walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hall moves out of range of the leg kick from Gutz.
Hall throws a leg kick that misses.
Hall thows a left - swing and a miss!
An attempted straight right counter from Gutz misses the target.
Gutz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hall is able to avoid easily.
Hall is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Cormac Gutz.
I think Gutz 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 1 round of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 10:9
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 10:9
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 10:9

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cormac Gutz!
After the fight, Cormac Gutz was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.