PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between CM Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and jo big (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Punk
vs
big

163 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

222 cm
22
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, CM Punk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, jo big!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

big darts in and clinches Punk up against the cage.
Punk can't break the clinch.
Punk looking to stall.
big tries to pull guard but Punk holds him up against the cage and eventually big drops back down to his feet.
big changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Punk fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Punk throws a hook but big avoids it easily.
Punk throws a jab but it's blocked by big.
Punk dodges the punch combination from big.
big is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
big shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Punk as he avoids it easily.
CM Punk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jo big.
big tries to close the distance and clinch but Punk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
big lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Punk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Punk takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Punk fails in his attempt to clinch.
big tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Punk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Punk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from big.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Punk closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Punk lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Punk working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Punk passes into half guard.
big avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Punk.
Punk not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
big wants to get back to full guard.

Punk looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
big tries to get to full guard but Punk has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
big is pressing down on Punk's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Punk cracks big with a solid left hand.
Punk throws a big right hand that misses.
Punk preventing the sweep.
Punk postures up in big's guard and throws a big left but big blocks it.
Punk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
big with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Punk can't handle though.
Punk might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Punk thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Punk is breathing heavily.
big is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
big is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
big looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
big with a poor takedown

and Punk counters with a takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
big can't do much from the bottom here.
big is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punk is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but big is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Punk could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
big is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
big manages to get back to half guard.
big has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Punk is working away from the top position though.
Punk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Punk not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Punk wants to work for an arm triangle but big is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
big is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Punk's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Punk's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Punk can't escape the position.
big is riding his opponent, not letting Punk buck him off.
big has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Punk.
Will big go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
big controls the action.
Punk tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
big dominating with strikes here.
big lands a heavy elbow.
Punk bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
big is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CM Punk dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

big feints and then cracks Punk's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Punk down.
Punk misses with a body shot.
big lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Punk jabbing away but nothing is landing.
big is looking to clinch.
big fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
big misses with a takedown attempt

and Punk counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
big is trying to stand back up but Punk is controlling him
big is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Punk scores with a couple of nice shots.
Punk lands strikes from half guard.
Punk passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for big!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
big in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
big wants to control but Punk is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
big is working to get back to half guard.
Punk trying to control but big is having none of it.
Punk cracks big with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Punk connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
big tries to hold on but Punk pushes him away.
Punk thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Punk unloads with some shots from mount but big bucks and avoids them well.
big holds on for dear life, controlling Punk's posture momentarily.
big tries to lock up and control but Punk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
big might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Punk kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Punk pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if big can do anything to dispel that myth.
Punk throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
big tries to reverse the position but Punk maintains control.
CM Punk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
big's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
big regains half guard.
Punk working the head and body with strikes.
big wants to get back to his feet.
Punk thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Punk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Punk looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punk is looking for a kimura here.
big is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
big lands a couple of sideways elbows.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Punk scores a takedown into full mount!
big wants to hold on but Punk pushes him away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Punk thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Punk throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
big working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Punk working for a guillotine from mount but big is in no mood to give up.
big holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Punk tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
big really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Punk. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Punk goes for an armbar but big turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from big.
big wanted to stand there but Punk had control of the position.
big with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
big tries to free his leg and advance position but Punk is retaining full guard.
Punk trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CM Punk dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

big misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Punk lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Nice takedown defense from Punk. No joy for big on that attempt.
Punk misses with a double jab
and big counters with a nice body kick.
Punk just misses with a punch to the body.
Punk misses with a combination
and big counters with a one-two to the body.
big closes this distance looking for a takedown but Punk circles away.
CM Punk has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jo big.
Punk misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from big.
big steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Punk.
big goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
big throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Punk has his takedown stuffed

and big holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

big turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and big manages to end up in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punk manages to work his way to half guard, despite big's best efforts.
Punk has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
big trying to control from half guard but Punk is working away.
Punk blocking the ground and pound attempt from big.

Punk looking for submissions off his back.
big takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Punk misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Punk tries to get to full guard but big has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with big in particular looking to stall.
Punk wants to control but big is keeping busy.

That's two 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
big lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Punk throws a right hand that big ducks under and follows up with a left that big also avoids with ease.

big clinches with his opponent.

big manages to break the clinch.
Punk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
CM Punk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
big tries to score with a low kick but Punk moves his leg out of the way.
Punk throws a nice looking combination but big bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
big moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
big shoots in for a takedown but Punk shows good takedown defense.
big tries to clinch but Punk moves out of range.
big tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Punk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
big shoots for a double leg takedown but Punk sprawls well. He's pushed big's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk throws a hook but big avoids it easily.
big looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Punk is fending him off so far but big persists. Nope, Punk circles away and we're back to standing.

big rushes Punk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
big goes for a takedown in the clinch but Punk prevents it.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
big is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
big is trying to stall.
Punk avoids the elbow strike from big, against the cage.
Punk wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but big has him pressed against the cage.
Punk is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Punk's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
big is trying to drag Punk to the mat but Punk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's four 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.
Punk taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
big tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Punk smiles and moves away.
Punk misses the shot to the body.
big misses with a takedown attempt

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Punk throws a big right hand that misses.
big controls Punk momentarily but Punk frees himself.
Punk lands a couple of elbows.
big looking to hit a scissor sweep but Punk is one step ahead there.
jo big has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Punk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
CM Punk showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Punk, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... CM Punk!