PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Burt The Hurt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Santiago Sorias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The Hurt's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Stayin' Alive. Sorias has chosen Fight - Future World Music as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

The Hurt
vs
Santiago Sorias

168 cm
36
145 lbs
26 - 17 - 1

169 cm
32
146 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Burt The Hurt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Santiago Sorias!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Hurt misses with a takedown attempt

and Sorias counters by moving into the clinch.

The Hurt drags the fight down to the ground.
Sorias landing with the ground and pound.
The Hurt working a defensive guard here.
Sorias stopping the sweep attempt from The Hurt.

The Hurt throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sorias uses it to pass to side control.
Sorias is putting a hurting on The Hurt here, landing some big shots from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorias slows the pace down.
The Hurt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sorias wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The Hurt sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hurt keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sorias winds up and cracks The Hurt with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The Hurt regains full guard. Nicely done.
The Hurt not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sorias postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Sorias stays in close to The Hurt's body and controls the position.
Sorias won't allow The Hurt to sweep him here.
Sorias trying to control the position from guard on top but The Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sorias's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The Hurt seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The Hurt keeping moving, preventing Sorias from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Sorias takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
The Hurt misses with a head kick.
The Hurt fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sorias.
Sorias misses with a wild combination.
Sorias tries to clinch up but The Hurt circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for The Hurt with that takedown attempt.

The Hurt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sorias, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Hurt ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. The Hurt no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
My spies in The Bear's Den ($300) inform me that Sorias has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Sorias throws a big right hand that misses.
Sorias works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The Hurt wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sorias connects with a nice short shot to The Hurt's temple.
Sorias is trying to control the action in half guard but The Hurt is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Sorias is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sorias drops an elbow to the side of The Hurt's head.
Sorias perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Hurt tries to roll over but Sorias keeps him under control.
The Hurt regains full guard. Nicely done.
The Hurt is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The Hurt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sorias regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from The Hurt.
Sorias has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sorias is on top in guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juan Santiago Sorias will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sorias looks to land a left hand but The Hurt moved out of range nicely.
Sorias throws a right and a left that The Hurt avoids nicely.
The Hurt shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sorias sprawls well. Sorias wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. The Hurt gets slowly back to his feet.
Sorias tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. The Hurt manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by The Hurt as he connects with a hook.
The Hurt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

The Hurt changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sorias looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sorias seems a little lost for a moment, as The Hurt dominates the positioning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorias struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hurt taking a break here but Sorias is having none of it and regains half guard.
Burt The Hurt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sorias regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sorias manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Hurt manages to get himself to full guard.

The Hurt looking to control.
Sorias stops The Hurt from standing up.
The Hurt looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sorias controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sorias postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorias slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Sorias trying to control the position from guard on top but The Hurt is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The Hurt trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The Hurt moves out of range of the leg kick from Sorias.
Sorias missing with a left hand there. The Hurt was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The Hurt seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Sorias connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
The Hurt with a lazy takedown attempt
and Sorias counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burt The Hurt. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The Hurt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The Hurt slips a straight right by Sorias.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The Hurt drives through and clinches with Sorias against the cage.
The Hurt tries to pull guard but Sorias won't allow it.
Sorias misses with a punch to the body.
The Hurt blocking some punches.
Sorias tried to land a shot to the body but connects with The Hurt's elbow.
The Hurt is trying to stall.
Sorias tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sorias throws a punch but it's blocked by The Hurt.
Sorias pushes The Hurt back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Sorias fails to land.
Sorias misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sorias is looking to control The Hurt's arms but The Hurt gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sorias has his back to the cage.
The Hurt blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorias misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Sorias scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sorias swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sorias controlling the action here for a moment.
The Hurt has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sorias avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sorias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sorias has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sorias can't find room to land a body shot as The Hurt controls the action.
Sorias struggles to land a body shot inside as The Hurt controls his hands.
Sorias stops a takedown attempt from The Hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sorias can't find room to land a body shot as The Hurt controls the action.
Sorias tries to throw a body punch but The Hurt avoids it by throwing Sorias back against the cage.
Sorias misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Sorias.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Santiago Sorias showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

The Hurt looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Sorias wants to get back to full guard.
The Hurt with the ground and pound but Sorias uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The Hurt trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sorias's guard.
The Hurt looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Hurt trying to control the position from guard on top but Sorias is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Sorias. Beautiful body shot.
The Hurt fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sorias throws out a powerful jab.
Sorias rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but The Hurt moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The Hurt is looking for a counter combo.
Sorias misses with a wild combination.
Jab, jab by Sorias - just one landing.
The Hurt fails with the takedown.
The Hurt shoots in looking for a takedown but Sorias manages to keep the fight standing, pushing The Hurt's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burt The Hurt. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sorias swings for the body but The Hurt moves out of range.
The Hurt went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from The Hurt.
A telegraphed right hand from Sorias misses the target.
Sorias connects with a jab.
The Hurt takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Juan Santiago Sorias is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sorias throws a hook but The Hurt avoids it easily.
The Hurt shoots in but Sorias avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The Hurt looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The Hurt takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Nice uppercut there from Sorias.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A leg kick checked by The Hurt.
Burt The Hurt is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Hurt moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Sorias swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and The Hurt counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sorias scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sorias throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and The Hurt counters by clinching up.
The Hurt tries for a takedown but Sorias manages to get underhooks.
A short body shot lands from Sorias as the two fighters clinch.
Burt The Hurt has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The Hurt has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sorias is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sorias is trying to maintain a safe position but The Hurt gets an underhook and turns Sorias into the cage.
The Hurt is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sorias to keep the fight standing.
The Hurt tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Sorias working aggressively here.
Sorias throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from The Hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorias scores with a shoulder strike.
The Hurt wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sorias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sorias misses with a hook from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sorias stops a takedown attempt from The Hurt.
A head punch on the inside from Sorias fails to land.
Sorias swings wildly with an uppercut but The Hurt uses good head movement to avoid it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by The Hurt.
A shot in the inside from Sorias.
The Hurt is working for takedown but Sorias is calmly controlling the position for now.
The Hurt wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sorias has him pressed against the cage.
Sorias managing to block the knees to the body from The Hurt.
The Hurt misses with a knee to the head.
Sorias scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Santiago Sorias comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sorias winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Santiago Sorias!
Juan Santiago Sorias seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.