PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Pedro (ranked 274 p4p, 38 weight class) and Phol Hunt (ranked 825 p4p, 118 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Pedro
vs
Hunt

176 cm
34
199 lbs
40 - 17 - 2

181 cm
38
180 lbs
43 - 19 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Aspire Clothing
Mockstar Energy Drinks 160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 17 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, George Pedro!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 43 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Phol Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pedro tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hunt checks a low kick from Pedro.
Pedro on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Pedro looks to score with a jab to the body but Hunt is just out of range.

Hunt closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hunt tries to work over Pedro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pedro tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hunt's elbow.
Hunt manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hunt struggles to land a body shot inside as Pedro controls his hands.
Pedro lands an uppercut.
Hunt misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pedro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Hunt swings wildly with an uppercut but Pedro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hunt pushes Pedro back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pedro lands a body punch.
Pedro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hunt backwards.
A short right from Hunt.
Pedro cracks Hunt with a nice body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pedro creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pedro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pedro scores with a shoulder strike.
Pedro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hunts head.
Pedro swings wildly with an uppercut but Hunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro scores with a shoulder strike.
Pedro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunt lands with a light punch inside.
Hunt is leaning against Pedro and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunt's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pedro.
Hunt misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hunt lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hunt blocks a body shot from Pedro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt prevents a body shot from Pedro.
Pedro digs a right hand into Hunt's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hunt's gas tank.

Pedro tightens his grip and picks Hunt up, before dumping him to the ground. Hunt manages to land in guard.

Hunt is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pedro misses with a punch to the body.
Hunt blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hunt scores with a shot to the side of Pedro's head.
Pedro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
I was talking to Pedro's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Hunt with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Pedro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pedro tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.
Pedro misses with a body punch.
Hunt throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Pedro blocks it with crossed arms.
Pedro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hunt misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pedro blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro can't get the takedown.
Pedro scores with a hook to the body.
Pedro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Pedro.
Hunt throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pedros head.
Hunt tries to stall but Pedro uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Pedro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Pedro lands a takedown into guard.
Pedro won't allow Hunt to get back to his feet.
Pedro working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hunt's head.
Pedro prevents Hunt from getting back to his feet.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Pedro postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Pedro stops Hunt from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Pedro's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Pedro throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pedro.
Pedro wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.
Pedro is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Pedro prevents Hunt from getting back to his feet.
Hunt is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pedro dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Pedro will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Hunt gets the takedown into side control.
Pedro is trying to improve his position.
Pedro 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.
Hunt just content to control the position.
Hunt tries to advance to mount but Pedro denies him.
Pedro is not content to let Hunt control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Pedro's shoulder. That is not cool.
Phol Hunt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pedro gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pedro manages to get to full guard.
Hunt controls from within his opponent's guard.
Pedro has a closed guard, preventing Hunt from standing up.
Hunt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hunt trying to control but Pedro is working from the bottom.
Hunt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pedro swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pedro has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hunt preventing the sweep.

Pedro is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hunt defends well.
Hunt controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hunt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Pedro working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hunt pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pedro tries to throw a body punch but Hunt avoids it by throwing Pedro back against the cage.
Hunt is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Pedro is defending well for now.
Hunt wants to stall.
Pedro lands a nice uppercut.
Pedro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunt gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pedro.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hunt goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hunt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pedro's elbow.
Hunt lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Pedro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hunt lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Pedro tries to work over Hunt's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hunt lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hunt tries to land knees in the clinch but Pedro avoids the damage to the body.
Phol Hunt seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pedro misses with the head strike.
Pedro swings wildly with an uppercut but Hunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hunt backwards.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A nice right hand lands inside from Hunt.
Hunt with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hunt stops a takedown attempt from Pedro.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Pedro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pedro misses with a punch on the inside.
Hunt misses with some punches.
Hunt doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pedro lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pedro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pedro lands a hook that snaps the head of Hunt backwards.
Pedro misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pedro can't find room to land a body shot as Hunt controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Hunt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pedro gets a takedown into half guard.
Pedro throwing shots but Hunt is blocking nicely.
Hunt is trying to stand back up but Pedro is controlling him

Hunt kicks off Pedro and gets to his feet.
Hunt tries to clinch but Pedro moves out of range.
Pedro keeps the fight on the outside.
Pedro misses with a hook
and Hunt counters with a series of strikes. Pedro will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pedro paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hunt gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pedro misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hunt digs a right hand underneath Pedro's ribcage. Pedro let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Pedro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hunt working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pedro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hunt works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Pedro struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunt controls his hands.
Hunt is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hunt prevents the takedown attempt.
Pedro digs a right hand underneath Hunt's ribcage. Hunt let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Hunt is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Pedro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pedro misses with a punch on the inside.
Hunt can't find room to land a body shot as Pedro controls the action.
Pedro wants a takedown.
Hunt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pedro's elbow.
Pedro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hunt.
Hunt throws a punch but it's blocked by Pedro.
Hunt lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pedro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Hunt.
Hunt lands a nice uppercut.
A short left from Hunt.
Hunt tries to work over Pedro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pedro throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pedro.
Hunt misses with a knee strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Pedro.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pedro prevents a body shot from Hunt.
Pedro digs a right hand into Hunt's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hunt's gas tank.
Pedro's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Pedro tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.
Hunt fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pedro tries to throw a body punch but Hunt avoids it by throwing Pedro back against the cage.
Hunt gets through Pedro's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hunt lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hunt is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
A head punch on the inside from Pedro fails to land.
Hunt is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Pedro is keeping busy.
Pedro tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hunt swings wildly with an uppercut but Pedro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro tries to throw a body punch but Hunt avoids it by throwing Pedro back against the cage.
Hunt swings wildly with an uppercut but Pedro uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pedro gets through Hunt's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hunt trying to land knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt is trying to maintain a safe position but Pedro gets an underhook and turns Hunt into the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hunt working aggressively here.
Still in the clinch, Hunt scores with a nice short uppercut.
Pedro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hunt taking a breather.
Pedro throws a head punch that misses.
Hunt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pedro's elbow.
Hunt is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Pedro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pedro stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hunt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Pedro tries for a takedown. No joy.
Pedro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunt working aggressively here.
Hunt lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pedro backwards.
Pedro can't get the takedown.
Hunt landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phol Hunt really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hunt tries to clinch up but Pedro circles away and keeps his distance.
Pedro looks to land a right hand but Hunt moved out of range.
Pedro thuds his shin into the meat of Hunt's side.
Hunt defending well as Pedro loads up on a big left hand.
Hunt tries a quick counter leg kick but Pedro is wise to it.

Hunt scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pedro is trying to control but can't.
Hunt is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Pedro wants to control but Hunt is keeping busy.
Pedro is not content to let Hunt control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hunt trying to control the action but Pedro is working from the bottom.
Still in half guard, Hunt seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt wants to take a breather but Pedro is having none of it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Pedro moves into the clinch.
Pedro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pedro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pedro lands a nice uppercut.
Pedro can't find room to land a body shot as Hunt controls the action.
Hunt throws a punch but it's blocked by Pedro.
Pedro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hunt working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pedro.
Hunt prevents a body shot from Pedro.
Pedro lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Pedro lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hunt misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pedro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pedro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pedro swings wildly with an uppercut but Hunt uses good head movement to avoid it.
Pedro tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.
A nice left hand lands by Pedro.
Hunt dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hunt is trying to stall.
Hunt tries to land a knee to the head but Pedro blocks with his arms.

Pedro has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hunt clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pedro landing with strikes.
Pedro trying to control momentarily.
Hunt is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro is punishing Hunt with strikes - can he finish him?!
Pedro missing with strikes from the back.
Hunt is trying to get back to his feet but Pedro has full control of the position and if anything, Hunt has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Pedro throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Hunt!
Hunt is trying to get back to his feet but Pedro has full control of the position and if anything, Hunt has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Hunt is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Pedro swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunt dives in and scores a takedown into Pedro's guard.

Hunt got a little sloppy there for a moment and Pedro has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hunt has managed to get both his arms back between Pedro's legs - danger averted.
Hunt tries to free his leg and advance position but Pedro is retaining full guard.
Pedro is controlling Hunt's posture.
Hunt controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hunt trying to control the position from guard on top but Pedro is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pedro pulls Hunt in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Pedro had his way with Phol Hunt in that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Pedro throws a push kick but Hunt slaps the foot to one side.

Hunt clinches up against the cage.
A short right from Pedro on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Pedro.
Pedro can't find room to land a body shot as Hunt controls the action.
Pedro is trying to drag Hunt to the mat but Hunt just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short right from Pedro.
Hunt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hunt lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt prevents a body shot from Pedro.

Pedro has picked Hunt up - he's going for a ride! Pedro dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hunt is looking to escape.
Pedro working Hunt over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt tries to kick Pedro off in order to stand up. Pedro Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Hunt bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Pedro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Pedro rushes Hunt and presses him up against the cage.
Hunt scores with a shoulder strike.
Hunt is looking to control Pedro's arms but Pedro gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hunt has his back to the cage.
Pedro tries to throw a body punch but Hunt avoids it by throwing Pedro back against the cage.
Pedro struggles to land a body shot inside as Hunt controls his hands.
Hunt prevents a body shot from Pedro.
A head punch on the inside from Hunt fails to land.
Pedro tries a body shot but Hunt blocks it.
Hunt blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pedro goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Knees to the body from Hunt.
Hunt makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hunt holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pedro misses with the head strike.
Pedro managing to block the knees to the body from Hunt.
Hunt stops a takedown attempt from Pedro.
Hunt lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hunt misses with a punch on the inside.
Pedro tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pedro doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hunt misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hunt tries to land knees in the clinch but Pedro avoids the damage to the body.
Pedro wants to take the fight to the mat but Hunt manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Pedro. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hunt presses Pedro against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pedro blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pedro throws a punch but it's blocked by Hunt.
Hunt lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Pedro fails to land.
Hunt tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pedro's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Pedro.
Pedro has a couple of punches blocked by Hunt.
Pedro drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hunt pulls his leg out and moves away.

Hunt clinches up with Pedro and pushes him back against the cage.
Hunt lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Pedro backwards.
Pedro misses with a body punch.
Hunt misses with a punch on the inside.
Pedro blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short uppercut from Pedro.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt trying to land knees to the body.
Hunt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Pedro lands a right hand.
Hunt misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hunt.
Pedro misses with a punch to the body.
Hunt looking to throw knees to the head but Pedro is blocking nicely.
Hunt is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hunt tries to work over Pedro's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pedro misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hunt lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hunt lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hunt blocks an uppercut.
Pedro scores with a shoulder strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Phol Hunt.
I think Hunt has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 47:48
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 47:48
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phol Hunt!
Phol Hunt is the new middleweight champion!
Phol Hunt decided to call for a title shot in his post fight interview, which was very strange given the fact this fight was for a title and he's already the champion. I guess that's what getting punched in the head does for you.
The defeated George Pedro had this to say: 'This was my last. Thanks, all.'.