PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between James Hetfield (ranked 2564 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gage Underwood (ranked 2744 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Hetfield
vs
Underwood

170 cm
33
145 lbs
11 - 12 - 1

167 cm
21
143 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

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 11 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, James Hetfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gage Underwood!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hetfield throws a lazy right hand but Underwood sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A punch combination from Hetfield misses.
Hetfield rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Underwood counters with a leg kick.
Underwood throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hetfield misses with a double jab
and Underwood counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hetfield throws out a loose jab but Underwood uses good head movement to avoid it.
Underwood lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hetfield falls off balance throwing a combination
and Underwood counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Underwood connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hetfield. Hetfield circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Hetfield instigates a clinch.
Underwood tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
We've been hearing reports that Hetfield has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.

Hetfield pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Underwood thows a left - swing and a miss!
Underwood misses with a straight right.
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 chopping leg kick lands by Underwood.
Good leg kick by Underwood there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hetfield has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hetfield there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Hetfield misses the target.
Underwood avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Hetfield misses the target.
Underwood is trying to counter with his kicks.
Underwood slips a straight right by Hetfield.
Underwood now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Underwood throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
A jab from Hetfield misses.
Hetfield throws a leg kick but Underwood moved away.
A little jabbing left from Underwood on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Hetfield misses with a series of wild punches.
Underwood tests Hetfield's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Underwood has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hetfield is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Hetfield throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A nice side step and Underwood releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Hetfield throws a nice looking combination but Underwood bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Underwood looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Underwood moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Underwood lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Underwood avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Hetfield falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Underwood to counter with a crisp jab.
Hetfield throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hetfield misses with a takedown attempt
and Underwood counters with a stiff right hand.
Underwood listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hetfield checks a leg kick nicely.
Hetfield tries to work over Underwood's front leg with a kick but Underwood checks it.
Hetfield lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Underwood circles away quickly and effectively.
Underwood takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Hetfield shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hetfield showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hetfield seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Underwood trying to control but Hetfield postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield with the ground and pound but Underwood uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hetfield sitting in guard here, content to control.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hetfield won't allow Underwood to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James Hetfield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hetfield connects with the punch.
Underwood with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Underwood connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hetfield. Hetfield circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Underwood looks to land a left hand but Hetfield moved out of range nicely.
Underwood misses with a hook.
Hetfield walks into a jab.
Hetfield uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Underwood has time to react.
No joy there for Hetfield, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Underwood has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Underwood throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nice uppercut there from Underwood.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gage Underwood will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jab from Underwood.
Underwood slips a jab and a cross from Hetfield.
Underwood fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hetfield has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gage Underwood seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hetfield dives in for a single leg takedown but Underwood sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Underwood cracks Hetfield with a good jab.
Underwood drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Underwood slips a jab from Hetfield.
Hetfield throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Underwood takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Underwood scoring well with a low kick there.
Underwood bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hetfield tries to bum rush Underwood with a series of wild strikes but Underwood uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hetfield misses with a double jab
and Underwood finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hetfield misses with a shot to the body
and Underwood counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A cross from Underwood lands.
Underwood scores with a leg kick.
Hetfield shoots in for a takedown but Underwood shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Underwood stuns Hetfield with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Underwood turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hetfield looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Underwood throws out a counter right but Hetfield avoids it with no problem.
Underwood throws a nice outside leg kick.
A big left from Hetfield misses.
Hetfield looks to land a body kick but Underwood moved away.
James Hetfield is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A solid leg kick lands there for Underwood.
Underwood pushes Hetfield away with a front kick.
Underwood lands with a nice body punch.
Hetfield on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hetfield looks to land a right hand but Underwood moved out of range.
Hetfield pivots, looking for a leg kick but Underwood is out of range and Hetfield settles back down.
Underwood lands a body shot.
Underwood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Underwood thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hetfield swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Underwood lands a jab to Hetfield's midsection.
Hetfield has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Underwood finds it's way round the side to connect with Hetfield's head.
Hetfield is looking to clinch.
Underwood lands with a nice body punch.
Underwood has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hetfield throws a jab but it's blocked by Underwood.
Hetfield throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Underwood sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hetfield throws a combination. Underwood tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Underwood walks into a left hand.
Hetfield misses with a lunging right hand
and Underwood counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hetfield throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Underwood looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Underwood lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hetfield's sensitive parts.
Underwood keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hetfield will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Underwood thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hetfield if he has to take too many more of those.
Underwood connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hetfield is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Underwood bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Underwood is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hetfield with a body shot.
Hetfield misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Underwood throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Underwood stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Underwood takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hetfield throws the left hand but Underwood avoids the punch easily.
Hetfield misses with an uppercut. Underwood saw that one coming.
Hetfield throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Underwood sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Gage Underwood is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Underwood lands with a right hand.
Underwood chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hetfield on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hetfield misses with a few strikes there.
Hetfield shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Underwood is trying to counter with his kicks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Hetfield. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Underwood takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hetfield throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Underwood counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hetfield's knee momentarily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hetfield takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Underwood feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hetfield's calf.
Hetfield thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Hetfield misses the target.
Underwood cracks the inside of Hetfield's front leg.
Underwood slips a jab and a cross from Hetfield.
Underwood appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Underwood wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Underwood works the jab nicely.
Underwood scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A slapping leg kick lands for Underwood.
Hetfield looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hetfield misses with a double jab
and Underwood counters with a good, hard body kick but Hetfield shrugs it off.
Hetfield tried to score with a low kick but Underwood checks it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Underwood.
Hetfield lands a jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Underwood stuffs the takedown.
Underwood thuds his shin into the meat of Hetfield's side.
Hetfield throws a left and a right that both miss
and Underwood counters with a one-two to the body.

Hetfield is rocked!
Underwood throws a front kick that sends Hetfield stumbling back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gage Underwood showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hetfield takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Underwood slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Oh Hetfield is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hetfield shoots and misses
and Underwood counters with a thumping low kick.
Hetfield fails with the takedown
and Underwood counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Underwood defending well as Hetfield loads up on a big left hand.
Hetfield backing away here, and Underwood unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hetfield seems to have got his legs back now.
Hetfield misses with a lunging right hand
and Hetfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Underwood works Hetfield's body with a nice hook.
Underwood lands with a shot to the body.
Hetfield swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Underwood counters with a nice body kick.
Hetfield walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hetfield misses with a hook.
Underwood smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Underwood connects with a crisp jab.
Underwood avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Underwood connects with an inside leg kick.
Hetfield takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Underwood throws a leg kick which misses Hetfield's front leg but catches the back leg as Hetfield tries to avoid it.
Hetfield throws a poor cross that misses
and Underwood counters with a nice uppercut.
A punch combination from Hetfield misses.
Underwood ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hetfield moves away.
Underwood throws a nice inside leg kick.
Underwood connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hetfield misses with a double jab.
Hetfield waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Underwood.
Hetfield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hetfield takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Underwood dips to his left and cracks Hetfield with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Underwood throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hetfield on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Underwood connects with a body shot that sends Hetfield's belly button to the back.
Hetfield misses with a looping right.
Underwood is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hetfield with a body shot.
The fighters circle momentarily. Hetfield darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Underwood comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hetfield misses with a straight right.
Underwood lands a right hook to the body.
Underwood lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The fighters circle momentarily. Underwood darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Underwood looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hetfield lands with an overhand left.
Underwood misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Hetfield misses the target.
Hetfield swings widly with a right hand
and Underwood counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hetfield thinking.
Underwood bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hetfield's head.
Underwood listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hetfield loads up on a big right hand but Underwood slips the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Underwood.
Hetfield stuns Underwood with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hetfield throws a right and a left that Underwood avoids nicely.
Hetfield throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Underwood makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Underwood lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Underwood feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hetfield's calf.
Underwood lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Underwood fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hetfield looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Underwood connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hetfield. Hetfield circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hetfield throws a combination that misses
and Underwood counters with a good low kick that Hetfield was not able to check.
Underwood cracks a nice hook into Hetfield's ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hetfield moves out of range of the body kick.
Hetfield throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hetfield fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Underwood throws out a counter right but Hetfield avoids it with no problem.
Hetfield throws a left and a right that both miss
and Underwood cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hetfield fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Underwood on the side of the head.
Underwood lands a high kick!
Underwood thows a body kick. Hetfield tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Underwood uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hetfield.
Hetfield takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
James Hetfield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hetfield misses with a series of wild punches.
Underwood swings for the body but Hetfield moves out of range.
Underwood blocks a jab.
Underwood cracks a nice hook into Hetfield's ribs.
Underwood scores with a push kick.
Hetfield throws a hook to the side of Underwood's head but Underwood sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Underwood defending well as Hetfield loads up on a big left hand.
Underwood pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hetfield back to the cage. Underwood follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Underwood dodges the punch combination from Hetfield.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gage Underwood comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Underwood 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gage Underwood!