PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Conor Butcher (ranked 806 p4p, 1184 weight class) and Thomas Hearn (ranked 114 p4p, 162 weight class). Butcher's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Eaten by Bloodbath. Hearn has chosen Clean Sweep - Graft as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Butcher
vs
Hearn

173 cm
26
181
14 - 5 - 2

185 cm
26
180
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 2, fighting out of New York, Conor Butcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Hearn!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Bruno Lombardi and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hearn avoids the body shot from Butcher.
Hearn slips under a jab from Butcher.

Butcher darts in and clinches Hearn up against the cage.

Butcher gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hearn tries to kick Butcher off but Butcher keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Butcher is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hearn wants to get back to his feet.
Butcher seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hearn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butcher prevents Hearn from standing back up.
Butcher is controlling the pace.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butcher clinches with his opponent.
Hearn is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Butcher looking for a takedown.
Hearn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hearn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hearn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hearn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hearn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hearn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hearn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hearn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Butcher blocks an uppercut.
Hearn tries a body shot but Butcher blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butcher wants to take the fight to the mat but Hearn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Hearn.
Butcher is trying to drag Hearn to the mat but Hearn just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hearn misses with a body punch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
Hearn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hearn cracks Butcher with a nice body shot.
Hearn working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hearn misses with the head strike.
Butcher is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hearn is defending well.
Hearn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hearn prevents the takedown attempt.
Butcher stalling the fight.
Hearn lands an uppercut.
Butcher is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hearn is defending well.
Hearn scores with a shoulder strike.
Hearn throws a punch but it's blocked by Butcher.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hearn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hearn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hearn throws a head punch that misses.
Hearn swings wildly with an uppercut but Butcher uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hearn misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Butcher goes for a takedown attempt but Hearn pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hearn dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Butcher. That did some damage!
Butcher takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Butcher throws a hook but Hearn avoids it easily.
Hearn connects with a good right hand that stumbles Butcher. Butcher circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Butcher moves out of range of the body kick.
Butcher misses the shot to the body.
Hearn tries a quick counter leg kick but Butcher is wise to it.
Hearn cracks Butcher with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hearn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hearn slips under a jab from Butcher.
Butcher scores with a nice right hand.
Butcher throws a big shot that misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Butcher dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Butcher takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hearn throws a body kick that misses.

Butcher moves into range and clinches up with Hearn.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Butcher goes for a takedown attempt but Hearn pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Butcher jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Hearn misses the target.
Hearn moves in looking to clinch but Butcher pushes him off.
Butcher wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hearn attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hearn misses with a low kick.
Butcher takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hearn throws a leg kick that misses.
Butcher misses with a right hand
and Hearn counters with a series of strikes. Butcher will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hearn 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.

Butcher scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hearn circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hearn scoring well with a low kick there.
Hearn throws a front kick that sends Butcher stumbling back into the cage.
Hearn throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hearn throws a looping overhand right but Butcher ducks down to avoid it.
Hearn misses with a body kick.
Butcher with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hearn to score with a decent uppercut.
Butcher throws a big shot that misses.
Butcher walks into a stiff left hand from Hearn.
Butcher avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Butcher tries to counter with a takedown but Hearn is quick to defend against it.
Butcher tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Butcher closes the distance and clinches.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A body shot lands from Hearn.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Butcher has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hearn after a bit of a struggle.
Hearn presses Butcher against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hearn fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Hearn on the inside.
Hearn working aggressively here.
Hearn is working Butcher over against the cage.
Hearn working aggressively here.
Butcher is working for takedown but Hearn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Butcher has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hearn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Butcher tries a body shot but Hearn blocks it.
Butcher has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hearn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Butcher blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hearn softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hearn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Butcher is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hearn's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
A short right from Hearn.
Hearn lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Butcher has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hearn after a bit of a struggle.
Butcher blocking some punches.
Hearn lands a shoulder strike.
Hearn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hearn has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Butcher doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearn lands a right hand.
Hearn lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hearn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Butcher drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hearn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A head punch on the inside from Hearn fails to land.
Thomas Hearn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hearn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hearn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Butcher is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hearn gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Butcher wants to take the fight to the mat but Hearn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hearn gets underhooks to prevent Butcher's takedown attempt.
Hearn tries to throw a body punch but Butcher avoids it by throwing Hearn back against the cage.
Hearn lands a body punch in the clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hearn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A hook to the body from Hearn.
A shot in the inside from Hearn.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hearn stops a takedown attempt from Butcher.
Hearn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hearn works on Butcher's body with a couple of short punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hearn.
Hearn pushes Butcher back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Butcher blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hearn goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hearn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hearn misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hearn lands a hook that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Hearn makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hearn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Butcher wants to take the fight to the mat but Hearn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hearn tries to work over Butcher's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hearn misses with the head strike.
A right hook to the body lands for Hearn.
Still in the clinch, Hearn scores with a nice short uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hearn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Butcher.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearn misses with the head strike.
Hearn misses with a punch to the body.
Hearn lands a shoulder strike.
Butcher prevents a body shot from Hearn.
Butcher wants to take the fight to the mat but Hearn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Hearn gets through Butcher's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hearn can't find room to land a body shot as Butcher controls the action.
Butcher is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hearn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Butcher is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hearn is defending well.
A short right from Hearn on the inside.
A short right from Hearn on the inside.
Hearn tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hearn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hearn working aggressively here.
Butcher wants a takedown but no success here.
Hearn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Hearn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

That kick from Hearn tenderised Butcher's leg. Butcher is trying to keep his angry face on.

Hearn clinches up with Butcher and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hearn.
Hearn lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hearn lands with a light punch inside.
Hearn is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hearn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hearn stops a takedown attempt from Butcher.
Butcher blocking some punches.
Hearn misses with a punch on the inside.
Hearn scores with a shoulder strike.
Hearn presses Butcher against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hearn misses with the head strike.
Hearn lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hearn throws a head punch that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hearn lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A short uppercut from Hearn.
A short right from Hearn.
A body shot lands from Hearn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearn lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hearn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hearn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Butcher's elbow.
Hearn works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hearn lands a left hand that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Hearn tries a body shot but Butcher blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hearn.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Butcher.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hearn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hearn tries to work over Butcher's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Hearn.
Hearn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hearn struggles to land a body shot inside as Butcher controls his hands.
Hearn working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Hearn fails to land.
Butcher tries for a takedown but Hearn manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Conor Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butcher drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hearn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Conor Butcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hearn lands a left hand.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hearn.

Butcher is rocked!
Hearn misses with a punch on the inside.
Hearn misses with a punch to the body.
Hearn lands a body shot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hearn creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hearn prevents the takedown attempt.
Hearn swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hearn lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Butcher is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hearn is defending well.
Hearn lands a nice uppercut.
Oh Butcher is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Butcher blocks a body shot from Hearn.
Butcher seems to have got his legs back now.
Hearn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A left hand lands to the body for Hearn.
A right hand to the body from Hearn.
Hearn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Butcher backwards.
Hearn lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearn misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hearn misses with the head strike.
Hearn misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hearn tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hearn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hearn pushes Butcher back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Thomas Hearn is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A short uppercut from Hearn.
Hearn lands a shoulder strike.
Butcher tries to score a body lock takedown but Hearn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hearn.
Butcher drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hearn pulls his leg out and moves away.
Butcher stuns Hearn with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Thomas Hearn seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearn explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Hearn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hearn throws a front kick that sends Butcher stumbling back into the cage.
Butcher is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
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!
Hearn lets loose with a powerful body kick. Butcher will feel that in the morning.
Hearn lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Hearn lands with a straight right. Butcher didn't see that one coming.
Hearn uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Butcher.
Hearn connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hearn getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Butcher waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hearn.
Butcher throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hearn sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Butcher throws a poor cross that misses
and Hearn counters with a three punch combo that has Butcher backing up. Butcher nods at Hearn to acknowledge the strikes.
Butcher tries to clinch but Hearn is having none of it.
Butcher takes one to the side of the head.
Butcher waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hearn.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Hearn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hearn 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 25:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 25:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Hearn!
Thomas Hearn thanked the fans post fight for their support.