PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitri Knoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Hunt
vs
Knoe

185 cm
21
185 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitri Knoe!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knoe.
Hunt throws a sloppy head kick and Knoe moves out of range easily.
Knoe dives in and grabs Hunt's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hunt pushes down on Knoe's head and hops out.
Horrible takedown by Knoe or perhaps it was just good defense by Hunt which made him look bad.
Mike Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Knoe.
Hunt fails in his attempt to clinch.
Knoe looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hunt is fending him off so far but Knoe persists. Nope, Hunt circles away and we're back to standing.
Knoe swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunt.
Hunt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunt is looking to clinch but Knoe is avoiding it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Knoe.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Hunt is working for a kimura but Knoe is defending it quite comfortably.
Knoe tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hunt is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Knoe missing with punches from the bottom.

Hunt is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Knoe sees it coming and defends easily.

Hunt is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hunt is breathing heavily.
Knoe tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Knoe slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Knoe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Knoe throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Hunt drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hunt jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Knoe shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hunt sprawls well. Hunt wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Knoe gets slowly back to his feet.

Hunt clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hunt has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Knoe uses from the top position.

Knoe got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hunt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Knoe has managed to get both his arms back between Hunt's legs - danger averted.
Knoe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Knoe throws a big right hand that misses.

Hunt looking for a guillotine here but Knoe defends easily.
Knoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Hunt has wrist control.
Knoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hunt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knoe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hunt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Knoe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knoe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Knoe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hunt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Knoe throwing strikes from guard but Hunt blocks nicely.
Knoe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hunt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Knoe.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hunt is looking to clinch but Knoe is avoiding it.
Knoe avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Knoe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hunt fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knoe swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four 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.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Knoe circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knoe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Hunt. No joy for Knoe on that attempt.
Knoe swats away the attempt to clinch by Hunt.
Hunt fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hunt lands with a slapping head kick.
Knoe shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hunt pinned against the cage. Hunt gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hunt tries to clinch there but Knoe circles away.
Knoe shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Knoe circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Hunt dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hunt tries to clinch up but Knoe circles away and keeps his distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Knoe is defended easily by Hunt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Knoe.
Dmitri Knoe seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt is looking to clinch but Knoe is avoiding it.
Hunt connects with a high kick.
Hunt tries to clinch up but Knoe circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knoe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hunt fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Knoe avoids it really well and circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Knoe scores a takedown into full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knoe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hunt tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knoe throws some wild stikes that Hunt manages to avoid easily.
Hunt is working to get back to half guard.
Hunt is working hard here to advance position.
Knoe throwing strikes here but Hunt is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Knoe thowing shots but they're missing.
Knoe thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hunt regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hunt looking for submissions off his back.
Hunt avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Knoe.

Hunt looking for submissions off his back.
Knoe thows a huge punch but Hunt dodges it nicely.

Hunt looking for submissions off his back.
Knoe not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hunt wants to get back to full guard.
Knoe sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hunt defending well though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Knoe shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hunt manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hunt escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Knoe gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hunt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knoe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knoe accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hunt is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Hunt working for a triangle but Knoe defends it easily.
Knoe missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Hunt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Knoe defends it easily.

Hunt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Knoe throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hunt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hunt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Knoe postures up and lands a big shot to Hunt's brow.

Hunt looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Hunt has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knoe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Knoe throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hunt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Hunt has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knoe can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Knoe scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mike Hunt will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Knoe misses with a takedown

and Hunt counters by clinching up.
Knoe jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hunt walks away with a smile on his face. Knoe gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hunt looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Knoe doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hunt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Mike Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Knoe.

Hunt manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Hunt has his foot on Knoe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Knoe works his way back into a safe position though.

Knoe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Knoe is looking to work some ground and pound but Hunt has wrist control.
Knoe throwing strikes from guard but Hunt blocks nicely.

Hunt working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Knoe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Knoe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Knoe loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knoe trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hunt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hunt throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Hunt had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Knoe defends it easily.
Knoe throwing strikes from guard but Hunt blocks nicely.
Knoe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hunt will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Knoe tries for a takedown but Hunt circles away easily
and Hunt counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hunt shoots in for a takedown but Knoe shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Knoe shoots in for a takedown but Hunt shows good takedown defense.
Hunt wants to clinch.
Knoe keeps the fight on the outside.
Knoe doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hunt counters with a head kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Knoe.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knoe paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Knoe fails with the takedown.
Hunt tries to close the distance and clinch up but Knoe swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knoe keeps the fight on the outside.
Knoe shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hunt counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Knoe fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Hunt pulls Knoe into guard.

Hunt looking for a guillotine here but Knoe defends easily.
Hunt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Knoe postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Knoe is posturing up here but Hunt has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Knoe tries to roll out but it's too tight and Knoe has to tap! Slick submission there by Hunt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mike Hunt!