PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Whitehope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hunt comes to the cage accompanied by Comfortably Numb. Mark Whitehope has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hunt
vs
Whitehope

175 cm
38
170 lbs
45 - 26 - 0

179 cm
28
184 lbs
14 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 45 - 26 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Whitehope!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunt takes one to the chin there.

Whitehope gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunt being controlled here momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hunt being controlled here momentarily.
Whitehope is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Whitehope works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt throws a big right hand that misses.
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Whitehope looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hunt postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Whitehope managing to control the position.
Hunt throwing strikes from guard but Whitehope blocks nicely.
Whitehope keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
Hunt being controlled here momentarily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Whitehope shoots in looking for a takedown but Hunt manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Whitehope's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hunt checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hunt throws a hook to the side of Whitehope's head but Whitehope sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hunt moves out of range as Whitehope throws a body kick.
Whitehope connects with a nice looking jab.
Mark Whitehope seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hunt thuds a left hand into Whitehope's body.
Whitehope throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Whitehope cracks Hunt with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Hunt closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Whitehope to the mat! Whitehope manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt connects with a couple of short punches.
Whitehope pulls Hunt in close to prevent any damage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Whitehope throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hunt wants to control from the top but Whitehope keeps moving.
Hunt postures up.
Hunt trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hunt wants to control from the top but Whitehope keeps moving.
Hunt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Whitehope pulls Hunt in close to prevent any damage.
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hunt 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 is looking to work some ground and pound but Whitehope has wrist control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hunt passes into half guard.
Hunt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Whitehope keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Whitehope is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hunt's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hunt's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that round.
That's time! Hunt's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Whitehope throws a hook but Hunt blocks it.
Hunt misses with a looping left.
Hunt connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Whitehope momentarily.
Whitehope moves out of range as Hunt strikes.
Whitehope tries to clinch but Hunt moves out of range.
Hunt half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A head kick misses from Whitehope.
Whitehope loads up on a big right hand but Hunt slips the punch.
Hunt appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Hunt shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Whitehope is trying to defend but Hunt finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Whitehope is not content to let Hunt control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Whitehope is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hunt pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope moves into full guard.
Hunt is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Whitehope can do to turn this around?
Hunt trying to control the position from guard on top but Whitehope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Whitehope trying to keep a closed guard but Hunt is proving a slippery customer.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hunt trying to control but Whitehope is working from the bottom.
Whitehope pulls Hunt in to control the position.
Whitehope looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hunt is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hunt not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Whitehope throws a sloppy head kick and Hunt moves out of range easily.
Hunt tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Whitehope takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Whitehope darts in and clinches Hunt up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Whitehope misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hunt.
Whitehope lands with a left to the head.
Whitehope blocks an uppercut.
Hunt misses with the head strike.
Whitehope tries to break free but Hunt pushes him back against the cage.

Whitehope is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hunt is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Whitehope to the mat. Whitehope regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Whitehope pulls Hunt in close to his closed guard and prevents Hunt from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt looking to sit in guard and control but Whitehope gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Whitehope trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hunt is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hunt is keen to just control but Whitehope is a slippery customer.
Whitehope keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hunt lands with a punch from half guard.
Whitehope is refusing to be controlled, as Hunt sits in half guard.
Whitehope trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope tries to get to full guard but Hunt has control of the leg.
Hunt wants to free his trapped foot but Whitehope is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hunt is thwarting Whitehope's attempts to control the position.
Hunt throws a strike but Whitehope avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hunt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunt throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Whitehope swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Mark Whitehope is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hunt manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Whitehope on his heels. He'll look to pass Whitehope's guard now, I'm sure.
Hunt throwing strikes but missing.
Hunt is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Whitehope tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hunt throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hunt in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hunt throws a strike but Whitehope rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Whitehope throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hunt works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Whitehope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Whitehope postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hunt looking to hit a scissor sweep but Whitehope is one step ahead there.
Whitehope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hunt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hunt throws a hook but Whitehope blocks it.
Hunt fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Whitehope tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Whitehope scores with a jab to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Whitehope as he connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throws an overhand right that lands on Whitehope's shoulder, as Whitehope tries to avoid the shot.
Hunt keeps the fight on the outside.
Hunt changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hunt misses with a double jab.

Hunt gets caught napping as Whitehope dives in and scores a takedown. Hunt manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Whitehope wants to control from the top but Hunt keeps moving.
Whitehope distracts Hunt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hunt preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Whitehope throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunt, not yet.
Whitehope loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Whitehope distracts Hunt with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Merik Hunt overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Whitehope accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Whitehope throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hunt misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Whitehope.
Whitehope lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hunt rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Whitehope moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Whitehope throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hunt.
Whitehope throws a hook but Hunt avoids it easily.
Whitehope dips to his left and cracks Hunt with an uppercut!
Whitehope shoots in for a takedown but Hunt shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Whitehope fails with a takedown attempt.
Hunt changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Merik Hunt is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Whitehope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hunt throws a leg kick but Whitehope sees it coming and moves out of range.
Whitehope fails with a takedown attempt.
Mark Whitehope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Merik Hunt has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Whitehope.
Whitehope throws a head kick but Hunt moves out of range.
Hunt throws out a leg kick but Whitehope moves out of range and Hunt only half commits.
A good leg kick by Hunt.
A slow jab from Hunt misses its intended target.
Hunt cracks Whitehope with a good jab.
Hunt throws out a loose jab but Whitehope uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hunt on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whitehope misses with a leg kick.
Whitehope throws a lazy right hand but Hunt sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hunt moves out of range as Whitehope throws a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Whitehope.
I think Hunt has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merik Hunt!
A victorious Merik Hunt thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.