PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kip Aragus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Merik Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aragus comes to the cage accompanied by Kill of the Night - Gin Wigmore. Hunt comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Comfortably Numb kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Kip Aragus had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Aragus
vs
Hunt

180 cm
30
180 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

175 cm
38
170 lbs
46 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kip Aragus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 46 - 26 - 0, fighting out of London, Merik Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Donald Grub and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hunt connects with an inside leg kick.
Aragus tries to clinch up but Hunt circles away and keeps his distance.
Hunt misses the body punch
and Aragus counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Aragus on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hunt. Hunt obviously looking to wear him down.
Some wild striking there from Aragus.
Aragus ducks under a wild hook from Hunt.
Hunt lands a nice leg kick that just misses Aragus's sensitive parts.
Hunt swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Aragus closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hunt did well to prevent Aragus getting side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Aragus wants to work for an arm triangle but Hunt is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hunt tries to roll over but Aragus keeps him under control.
Hunt moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hunt is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aragus drops back, looking for a kneebar! Hunt looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Hunt looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Hunt!
Hunt is looking to take a break and control but Aragus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hunt working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hunt throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Aragus manages to work his way to half guard, despite Hunt's best efforts.
Aragus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hunt scores with a couple of nice shots.

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.
Hunt drops an elbow to the side of Aragus's head.
Hunt throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hunt throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hunt scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Aragus is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hunt not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hunt missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Aragus is trying to get back to full guard.
Hunt sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aragus defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aragus is refusing to be controlled, as Hunt sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Aragus closes the distance and pushes Hunt back into the cage.

Hunt breaks from the clinch.
Hunt throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Aragus tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hunt decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Aragus's guard.
Aragus wants to sweep but no luck.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aragus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunt advances position into side control!
Hunt trying to control the action but Aragus is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aragus manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hunt has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hunt throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aragus regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hunt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aragus's head.
Hunt throwing strikes from guard but Aragus blocks nicely.
Aragus working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hunt.
Hunt postures up in Aragus's guard and throws a big left but Aragus blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merik Hunt dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick from Hunt lands but Aragus takes it in his stride.
Hunt turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Aragus scores with a jab to the head.
Aragus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hunt tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hunt scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Aragus shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt wants to control but Aragus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aragus blocks the strikes from Hunt.
Hunt regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hunt manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aragus manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt working some strikes from top position.
Hunt throws a big elbow that misses.
Merik Hunt has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hunt is in close to Aragus's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aragus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hunt with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hunt trying to control the position from guard on top but Aragus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hunt looking to sit in guard and control but Aragus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Aragus sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hunt's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hunt is looking to improve his position.
Aragus moves into full mount! Hunt won't be happy about that!

Aragus is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hunt has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hunt!
Hunt loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aragus keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
Hunt working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Aragus works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aragus wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Hunt is now in half guard.
Hunt is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Aragus reverses the position - he's now on top in Hunt's guard.
Aragus trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aragus forces his way into half guard.
Hunt won't allow Aragus to pass to mount.
Hunt slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's four 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.
Hunt managing to control the position.
Hunt tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Aragus stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hunt swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hunt has control of Aragus's left arm, preventing Aragus from doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Merik Hunt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A punch lands to the side of Aragus 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hunt shoots in but Aragus avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hunt looks to throw the jab but Aragus is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Merik Hunt will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A combination from Hunt does no damage.
Hunt tries to land a front kick but Aragus steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Aragus stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hunt.
A big left from Hunt misses.
Hunt just misses with a punch to the body.
Hunt scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Aragus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aragus is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A slow jab from Aragus misses its intended target.
Hunt is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Aragus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hunt swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aragus moves in looking to clinch but Hunt pushes him off.

Aragus clinches up with Hunt and pushes him back against the cage.

Hunt breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aragus throws a jab when Hunt was well out of range.
Hunt throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aragus is looking to clinch.
Hunt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Aragus slips a jab from Hunt.
Aragus tries to counter with a takedown but Hunt is quick to defend against it.
Aragus moves in looking to clinch but Hunt pushes him off.
Hunt with the counter takedown but Aragus avoids it easily.
Aragus shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Aragus tries to clinch but Hunt is having none of it.
Kip Aragus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Aragus keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hunt.
Aragus tries to clinch there but Hunt circles away.
Nice body punch from Hunt.
Hunt comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jab, jab by Hunt - just one landing.

Aragus feints and as Hunt raises his hands in defense, Aragus changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hunt is pulling down on Aragus's head to control his posture.
Aragus pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hunt is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aragus trying to move into half guard but instead Hunt has managed to sweep!
Hunt trying to control but Aragus is working from the bottom.
Aragus keeping full guard, as Hunt tries to pass.
Hunt trying to control but Aragus is working from the bottom.
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hunt working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Aragus's head.
Hunt scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt landing some decent shots from guard.
Hunt is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Aragus bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hunt's guard.

Hunt looking for a sweep. Not yet Hunt, not yet.

Aragus is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hunt is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hunt has escaped and now he's on top!

Aragus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Merik Hunt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aragus being controlled here, momentarily.

Aragus throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kip Aragus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aragus keeping moving, preventing Hunt from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Aragus is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hunt defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Merik Hunt comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hunt 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merik Hunt!
During a confident post fight interview, Merik Hunt thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.