PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Garry Francis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edward Hunt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Francis
vs
Hunt

151 cm
18
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

184 cm
22
168 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Garry Francis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Edward Hunt!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shigeki Sano and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Francis tries to sprawl but Hunt drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Francis kicks off Hunt and gets to his feet.
Francis fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hunt displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Francis.

Hunt fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Francis, pushing him back against the cage.
Hunt stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Francis ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Francis no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hunt showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like Hunt might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

Hunt decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Francis, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Francis gets tackled into the cage by Hunt. Hunt maintains the clinch.

Hunt is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Francis can't fight it off and eventually Hunt manages to take the fight to the floor. Francis looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hunt gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hunt throws a sloppy head kick and Francis moves out of range easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Francis enables Hunt to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Francis manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Francis 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 slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hunt pulls Francis in close to his closed guard and prevents Francis from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis is in close to Hunt's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Francis could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Francis's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Francis preventing the sweep.
Hunt utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hunt pulls Francis in to control the position.
Francis throwing strikes from guard but Hunt blocks nicely.
Francis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hunt trying to keep a closed guard but Francis is proving a slippery customer.

Francis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hunt has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Francis has managed to get both his arms back between Hunt's legs - danger averted.
Francis 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 throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hunt wants to sweep but no luck.
Hunt is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hunt working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Francis.

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

Hunt pushes Francis up against the cage in a clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hunt as Francis tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hunt pulls guard successfully.
Francis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Francis loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Francis accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hunt is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Francis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hunt avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hunt looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Francis puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hunt keeping control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Edward Hunt will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hunt looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Francis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hunt throwing strikes from guard but Francis blocks nicely.
Hunt trying to stand up but can't free himself from Francis's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Francis isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hunt stacks Francis on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hunt!

Hunt decides to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is looking to clinch.

Hunt is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Francis's half guard.
Hunt prevents Francis from improving his position.
Francis moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Francis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hunt postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hunt stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Francis swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Francis 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.
Hunt throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Francis has Hunt pulled in close to control his posture.
Garry Francis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Francis is trying to keep Hunt in close.
Hunt trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hunt is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hunt passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hunt working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Francis tries to bench press Hunt off him but Hunt keeps the position.

Hunt is trying to get an arm triangle but Francis is defending well.
Francis manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is looking for a sweep. Hunt is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hunt uses his free foot to push down on Francis's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Francis.
Hunt content just to control the position here.
Hunt lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Francis is squirming around, avoiding Hunt's attempts to control the action.
Hunt controlling his opponent.
Francis is looking to get to half guard.
Francis is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hunt dominating with strikes here.
Hunt prevents Francis from getting the reversal.
Francis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hunt.
Hunt prevents Francis from getting the reversal.
Francis is in a horrible position here. Hunt smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Francis is looking to improve his position but Hunt isn't that keen on the idea.

Hunt has control of Francis's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Francis regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edward Hunt 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 eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hunt drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Francis manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Hunt pulls guard effortlessly.
Francis preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hunt bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Francis's guard.

Francis is looking to sweep but instead, Hunt has passed into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Francis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hunt is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Francis trying to control from the bottom.
Francis is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hunt scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hunt is trying to control the action in half guard but Francis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Francis regains full guard. Nicely done.
Francis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hunt takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Francis 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 blocking the ground and pound attempt from Francis.
Francis throwing shots but Hunt is blocking nicely.
Hunt is pressing down on Francis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Francis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hunt looking to control.

Hunt looking for a guillotine here but Francis defends easily.

Hunt wriggles free and stands up.
Francis throws a series of punches but Hunt avoids them all with ease.

Hunt clinches up against the cage.
Hunt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hunt has Francis pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hunt pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Francis tumbling to the mat - Hunt dives into Francis's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hunt with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Francis is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nice strikes from Francis there.
Hunt on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hunt has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Francis is working away from the top position though.
Hunt regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Francis.
Hunt looking to control but Francis passes into half guard.
Francis winds up and cracks Hunt with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hunt with the active half guard here but Francis passes nicely into side control.
Francis is working Hunt over with some ground and pound from side control.
Francis misses with the ground and pound.
Francis connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Hunt some visible discomfort.
Hunt is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Francis working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Garry Francis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Edward Hunt is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hunt tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Francis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Garry Francis.
I think Hunt has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Edward Hunt!