PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 4264 p4p, 4844 weight class) and Khalid Ozdoev (ranked 458 p4p, 510 weight class). Khalid Ozdoev will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hughes
vs
Ozdoev

172 cm
23
165
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khalid Ozdoev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ozdoev closes the distance looking to clinch

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ozdoev has an active guard here but Hughes has managed to pass into half guard.

Ozdoev actively working from the bottom here.
Ozdoev wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Hughes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ozdoev has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ozdoev wants to control but Hughes is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ozdoev wants to get back to his feet.
Ozdoev is not content to let Hughes control the position.
Ozdoev is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hughes stalling.
Ozdoev trying to control from the bottom.

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.

Hughes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ozdoev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Hughes wants to work for an arm triangle but Ozdoev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hughes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hughes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ozdoev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ozdoev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hughes wants to clinch up but Ozdoev keeps it at a distance.
Hughes misses with a two punch combination.
Ozdoev is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
An inside leg kick lands from Ozdoev.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Ozdoev avoids them all with ease.
Hughes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ozdoev misses with a combination
and Hughes counters with a nice body shot.
Ozdoev uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hughes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozdoev has his takedown stuffed
and Hughes counters with a three punch combo that has Ozdoev backing up. Ozdoev nods at Hughes to acknowledge the strikes.
Ozdoev wants to clinch.
Ozdoev stuns Hughes with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ozdoev misses with a double jab
and Hughes counters with a straight right hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ozdoev throws a sloppy head kick and Hughes moves out of range easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ozdoev gets caught flat footed, as Hughes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Hughes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ozdoev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hughes has Ozdoev in his guard.

Ozdoev controlling from the top position.
Hughes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ozdoev can do to turn this around?
Hughes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes trying to control but Ozdoev is working from the bottom.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Ozdoev.

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

Ozdoev is keen to just control but Hughes is a slippery customer.
Hughes tries to get to full guard but Ozdoev has control of the leg.
Hughes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hughes moves into full guard.
Hughes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozdoev throwing strikes from guard but Hughes blocks nicely.
Hughes has his hands on Ozdoev's head, controlling the position.
Ozdoev looking to sit in guard and control but Hughes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.
Ozdoev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.

Ozdoev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hughes defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ozdoev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.
Ozdoev keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Ozdoev being controlled here, momentarily.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hughes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ozdoev for as long as he can get away with.

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

That's four 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.

Hughes has Ozdoev up against the cage in a clinch.
Ozdoev is trying to pull guard but Hughes has him pressed against the cage.
Hughes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ozdoev.

Hughes pulls guard.
Ozdoev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ozdoev stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ozdoev pushing down on Hughes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back.
Ozdoev is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Hughes manages to get to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Ozdoev throws a right and a left that both miss.

Ozdoev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hughes quickly recovers to half guard.
Ozdoev wants to stand up but Hughes has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Hughes wants to control but Ozdoev is keeping busy.

Hughes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ozdoev pulls his head out easily.
Hughes is in trouble now - Ozdoev has advanced to mount!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ozdoev with shots to the head and body - Hughes looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes wants to control but Ozdoev is having none of it.
Hughes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Matt Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hughes wants to control but Ozdoev is keeping busy.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back.

Ozdoev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Ozdoev wants to pass the guard but Hughes is defending well.

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.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hughes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ozdoev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hughes trying to control the position.
Hughes wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Ozdoev is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back.
Ozdoev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Hughes actively working from the bottom here.
Hughes tries to get to full guard but Ozdoev has control of the leg.
Hughes wants to control but Ozdoev is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Ozdoev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Matt Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ozdoev not doing much here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Ozdoev pushes Hughes up against the cage in a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hughes pulls guard successfully.
Hughes can't keep his opponent in guard - Ozdoev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Khalid Ozdoev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ozdoev is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hughes reverses the position - he's now on top in Ozdoev's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Khalid Ozdoev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hughes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Hughes!