PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 3746 p4p, 4227 weight class) and Khabib Chimaev (ranked 401 p4p, 443 weight class). Matt Hughes has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hughes
vs
Chimaev

172 cm
23
165
4 - 1 - 0

220 cm
19
155
1 - 0 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

SpeeDee BBQ
MKFC

Savage Fightwear

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 4 - 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 1 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Khabib Chimaev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chimaev throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've been hearing reports that Hughes has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Chimaev connects with a jab.
Hughes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hughes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hughes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Chimaev.
Hughes checks a leg kick.
Chimaev fails to land with a series of punches.
Chimaev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hughes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Chimaev looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hughes scoring with punches and elbows.
Hughes working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hughes throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Chimaev to regain full guard.
Chimaev is trying to hold Hughes in close to prevent damage but Hughes has managed to pass into half guard.
Hughes trying to control the pace.

Hughes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hughes trying to control the pace.
Hughes prevents Chimaev from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev is trying to control but Hughes passes into side control!
Chimaev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Chimaev is looking for a sweep.
Hughes remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hughes working away.
Chimaev is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hughes winds up and cracks Chimaev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hughes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Chimaev is trying to control Hughes's posture. Hughes takes advantage of the lull and advances to side control. He also appears to have an arm triangle here! Uh oh, big trouble for Chimaev! Hughes is rotating here... this could be the end... Chimaev is out! Hughes has ended this one emphatically! Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:59 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Matt Hughes!
Post fight, an emotional Matt Hughes said 'I wanna thanks my manager Altieri, I wanna thanks Saklain and my team mates, they've done a lot for me, hey Mcklown, are you ready for war? Cause I'm fucking ready!!!'.