PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iron Tager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hughes comes to the cage accompanied by Bulls on Parade. Tager has chosen MOTOR HEAD as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Nathan Hughes could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Iron Tager's chin.

Hughes
vs
Tager

192 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
20
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Win Nutritional - proof of quality

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nathan Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iron Tager!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Emerson Jorge and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tager leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tager misses with a takedown attempt
and Hughes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tager thinking.
Tager takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hughes misses with the combination.
No joy there for Hughes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hughes misses the shot to the body.
Hughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tager manages to avoid it.
Hughes misses with a wild combination.
Hughes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A punch combination from Hughes misses.
Tager tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hughes swivels and escapes.
Tager blocks a head kick by Hughes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tager avoids the head kick by Hughes.
Tager keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hughes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tager dives in and grabs Hughes's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes down on Tager's head and hops out.
Nathan Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iron Tager.
Tager takes a kick to the side of the head.
Nathan Hughes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nathan Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes looks to land a combination but Tager avoids it well.
Hughes missing with a left hand there. Tager was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hughes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tager.
Hughes scores with a leg kick.
Tager looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hughes is fending him off so far but Tager persists. Nope, Hughes circles away and we're back to standing.
Hughes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tager takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Tager closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hughes circles away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hughes.
Danga de danga de dang - Hughes scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tager shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hughes but Hughes pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tager keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hughes.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hughes.
Tager is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hughes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A slow jab from Hughes misses its intended target.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tager takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hughes fails to land with a series of punches.
Hughes misses with a two punch combination.

Tager decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Hughes is defending against the submission attempts here by Tager.

Tager is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hughes defends it well.
Hughes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tager looks gassed!

Tager is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tager is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hughes has managed to free his arm - good work.

Tager is looking for a kimura here.
Tager is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hughes reverses the position - he's now on top in Tager's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughes wants to stand but Tager is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Hughes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hughes throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tager was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.
A nice combination there by Hughes.

It looks like Iron Tager has been cut.

Tager scores with a takedown into Hughes's guard.
Hughes keeping full guard, as Tager tries to pass.
Tager thows a big elbow that misses.
Tager passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Tager is trying to get an arm triangle but Hughes is defending well.
Tager is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes can't do much from the bottom here.

Tager wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hughes, who protects the arm well.
Hughes tries to escape but Tager is in control.

Tager working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Tager is trying to get an arm triangle but Hughes is defending well.

Tager is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hughes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two 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 tries to escape but Tager is in control.

Tager goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hughes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Tager but great work by Hughes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hughes decides to stand back up.
Hughes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A jab from Hughes misses.
Hughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Tager is just out of range.
No luck for Tager with that takedown attempt.
Hughes misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tager slips a jab and a cross from Hughes.
Hughes throws a head kick but Tager moves out of range.
Hughes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tager has a takedown stuffed.
Hughes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes wants to land a leg kick but Tager is out of range.
Hughes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tager moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hughes throws a shot from downtown. Tager moves away and avoids it.

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.
Tager shoots in for a takedown but Hughes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nathan Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iron Tager.
Hughes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hughes misses with a series of wild punches.
Hughes is looking to wear down Tager with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

Tager shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Tager was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Tager unloading with bombs!

Tager jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Hughes manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tager scoring with punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Iron Tager will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Iron Tager's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hughes swinging wilding here.
Hughes throws a head kick that misses.

Tager scores with a takedown into Hughes's guard.
Hughes wants to stand but Tager is controlling the position.
Tager is pushing down on Hughes's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hughes is fighting to maintain full guard but Tager has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tager working over Hughes with some ground and pound. Hughes looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tager connects with a nice short shot to Hughes's temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tager passes to full mount!

Tager jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hughes is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hughes and Tager has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tager wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hughes, who protects the arm well.

Tager swings around for an armbar but Hughes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tager's guard.
Tager looking for a sweep. Not yet Tager, not yet.
Hughes wants to get up but he can't break Tager's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Iron Tager has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tager looking for a sweep. Not yet Tager, not yet.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Tager is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tager trying to control the position.

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.
Tager lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hughes!
Tager in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tager landing shots from mount.
Hughes tries to hold on but Tager postures up.
Tager scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hughes?

Tager is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hughes is surviving well by controlling Tager's body position as best he can.
Tager connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tager breaks from Hughes's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hughes has given up his back. Will we see Tager going for some submissions?
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.
Tager has Hughes flattened out and is raining down punches.

Tager looking for the choke but no joy.
Hughes trying to control the hands but Tager won't let him.

Tager working for a choke but Hughes is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tager is looking for a choke. Hughes gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Hughes manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Tager looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hughes wants to stand but Tager has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tager is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tager is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Hughes to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iron Tager comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tager 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iron Tager!