PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Drake Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Tolander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hughes's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, This is Why I'm Hot. Ben Tolander looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Hughes
vs
Tolander

180 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Drake Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Tolander!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tolander shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Tolander avoids the attempt from Hughes to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Hughes is trying desperately to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes wants to control but Tolander is having none of it.

Tolander is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hughes has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Hughes is trying desperately to improve position.
Hughes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
You get the feeling that Hughes really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Tolander thowing shots but they're missing.
Hughes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tolander cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tolander with good strikes from the mount here!
Tolander looks gassed!

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 hold on but Tolander postures up.
Tolander trying to control but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes wants to control but Tolander is having none of it.
Tolander controlling his opponent.
Tolander wants to control the pace but Hughes is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes can't escape the position.
Hughes tries to hold on but Tolander pushes him away.
Tolander throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hughes because Tolander loaded up on that one.
Tolander controlling the pace for now.
Tolander prevents Hughes from getting the reversal.
Tolander takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Tolander working away from the top, dropping strikes.
A nice elbow there by Tolander.
Hughes wants to control but Tolander is having none of it.

That's four 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 to get to half guard.
Tolander postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hughes looks a forlorn figure.
Tolander trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tolander thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Tolander dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hughes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Hughes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tolander knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tolander is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hughes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Tolander trying to hold on to Hughes's head to control him but Hughes postures up.
Hughes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hughes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hughes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tolander has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tolander is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tolander is staying active underneath Hughes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hughes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hughes misses with a head shot. Tolander uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hughes stands up over Tolander, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Tolander trying to control the position.

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.
Tolander working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Hughes thows a big elbow that misses.
Hughes postures up in Tolander's guard and throws a big left but Tolander blocks it.

Tolander has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Hughes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hughes moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Hughes in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Tolander is looking for a sweep.
Tolander is trying to control Hughes's posture but Hughes avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Tolander on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Tolander is trying to get back to half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tolander fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tolander fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughes with a poor takedown

and Tolander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Tolander.
Tolander jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hughes walks away with a smile on his face. Tolander gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hughes shoots for a takedown but Tolander saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tolander tries for a takedown but Hughes circles away easily

and Hughes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tolander looking for a sweep. Not yet Tolander, not yet.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hughes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tolander fails with a takedown attempt.
Drake Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Tolander.
Tolander pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hughes is out of range and Tolander settles back down.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tolander decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hughes's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tolander throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tolander drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hughes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tolander has Hughes in his guard.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Drake Hughes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tolander changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hughes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Tolander misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hughes can't do much from the bottom here.

Hughes bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Hughes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Tolander to counter with a crisp jab.

Tolander drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Tolander passes into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hughes actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolander seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Tolander trying to control from half guard but Hughes is working away.
Tolander might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hughes kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Tolander seems to be looking for submissions.
Ben Tolander has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughes wants to control but Tolander is keeping busy.

Hughes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hughes actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hughes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Tolander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Tolander's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tolander closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tolander breaks from the clinch.
Tolander tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hughes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tolander sprawls well initially but Hughes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Tolander is looking to improve his position.
Hughes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hughes is trying to control the action in half guard but Tolander is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is thwarting Tolander's attempts to control the position.
Tolander tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Tolander is trying to maintain the position but Hughes is very close to passing his half guard.
Tolander wants to get back to full guard.

Tolander is defending against the submission attempts here by Hughes.

Hughes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tolander defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hughes is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Hughes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tolander defending well though.
Hughes throws a strike but Tolander avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hughes trying to control but Tolander is working from the bottom.
Tolander trying to strike off his back.
Tolander controls Hughes momentarily but Hughes frees himself.
Hughes lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tolander scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Tolander comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tolander 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Tolander!