PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janick Ironcrotch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hughes
vs
Ironcrotch

182 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Janick Ironcrotch!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ironcrotch fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ironcrotch wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hughes with a lazy takedown attempt

and Ironcrotch counters with a takedown into side control.
Ironcrotch working away.
Hughes regains half guard.
Hughes is looking to control Ironcrotch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hughes avoid being mounted?
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Ironcrotch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ironcrotch is thwarting Hughes's attempts to control the position.
Hughes wants to get back to full guard.
Hughes regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ironcrotch.
Hughes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hughes tries to get out of the position.
Hughes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ironcrotch trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ironcrotch tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hughes swivels and escapes.

Ironcrotch instigates a clinch.
Hughes tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ironcrotch is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hughes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Matt Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janick Ironcrotch.
Ironcrotch is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hughes is defending well for now.
Hughes jumps guard but Ironcrotch stands there with Hughes around his waist. Hughes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hughes stops a takedown attempt from Ironcrotch.

Ironcrotch manages to break the clinch.

Ironcrotch fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hughes, pushing him back against the cage.
Hughes wants to get back to striking at distance but Ironcrotch won't allow it.
Hughes gets underhooks to prevent Ironcrotch's takedown attempt.
Hughes misses with the head strike.
Hughes is looking to break free of the clinch but Ironcrotch has double underhooks.

Ironcrotch manages to pull guard.
Hughes would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control but Ironcrotch is working from the bottom.
Ironcrotch is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hughes is controlling him.
Ironcrotch looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hughes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ironcrotch wants to get back to his feet but Hughes passes into half guard.
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.
Hughes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ironcrotch does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hughes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ironcrotch wants to get back to full guard.

Hughes is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hughes is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ironcrotch is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ironcrotch fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hughes leaves Ironcrotch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Ironcrotch is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hughes's half guard.
Hughes desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Hughes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hughes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janick Ironcrotch dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ironcrotch closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hughes did well to prevent Ironcrotch getting side control.
Hughes tries to roll over but Ironcrotch keeps him under control.
Hughes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ironcrotch's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ironcrotch's back!
Ironcrotch is keeping busy.
Hughes trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Ironcrotch doesn't escape.
Hughes is landing with strikes from the back.
Ironcrotch is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Hughes.

Hughes is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ironcrotch knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ironcrotch for a finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes scores with punches and elbows.
Hughes lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hughes connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ironcrotch to escape the position.
Hughes softening up his opponent with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughes has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Ironcrotch has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hughes missing with punches from the back.
Ironcrotch rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ironcrotch keeping hold of Hughes's head, controlling as best he can.

Hughes is trying to work for a kimura but Ironcrotch is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ironcrotch trying to hold on to Hughes's head to control him but Hughes postures up.
Hughes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ironcrotch tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.

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

Hughes gets caught flat footed, as Ironcrotch shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hughes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hughes is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ironcrotch wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.

Hughes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hughes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ironcrotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ironcrotch wants to sweep here but Hughes controlling him for the moment.

Hughes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ironcrotch dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Matt Hughes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hughes throws a head kick that misses.

Ironcrotch closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hughes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hughes pushes Ironcrotch away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ironcrotch gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Hughes can't do much from the bottom here.
Ironcrotch lands a nice forearm strike.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.
Ironcrotch tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ironcrotch looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hughes is avoiding damage well.
Hughes tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ironcrotch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hughes taking punishment in the form of punches.
Ironcrotch is looking to take a break and control but Hughes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ironcrotch is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hughes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ironcrotch working away.
Ironcrotch trying to control the action but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Janick Ironcrotch has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ironcrotch throws an elbow but Hughes slips to the side and avoids it well.
Hughes struggling a bit here.
The ground and pound from Ironcrotch seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hughes dives in and grabs Ironcrotch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ironcrotch pushes down on Hughes's head and hops out.
Ironcrotch shoots in but no luck this time.

Ironcrotch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hughes has his feet on Ironcrotch's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Ironcrotch fails to land the takedown.
Hughes throws a body punch but Ironcrotch moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ironcrotch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hughes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ironcrotch's guard now.
Matt Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janick Ironcrotch.
Hughes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Ironcrotch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hughes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hughes tries to free his leg and advance position but Ironcrotch is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ironcrotch wants to get back to his feet but Hughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hughes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hughes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Ironcrotch keeps moving.
Hughes looking to pass the guard.

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 Matt Hughes.
I think Hughes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28

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