PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branko Dalibor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hughes
vs
Dalibor

225 cm
24
347 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

191 cm
26
290 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 2 - 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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Branko Dalibor!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Dalibor closes the distance and pushes Hughes back into the cage.
Dalibor is trying to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling him.
Hughes is looking to break free of the clinch but Dalibor has double underhooks.
Dalibor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dalibor tries to clinch there but Hughes circles away.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but Dalibor has him pressed against the cage.
Hughes doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dalibor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dalibor using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hughes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dalibor moves into the clinch.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Branko Dalibor seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughes misses with a head kick.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dalibor wants to clinch.
Dalibor wants to clinch.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Dalibor moves into the clinch successfully.
Dalibor wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hughes keeps control of Dalibor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes throws a head kick but Dalibor moves out of range.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes tries a head kick but it misses.
Hughes is breathing heavily.
Hughes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Dalibor has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dalibor tries to circle away but Hughes has him pinned against the cage.

Dalibor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dalibor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Dalibor moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
A big right from Hughes misses.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Hughes misses with a wild body shot.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dalibor is looking to clinch.
Dalibor is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Dalibor.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hughes is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dalibor breaks the clinch.

Dalibor closes the distance and clinches.

Hughes breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughes misses with a head kick.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Dalibor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dalibor is looking to clinch.
Dalibor uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hughes.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.

Dalibor forces Hughes back against the cage and clinches.

Dalibor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dalibor tries to clinch there but Hughes circles away.
Dalibor tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four 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.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Dalibor wants to clinch.
Hughes throws a sloppy head kick and Dalibor moves out of range easily.
Hughes misses the jab.
Hughes misses with a head kick.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dalibor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dalibor is looking to break free of the clinch but Hughes has double underhooks.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Dalibor fails with an attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hughes keeps control of Dalibor as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Dalibor is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Dalibor dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hughes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dalibor wants to clinch.

Dalibor moves into the clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Dalibor. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Dalibor tries to circle away but Hughes has him pinned against the cage.
Dalibor is trying to break free.
Dalibor keeps control of Hughes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Dalibor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hughes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dalibor has had enough of the clinch but Hughes keeps him there for the moment.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalibor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Matt Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dalibor is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dalibor fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hughes, pushing him back against the cage.
Dalibor can't break the clinch.
Dalibor is trying to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling him.

Dalibor manages to break the clinch.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dalibor showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hughes.
Dalibor is looking to clinch.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Dalibor is looking to clinch.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Dalibor clinches.
Dalibor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Hughes's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Dalibor breaks the clinch.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dalibor wants to clinch.

Dalibor moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes misses with a short punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Dalibor's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hughes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dalibor's efforts to push away.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hughes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
A jab from Hughes misses.

Dalibor gets a clinch.

Dalibor breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dalibor is looking to clinch.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.

Dalibor takes the fight into the clinch.
Hughes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dalibor's efforts to push away.
Hughes misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dalibor is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

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

Dalibor clinches up against the cage.

Dalibor breaks the clinch.

Dalibor clinches.
Dalibor wants to break free but Hughes has control.
Hughes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Dalibor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Hughes misses.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hughes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.

Hughes tries to keep at a distance but Dalibor has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dalibor breaks the clinch.

Dalibor darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dalibor wants to get back to striking at distance but Hughes won't allow it.
Hughes has Dalibor pressed against the cage, preventing Dalibor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dalibor has had enough of the clinch but Hughes keeps him there for the moment.
Dalibor tries to stall but Hughes uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hughes tries to break free but Dalibor pushes him back against the cage.
Hughes is looking to break free of the clinch but Dalibor has double underhooks.

Dalibor escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Dalibor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dalibor moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Dalibor is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dalibor gets a clinch.
Dalibor throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hughes tries to break free but Dalibor pushes him back against the cage.
Dalibor wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dalibor has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hughes has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branko Dalibor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalibor avoids the head kick by Hughes.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dalibor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hughes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dalibor.
Dalibor tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.

Dalibor moves into range and clinches up with Hughes.

Dalibor pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dalibor moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Hughes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalibor tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hughes tries to keep at a distance but Dalibor has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dalibor's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dalibor instigates a clinch.
Hughes wants to get back to striking at distance but Dalibor won't allow it.
Dalibor is trying to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling him.
Dalibor is trying to break free.

Dalibor manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hughes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dalibor taking a breather.
Dalibor tries to break free but Hughes pushes him back against the cage.

Dalibor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Dalibor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dalibor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dalibor is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dalibor fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Matt Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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 misses with a two punch combination.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Dalibor tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalibor tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.

Dalibor rushes Hughes and presses him up against the cage.
Hughes is trying to break free.
Dalibor is trying to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling him.
Dalibor will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Hughes up against the cage.
Dalibor tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dalibor is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Dalibor avoids the head kick by Hughes.
Dalibor wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Dalibor wants to clinch.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dalibor tries to clinch up.
Dalibor fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Dalibor.
Dalibor is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.

Dalibor instigates a clinch.

Dalibor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dalibor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dalibor is trying to force a seperation but Hughes has the dominant position.
Hughes wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dalibor has him pressed against the cage.
Dalibor is trying to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling him.
Dalibor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hughes has him pressed against the cage.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Dalibor closes the distance and clinches.
Hughes has Dalibor pressed against the cage, preventing Dalibor from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dalibor is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Dalibor tries to circle away but Hughes has him pinned against the cage.

Dalibor breaks the clinch.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Branko Dalibor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Dalibor moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Dalibor doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.

Dalibor clinches up with Hughes and pushes him back against the cage.
Branko Dalibor seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hughes pushes Dalibor back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dalibor is looking to clinch.
Hughes tries a head kick but it misses.
Dalibor tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dalibor looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dalibor moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dalibor tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes throws a front kick aimed at Dalibor's knee but Dalibor avoids it well.
Dalibor moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branko Dalibor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dalibor winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branko Dalibor!