PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vernon Reed (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BAKI HUGHES (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reed comes to the cage accompanied by Tiger style. Reed has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Reed
vs
HUGHES

183 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

192 cm
24
240 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vernon Reed!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, BAKI HUGHES!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
HUGHES shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Reed defends it nicely.
HUGHES shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice sprawl there from Reed as HUGHES shoots in.
Vernon Reed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BAKI HUGHES.
HUGHES shoots in looking for a takedown. Reed tries to sprawl out of it but HUGHES keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reed manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice sprawl there from Reed as HUGHES shoots in.
Reed scores with a nice right hand.
Reed is breathing heavily.
Reed will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reed scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
HUGHES misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Reed could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Reed lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed leaves HUGHES with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Reed stuffs the takedown.
HUGHES has a takedown stuffed.

HUGHES throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Reed was covering up waiting for the punch and HUGHES finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Reed is controlling HUGHES's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reed is looking to stand up but HUGHES isn't so interested in that idea.
HUGHES stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Reed swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Reed knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for HUGHES on the ground.
HUGHES trying to control but Reed is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reed lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for HUGHES!
Reed wants to control the pace but HUGHES is squirming around nicely.
Reed prevents HUGHES from getting the reversal.

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 tries to hold on but Reed pushes him away.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Reed prevents HUGHES from getting the reversal.
Reed wants to control the pace but HUGHES is squirming around nicely.
HUGHES keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Reed looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
HUGHES wants to hold on but Reed pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vernon Reed dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Reed defends well against a solid takedown attempt from HUGHES.
HUGHES fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

HUGHES shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
HUGHES trying to control the position from guard on top but Reed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Reed looking for a sweep. Not yet Reed, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
HUGHES trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Reed looking for submissions from the bottom but instead HUGHES passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed wants to control but HUGHES is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Reed on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Reed tries to get out of the position.
HUGHES thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Reed to regain full guard.
Reed working a defensive guard here.
HUGHES is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.

Reed is working an open guard so HUGHES takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

HUGHES drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
HUGHES trying to control the position from guard on top but Reed is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Reed is working an open guard so HUGHES takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
HUGHES shoots in for a double leg but Reed sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vernon Reed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BAKI HUGHES.
HUGHES buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Reed lands with a straight right. HUGHES didn't see that one coming.
HUGHES looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reed rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but HUGHES moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
HUGHES connects with a high kick.
Reed uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
HUGHES swings for the body but Reed moves out of range.

HUGHES moves into range and clinches up with Reed.

HUGHES successfully pulls guard.
HUGHES is trying to keep Reed in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reed has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Reed wants to stand but HUGHES is controlling his posture from full guard.
HUGHES is trying to keep Reed in close.
Reed trying to stand up but can't free himself from HUGHES's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reed looking to sit in guard and control but HUGHES gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

BAKI HUGHES showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Reed stuffs the takedown attempt from HUGHES. HUGHES gets slowly back to his feet.
HUGHES looks for a takedown but Reed sprawls well.
Reed misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
HUGHES will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Vernon Reed has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of BAKI HUGHES.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Reed swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Reed scores with a one two! HUGHES had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
No luck for HUGHES with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
HUGHES looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reed is fending him off so far but HUGHES persists. Nope, Reed circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reed will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Reed circles away from the clinch attempt.
HUGHES shoots in but no luck this time.
Reed lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but HUGHES circles away quickly and effectively.
HUGHES changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Reed tries to avoid it but HUGHES manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Reed to the ground. Reed escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
HUGHES scores with a leg kick.

HUGHES fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Reed, pushing him back against the cage.
Reed looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
HUGHES fails to pull guard.
Reed has HUGHES pushed against the cage.
HUGHES tries to pull guard but Reed won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
HUGHES drops down looking for an ankle pick but Reed pulls his leg out and moves away.
Reed lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but HUGHES circles away quickly and effectively.
Reed misses with a jab, cross combination.
HUGHES shoots in for a takedown but Reed shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Reed leaves HUGHES with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
HUGHES looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Vernon Reed is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A combination from Reed does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
HUGHES tries to score a power double leg takedown but Reed sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten HUGHES somewhat.
HUGHES dives in and grabs Reed's left leg, looking for a takedown. Reed pushes down on HUGHES's head and hops out.
HUGHES shoots in for a takedown but Reed shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Reed throws a series of strikes that have HUGHES backpedaling.
Horrible takedown by HUGHES or perhaps it was just good defense by Reed which made him look bad.
HUGHES misses with a takedown attempt - Reed sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
HUGHES looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Reed is fending him off so far but HUGHES persists. Nope, Reed circles away and we're back to standing.
Reed keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
BAKI HUGHES seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
HUGHES shoots in and drives through. Reed sprawls well.
Reed throws a right and a left that both miss.
Reed throws a one two combo.
HUGHES shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Reed but Reed pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Reed swats away the attempt to clinch by HUGHES.
Reed circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Reed fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
HUGHES tries to clinch up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vernon Reed showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Reed 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vernon Reed!