PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Donato Russo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hughs
vs
Russo

178 cm
24
167 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

172 cm
28
157 lbs
21 - 12 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite 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 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Hughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Donato Russo!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughs throws a head kick that misses.
Hughs goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Russo misses with a leg kick.
Russo checks a leg kick.
Hughs throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Russo throws a leg kick but Hughs checks it.
Hughs throws a leg kick which misses Russo's front leg but catches the back leg as Russo tries to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughs misses with a body punch
and Russo counters with a body kick that stops Hughs in his tracks momentarily.
Hughs throws a front kick aimed at Russo's knee but Russo avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Russo looks to land a body kick but Hughs moved away.
A swing and a miss from Hughs.
Russo connects with a leg kick. Hughs looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hughs moves out of range of the body kick.
Hughs tries to score with a low kick but Russo moves his leg out of the way.
A head kick misses from Russo.
Hughs scores with a push kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Hughs throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hughs throws a solid leg kick but Russo takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hughs.
A clash of legs there as Hughs blocks the low kick.
Hughs throws a head kick but Russo moves out of range.
Russo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hughs sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hughs throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Russo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hughs throws a head kick that misses
and Russo counters with a leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs throws a looping overhand right but Russo ducks down to avoid it.
Hughs looks to throw a body kick
and Russo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Russo avoids a kick to the body.
Russo blocks a head kick by Hughs.
Hughs misses with a low kick.
Hughs thows a leg kick but Russo checks it
and Russo counters with a straight right hand.
Hughs misses with a kick to the body
and Russo counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hughs's knee momentarily.
Russo throws a hook but Hughs blocks it.

That's four 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.
Russo misses with a low kick as Hughs jumps back.
Russo tries a low kick but Hughs avoids it.
Hughs works the jab nicely.
Russo fails with the takedown.
Hughs lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Russo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hughs. That did some damage!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Donato Russo will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hughs misses with a leg kick
and Russo counters with a good low kick that Hughs was not able to check.
Russo keeps Hughs at a distance using the push kick.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick
and Hughs counters with a slapping leg kick.
Russo shoots in looking for a takedown but Hughs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Russo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hughs moves out of range of the body kick.
Hughs stuffs the takedown attempt from Russo. Russo gets slowly back to his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hughs. Russo does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Russo checks a leg kick.
Hughs lands with a right hand.
Russo misses with a kick to the body
and Hughs counters with a nice leg kick.
Hughs looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hughs pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Russo misses.
Hughs throws a predictable looking body shot
and Russo counters with a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Russo misses with a right hand
and Hughs counters with an outside leg kick.
Hughs throws a lazy head kick
and Russo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hughs misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Hughs misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
No luck for Russo with that takedown attempt.
Joe Hughs has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Donato Russo.
Russo throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hughs counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hughs is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs misses with an uppercut
and Russo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Russo throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
A head kick misses from Russo.
Russo lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hughs thows a leg kick but Russo checks it
and Russo counters with a thumping low kick.
Hughs throws a push kick but Russo slaps the foot to one side.
Russo throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Hughs.
Hughs tries to land a body kick
and Russo counters with a good low kick that Hughs was not able to check.
Russo checks a leg kick.
Hughs looks for the body kick but Russo saw that one coming.
Hughs tried to score with a low kick but Russo checks it.
Hughs is looking to land body kicks.
Hughs takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Donato Russo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice takedown defense from Hughs. No joy for Russo on that attempt.
Russo throws a poor cross that misses
and Hughs counters with a nice body kick.
Hughs fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Russo has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hughs throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hughs tries to land a leg kick but Russo saw it coming and moves away.
Hughs throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Russo's head.

It looks like Donato Russo has been cut.
Russo thumps Hughs with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Russo is out of range.
Russo throws a jab when Hughs was well out of range.
Hughs thows a leg kick but Russo checks it
and Russo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Russo looks to land a body kick but Hughs moved away.
Hughs is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Russo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hughs.
Hughs throws a leg kick that misses.
Russo tries to land a leg kick but Hughs saw it coming and moves away.
Joe Hughs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Russo misses with a low kick.
Hughs sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A low kick from Hughs is predictable there
and Russo counters with an outside leg kick.
Russo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hughs.
Joe Hughs is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Russo slips under a jab.
Hughs throws a low kick but Russo avoids it.
Hughs scores with a kick to the midsection.
Russo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hughs is able to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs misses with a low kick.
Hughs looks to score with a jab to the body but Russo is just out of range.
Russo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hughs defends it nicely.
Donato Russo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Russo shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

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.
Hughs misses with a leg kick
and Russo cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hughs throws out a leg kick but Russo moves out of range and Hughs only half commits.
Russo throws a sloppy head kick and Hughs moves out of range easily.
Hughs throws a lazy body kick
and Russo makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hughs throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Russo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A nice leg kick lands there from Russo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hughs showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Russo 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Donato Russo!