PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Holbrook (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Hughers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy Holbrook has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holbrook
vs
Hughers

184 cm
22
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
178 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
World class boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tommy Holbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matthew Hughers!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holbrook throws an off balance right hand

and Hughers counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hughers.
Holbrook wants to get back to his feet but Hughers is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Holbrook knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hughers on the ground.
Holbrook keeping full guard, as Hughers tries to pass.
Holbrook is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hughers is controlling him.
Hughers looking to pass the guard.
Holbrook wants to stand but Hughers is controlling the position.
Holbrook trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Hughers postures up in Holbrook's guard and throws a big left but Holbrook blocks it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hughers wants to control from the top but Holbrook keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hughers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hughers wants to control from the top but Holbrook keeps moving.
Hughers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holbrook is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holbrook is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hughers is controlling him.
Hughers in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hughers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holbrook is keeping the position for now.
Holbrook wants to get back to his feet but Hughers is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hughers passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Holbrook is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hughers asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Hughers thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Hughers tries for a kimura but Holbrook is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holbrook is pushing Hughers's head away, looking to escape. Hughers manages to hold on to the position though.
Holbrook stops Hughers from passing to mount.
Holbrook is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hughers asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Holbrook throws Hughers to one side and escapes!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Holbrook throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Holbrook works over Hughers's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Matthew Hughers has been cut.
Holbrook throws a poor cross that misses
and Hughers counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Holbrook takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Holbrook throws a right and a left that both miss.
Holbrook fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Holbrook tries to bum rush Hughers with a series of wild strikes but Hughers uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughers bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Holbrook's head.
Hughers loads up on a big right hand but Holbrook slips the punch.
Holbrook throws a big shot that misses.
Holbrook cracks Hughers with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Holbrook misses with a wild combination.
Holbrook misses with an uppercut.
Holbrook throws a looping overhand right but Hughers ducks down to avoid it.
Holbrook throws a series of punches but Hughers moves out of range.
Holbrook throws out a loose jab but Hughers uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holbrook throws a series of punches but Hughers avoids them all with ease.
Holbrook misses with a hook

and Hughers counters with a single leg into guard. Holbrook didn't expect that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughers slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughers trying to control the action but Holbrook is working from the bottom.
Hughers passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Holbrook!
Hughers trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Hughers wants to finish this one by submission but Holbrook is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hughers.
Holbrook wants to try and get back to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Holbrook is squirming around, avoiding Hughers's attempts to control the action.
Hughers sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hughers trying to control but Holbrook is having none of it.
Holbrook trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Matthew Hughers will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matthew Hughers's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A telegraphed right hand from Hughers misses the target.
Hughers slips under a jab.
Holbrook swings for the body but Hughers moves out of range.
Holbrook misses with a hook. Hughers ducked under it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Holbrook.
Holbrook throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Holbrook missing with a left hand there. Hughers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A combination from Holbrook does no damage.
A punch combination from Holbrook misses.

Hughers closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Holbrook quickly recovers to half guard.

Hughers seems to be working for a kimura but Holbrook defends the submission attempt.
Hughers trying to mount his opponent but Holbrook defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughers is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Holbrook doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hughers.
Hughers prevents Holbrook from standing back up.
Hughers wants to free his trapped foot but Holbrook is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Holbrook is in trouble now - Hughers has advanced to mount!

Hughers has hold of Holbrook's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Holbrook manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Hughers jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Holbrook manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Holbrook is pushing Hughers's head away, looking to escape. Hughers manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughers is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holbrook has escaped the position, nice work there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Holbrook is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Hughers tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hughers has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Holbrook is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hughers tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughers has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Holbrook bucks up and throws Hughers to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Hughers throws a jab when Holbrook was well out of range.
Hughers missing with a left hand there. Holbrook was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Holbrook misses with a right hand

and Hughers counters by clinching up.
Hughers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Holbrook fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hughers takes one to the side of the head.
Nice uppercut there from Holbrook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughers throws a series of strikes that have Holbrook backpedaling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holbrook throws a hook but Hughers blocks it.
Jab, jab by Holbrook - just one landing.
Sloppy strikes from Holbrook. Those never looked like landing.
Holbrook misses the body punch
and Hughers counters with a low kick, right behind Holbrook 's knee.
Holbrook keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hughers darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Hughers seems to be working for a kimura but Holbrook defends the submission attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Holbrook has one foot on Hughers's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matthew Hughers will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matthew Hughers's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughers ducks under a wild hook from Holbrook.
Holbrook jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A big right from Holbrook misses.
Holbrook lands the left hand.
Holbrook fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holbrook connects with a jab.
Holbrook fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Holbrook misses with a two punch combination.
Hughers ducks under a wild hook from Holbrook.
Hughers just misses with a punch to the body.
Hughers misses with a straight left.
Holbrook misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughers fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Holbrook as he connects with a hook.
Holbrook will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hughers moves away from the strike by Holbrook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Holbrook gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hughers is stalling in the full guard.
Holbrook keeping moving, preventing Hughers from controlling successfully.
Hughers prevents Holbrook from getting back to his feet.
Holbrook can't keep his opponent in guard - Hughers advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Hughers wants to work for an arm triangle but Holbrook is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Matthew Hughers is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holbrook is looking to escape.
Hughers content to control rather than advance.
Hughers thows a huge punch but Holbrook dodges it nicely.
Holbrook wants to get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hughers controlling the action here.
Holbrook is trying to stand up here but Hughers is controlling him well.
Hughers with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hughers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hughers slows the pace down in half guard.
Holbrook looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matthew Hughers was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Holbrook gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tommy Holbrook has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hughers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Holbrook keeping full guard, as Hughers tries to pass.
Hughers stops Holbrook from standing up.
Hughers tries to free his leg and advance position but Holbrook is retaining full guard.
Hughers controlling from the top position.
Holbrook wants to stand and escape but Hughers is having none of it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Holbrook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holbrook misses with a double jab.
Holbrook throws a combination. Hughers tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Holbrook throws a jab but it's blocked by Hughers.
Hughers throws a hook but Holbrook avoids it easily.
Hughers waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Holbrook.
Tommy Holbrook is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice sprawl there from Holbrook as Hughers shoots in.
Tommy Holbrook is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Holbrook's corner calls for a 1-2. Holbrook obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Holbrook throws out a loose jab but Hughers uses good head movement to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holbrook missing with a left hand there. Hughers was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
The fighters circling - Holbrook throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Holbrook throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Hughers counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

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 Tommy Holbrook.
I think Hughers 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!