PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Howard Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Archaniol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hughes
vs
Archaniol

195 cm
18
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Howard Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Archaniol!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Joseph Jones and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Archaniol, right into the meat.
Archaniol misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Archaniol tried to score with a low kick but Hughes checks it.
Archaniol tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hughes.
Archaniol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Archaniol swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Archaniol misses with a kick to the body.

Hughes shoots in and bounces Archaniol off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Archaniol can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hughes controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Archaniol looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.
Hughes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Howard Hughes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Archaniol throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Howard Hughes has been cut.

Archaniol lands a big head kick that sends Hughes tumbling to the mat! Archaniol takes a step backwards and waves Hughes back to his feet - he wants the finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Archaniol looks to land a body kick but Hughes moved away.
Hughes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Archaniol. Archaniol obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Archaniol tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Archaniol throws a sloppy head kick and Hughes moves out of range easily.
A head kick misses from Archaniol.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Archaniol. Hughes shrugs it off though.
Hughes is breathing heavily.
Archaniol throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hughes moves out of range of the body kick.
Archaniol lands the left hand.
Archaniol tries to clinch there but Hughes circles away.
Archaniol throws a head kick that misses.
Archaniol throws a leg kick which misses Hughes's front leg but catches the back leg as Hughes tries to avoid it.
Archaniol throws a body kick that misses.
Hughes bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hughes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Archaniol.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes avoids the head kick by Archaniol.
Hughes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Howard Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes blocks a head kick by Archaniol.
Hughes blocks a head kick by Archaniol.
Gabriel Archaniol is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Archaniol lands a head kick. Hughes smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Archaniol throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Archaniol misses with a head kick.
Archaniol misses with a body kick.
Hughes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Archaniol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Archaniol throws a body kick that misses.
Archaniol is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archaniol thuds his shin into the meat of Hughes's side.
Archaniol throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hughes counters with a big head kick but Archaniol shrugs it off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Archaniol throws a leg kick
and Hughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Archaniol moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Archaniol is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hughes avoids a kick to the body.
Hughes catches Archaniol with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Archaniol throws a sloppy head kick
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.
Archaniol misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Archaniol throws a low kick but Hughes moves out of range easily.

Hughes drives through with a takedown into Archaniol's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Archaniol dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Howard Hughes's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Archaniol moves to clinch but Hughes breaks away
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Archaniol fails with an attempt to clinch.
Archaniol tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Archaniol is looking to chop away at Hughes's legs.
Archaniol wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Archaniol thumps Hughes with a low kick.

Hughes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Archaniol's guard.
Hughes forces his way into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hughes stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Archaniol swinging wildly here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hughes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hughes passes Archaniol's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Hughes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hughes is keen to just control but Archaniol is a slippery customer.

We're going to have a standup here because Howard Hughes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hughes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Archaniol throws a sloppy head kick
and Hughes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
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!
Archaniol connects with a body shot that sends Hughes's belly button to the back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Archaniol scores with a head kick. Hughes tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hughes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Archaniol can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Archaniol lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Archaniol swings widly with a right hand

and Hughes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Archaniol's guard.
Howard Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Archaniol wants to stand up but Hughes is controlling him.
Hughes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Archaniol's guard.
Well, if Hughes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hughes seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Archaniol for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Howard Hughes.
Archaniol throws a leg kick

and Hughes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hughes.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Archaniol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Well, if Hughes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard Hughes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Howard Hughes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Archaniol misses with a low kick.
Hughes blocks a head kick by Archaniol.

Hughes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Archaniol's guard.
Archaniol preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes is stalling in the full guard.
Hughes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Archaniol keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hughes postures up.

Howard Hughes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Archaniol throws a head kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Archaniol looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Hughes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Archaniol manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Hughes gets to his feet. Archaniol looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Archaniol takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Archaniol lands a front kick.
Archaniol throws a sloppy head kick

and Hughes counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes wants to control but Archaniol is keeping him busy.
Hughes is staying tight to Archaniol's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hughes fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes lands a nice forearm strike.
Archaniol trying to remain calm as Hughes controls from the top position.
Archaniol wants to control but Hughes postures up.
Hughes throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Howard Hughes wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Archaniol looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Archaniol misses with a head kick.
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Archaniol looks to land a body kick but Hughes moved away.

Hughes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughes is taking a breather. Archaniol says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Howard Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

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