PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgen Konstantinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hughes comes to the cage accompanied by A Country Boy Can Survive. Matt Hughes could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Evgen Konstantinov's chin.

Hughes
vs
Konstantinov

175 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
175 lbs
9 - 18 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evgen Konstantinov!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konstantinov wants to clinch.
Konstantinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Konstantinov circles away.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Konstantinov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Konstantinov wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Konstantinov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Konstantinov closes the distance but Hughes moves to the side

and Hughes counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Konstantinov's guard now.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Konstantinov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Konstantinov is keeping the position.
Hughes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Hughes just wasn't active enough.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Konstantinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Konstantinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Evgen Konstantinov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Konstantinov wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Konstantinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hughes.
Konstantinov tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
Konstantinov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinov moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Konstantinov is looking to clinch.
Konstantinov wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Konstantinov.
Konstantinov tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice sprawl there from Konstantinov as Hughes shoots in.

Konstantinov closes the distance and clinches.

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

Konstantinov clinches with his opponent.

Konstantinov breaks the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hughes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Konstantinov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Hughes taking a break here but Konstantinov is having none of it and regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinov is not content to let Hughes control the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Konstantinov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Konstantinov tries to kick Hughes off but Hughes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hughes trying to control from Konstantinov's half guard. Konstantinov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Konstantinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Konstantinov is keeping the position.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Konstantinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Hughes just wasn't active enough.
Hughes shoots in but no luck this time.
Hughes dives in and grabs Konstantinov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Konstantinov pushes down on Hughes's head and hops out.
Hughes is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Konstantinov moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Konstantinov is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.

Konstantinov forces Hughes back against the cage and clinches.

Konstantinov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matt Hughes will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Konstantinov darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.

Konstantinov manages to break the clinch.

Konstantinov closes the distance and clinches.

Konstantinov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Evgen Konstantinov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.
Konstantinov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Konstantinov stuffs the takedown attempt from Hughes. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
Hughes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Konstantinov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hughes somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Konstantinov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hughes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hughes.

Konstantinov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hughes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hughes looking to sit in guard and control but Konstantinov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konstantinov is looking to work some ground and pound but Hughes has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Konstantinov wants to stand but Hughes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hughes keeping full guard, as Konstantinov tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Konstantinov is looking to work some ground and pound but Hughes has wrist control.
Konstantinov lands a couple of digs.
Konstantinov stands up over Hughes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Konstantinov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hughes is proving hard to escape from.
Konstantinov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Konstantinov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Konstantinov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hughes is keeping the position for now.
Konstantinov throws a strike but Hughes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes passes Konstantinov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hughes stops Konstantinov from getting back to his feet.
Hughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Konstantinov keeps working.
Hughes stops Konstantinov from getting back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgen Konstantinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Konstantinov wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Konstantinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Konstantinov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Konstantinov rushes Hughes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Konstantinov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Konstantinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Konstantinov rushes Hughes and presses him up against the cage.

Konstantinov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hughes shoots in for a double leg but Konstantinov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Konstantinov pushes Hughes up against the cage in a clinch.

Konstantinov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Konstantinov is looking to clinch.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Hughes shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Konstantinov defends it nicely.

Hughes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Konstantinov on his heels. He'll look to pass Konstantinov's guard now, I'm sure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konstantinov wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Konstantinov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hughes looking to sit in guard and control but Konstantinov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Konstantinov wants to get up but he can't break Hughes's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Konstantinov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Hughes just wasn't active enough.

Konstantinov pushes Hughes up against the cage in a clinch.

Konstantinov breaks from the clinch.
Konstantinov moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Konstantinov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Konstantinov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hughes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Konstantinov tries to clinch there but Hughes circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Konstantinov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hughes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Konstantinov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hughes somewhat.
Konstantinov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hughes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konstantinov tries to clinch up

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Konstantinov keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.

Konstantinov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Konstantinov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hughes.
Konstantinov wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Konstantinov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Konstantinov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
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!
Konstantinov tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.

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

Konstantinov breaks the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Konstantinov tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Hughes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Konstantinov is looking to stand up but Hughes isn't so interested in that idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Evgen Konstantinov.
I think Konstantinov 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgen Konstantinov!