PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anderson Reem (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aidan Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reem kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Fabolous - My Time ft. Jeremih. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Aidan Hughes was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Reem
vs
Hughes

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Anderson Reem!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Aidan Hughes!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sloppy strikes from Hughes. Those never looked like landing.
Reem wants to clinch but Hughes slips to the side
and Hughes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Reem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Reem closes the distance but Hughes moves to the side
and Hughes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hughes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reem tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Reem closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hughes counters with a nice uppercut.
Hughes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Anderson Reem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aidan Hughes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem darts in trying to clinch
and Hughes counters with a three punch combo that has Reem backing up. Reem nods at Hughes to acknowledge the strikes.

Hughes gets tackled into the cage by Reem. Reem maintains the clinch.
Reem unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Reem missing with knees to the body.

Reem escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Reem tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Reem tries to clinch up
and Hughes counters with a one-two to the body.
Reem wants to clinch
and Hughes counters with a straight right hand.

Reem gets a clinch.

Reem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Reem circles away.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reem tries to clinch up.
Reem wants to clinch.
Reem wants to clinch
and Hughes counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reem throws a head punch that misses.
Reem unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Reem tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hughes avoids it.
Hughes has Reem pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Reem manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Reem misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hughes.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but Reem has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem has Hughes pressed against the cage, preventing Hughes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Reem has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hughes after a bit of a struggle.
Hughes has had enough of the clinch but Reem keeps him there for the moment.

Reem breaks the clinch.
Reem closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hughes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reem moves to clinch but Hughes breaks away
and Hughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Reem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reem tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hughes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reem wants to clinch
and Hughes counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem looks to clinch
and Reem takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reem tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Hughes is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Reem had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Reem wants to clinch.
Reem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Reem tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hughes counters with a nice uppercut.
Reem wants to clinch
and Hughes counters with a left and a right that stings Reem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Reem tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Reem dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Reem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hughes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Reem swivels and escapes.
Reem doesn't manage to clinch there - Hughes circles away.
Hughes looks for a takedown but Reem sprawls well.
Reem tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hughes counters with a series of strikes. Reem will be more careful next time no doubt.

Reem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hughes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
With the fighters up against the cage, Reem throws an elbow but misses.
Reem tries a body shot but Hughes blocks it.
Reem misses with a hook to the ribs.
Reem tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Reem misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hughes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes wants to break free but Reem has control.
Reem missing with knees to the body.
Hughes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Reem breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Reem tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.
Reem tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hughes swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Reem sprawls well. Reem wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
Anderson Reem has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aidan Hughes.
Reem defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.

Reem gets a clinch.
Hughes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Reem's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Anderson Reem is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Reem tries to clinch up
enabling Hughes to counter with a crisp jab.
Reem moves to clinch but Hughes breaks away
and Hughes counters with a one-two to the body.
Reem tries to clinch up
and Hughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hughes might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Reem wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Reem tries to clinch up
and Hughes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Reem looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Reem tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hughes counters with a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Reem looks to clinch
and Hughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reem tries to clinch there but Hughes circles away.
Reem darts in trying to clinch
and Hughes counters with a stiff right hand.

Reem closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Reem breaks the clinch.
Reem wants to clinch
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.
Reem moves to clinch but Hughes breaks away
and Hughes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Reem tries to clinch up.
Reem tries to clinch but Hughes moves away
and Hughes counters with a three punch combo that has Reem backing up. Reem nods at Hughes to acknowledge the strikes.
Anderson Reem is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Reem stuffs the takedown.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.

Reem gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Reem with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Reem goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Reem keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hughes's efforts to push away.
Reem utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hughes is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes takes a knee to the side of the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
Anderson Reem is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reem tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown. Reem tries to sprawl out of it but Hughes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Reem manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anderson Reem dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Reem tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Reem rushes Hughes and presses him up against the cage.
Reem tries to land knees in the clinch but Hughes avoids the damage to the body.
Anderson Reem has scored more points in the clinch so far.
A head punch on the inside from Reem fails to land.
Reem cracks Hughes with a nice body shot.
Reem wants a takedown but no success here.
Reem goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hughes prevents it.
Reem is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anderson Reem. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes is trying to force a seperation but Reem has the dominant position.
Reem misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reem changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hughes fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hughes swats away the attempt to clinch by Reem.
Hughes shoots for a takedown but Reem saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Hughes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Reem sprawls well initially but Hughes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Hughes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Reem works his way to full guard. Good work.
Reem is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Reem has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.
Hughes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hughesis looking to pass into half guard but Reem pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Reem is in guard.
Reem missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Reem drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hughes manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Reem has Hughes in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reem escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hughes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Reem blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reem keeping full guard, as Hughes tries to pass.
Reem working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.

Reem has his feet on Hughes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reem darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.
Reem misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hughes.
Hughes managing to block the knees to the body from Reem.
Hughes managing to block the knees to the body from Reem.
Reem putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hughes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Reem manages to break the clinch.
Reem closes the distance looking to clinch
and Hughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Reem wants to clinch
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.
Reem moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reem is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hughes counters with a two punch combo.

Reem drives through and clinches with Hughes against the cage.
Reem has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Reem lands a good knee to the midsection. Hughes won't want to take too many of those.

Reem breaks from the clinch.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Reem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Reem is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reem tries to clinch but Hughes moves away
and Hughes counters with a three punch combo that has Reem backing up. Reem nods at Hughes to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Reem tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Aidan Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anderson Reem is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Reem closes the distance but Hughes moves to the side
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

And that's the end of the fight!
Anderson Reem showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reem has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anderson Reem!
A very excited looking Anderson Reem rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.