PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Ball (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hughs (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.

Ball
vs
Hughs

208 cm
18
277 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joe Ball!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Hughs!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ball stuffs the takedown.

Hughs clinches up against the cage.
Hughs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ball has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hughs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Ball has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hughs should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ball is trying to force a seperation but Hughs has the dominant position.

Hughs successfully pulls guard.
Hughs wants to get back to his feet but Ball is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ball has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ball trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ball is looking to stand up but Hughs won't let him.
Ball throwing strikes from guard but Hughs blocks nicely.
Ball won't allow Hughs to get back to his feet.
Ball knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hughs on the ground.
Ballis looking to pass into half guard but Hughs pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hughs is in guard.
Ball is controlling Hughs's posture.
Hughs missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hughs is pushing down on Ball's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ball is fighting to maintain full guard but Hughs has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hughs trying to pass the guard but Ball defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ball tries to get to full guard but Hughs has control of the leg.
Hughs is looking to advance position but Ball won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughs lands with a punch from half guard.
Hughs missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ball is looking to improve his position.
Ball is trying is best to control the position here.
Hughs wants to pass to mount but Ball is defending the position.
Hughs prevents Ball from improving his position.
Hughs thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ball's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughs throwing shots but Ball is blocking nicely.
Hughs throwing shots but Ball is blocking nicely.

Hughs is looking for a kimura but Ball is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hughs to get the leverage.
Ball is positioning himself well to prevent Hughs advancing to mount.
Hughs not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ball holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Ball on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ball tries to get out of the position.
Ball trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Hughs manages to pass to mount!
Ball is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hughs working Ball over with strikes here.
Hughs with shots to the head and body - Ball looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hughs tries to control but Ball wriggling away.
Ball working to try and regain half guard.

Hughs with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Hughs looks gassed!
Ball is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughs has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ball is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ball holds on to Hughs around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Ball keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Ball defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Hughs.
Ball keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ball tries to hold on but Hughs postures up.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hughs prevents Ball from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughs lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hughs postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ball looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hughs prevents Ball from getting the reversal.
Hughs pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hughs scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ball?
Hughs in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ball tries to hold on but Hughs pushes him away.
Hughs working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ball tries to hold on but Hughs pushes him away.

Hughs working for a guillotine from mount but Ball is in no mood to give up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ball is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughs has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hughs dominated that 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.

Ball scores with a shot to the body.
A cross from Ball lands.
Ball lands a nice shot that snaps Hughs's head back.
Ball's corner calls for a 1-2. Ball obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Hughs moves into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughs has Ball pressed against the cage, preventing Ball from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hughs drags the fight down to the ground.
Hughs utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hughs is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hughs pushes Ball off and scrambles back to his feet.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Hughs. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Nice shot by Ball.
Ball lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Ball feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Hughs sprawling to the canvas! Hughs rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Ball finish him?!

Hughs is rocked!
Hughs is breathing heavily.
I'm just looking down at my notes here and I see that.... oh! Ball has cracked Hughs with a big right, followed by a left! He's out on his feet! Ball lands another huge swinging hook and Hughs tumbles to the canvas! The ref dives in to save Hughs, before Ball can land any more shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Joe Ball!
A relieved looking Joe Ball thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.