PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dillon Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Dzagoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Dzagoev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hughes
vs
Dzagoev

150 cm
20
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dillon Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Vladimir Dzagoev!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Dzagoev. Hughes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hughes could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dzagoev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hughes misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Dzagoev. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Dzagoev lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Dillon Hughes has been cut.
Dzagoev scores with a jab to the head.
Dzagoev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dzagoev.
The crowd cheers as Dzagoev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hughes doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch but Dzagoev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dzagoev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hughes was well out of range. Poor timing from Dzagoev.
Hughes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Dzagoev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hughes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dzagoev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vladimir Dzagoev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughes fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dillon Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Dzagoev scores with a four punch combination!
Vladimir Dzagoev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dzagoev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dzagoev lands a slapping body shot.
Hughes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dzagoev.
Dzagoev swats away the attempt to clinch by Hughes.
Hughes looks for a takedown but Dzagoev sprawls well.
Hughes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Dzagoev misses.
Hughes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dzagoev counters with a stiff right hand.
Dzagoev lands a jab to the head.
Dzagoev punishes Hughes's body with a nice straight punch.
Dzagoev cracks Hughes with an open hand slap.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dzagoev counters with a one-two to the body.
Dzagoev scores with a jab. Hughes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Dzagoev sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dzagoev misses with the combination.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Hughes. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Dzagoev slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dzagoev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Dzagoev cracks Hughes with a good jab.
Dzagoev lands a jab-cross combination.
Dzagoev misses with a wild combination.
Hughes moves in looking to clinch but Dzagoev pushes him off.
Hughes throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dzagoev's waist but Dzagoev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hughes off to one side.
Danga de danga de dang - Dzagoev scores with a four punch combination!
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dzagoev tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dzagoev to the ground. Dzagoev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A left lands for Dzagoev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a head kick but Dzagoev moves out of range.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dzagoev cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dzagoev scores with a one two! Hughes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Dzagoev sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes tries to clinch but Dzagoev moves out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Hughes 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Dzagoev misses with a few strikes there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dzagoev swivels and escapes.
Dzagoev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Dzagoev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hughes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hughes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hughes looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Dzagoev scores with a jab. Hughes acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Hughes takes a jab right on the kisser.
Hughes shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hughes shoots in but Dzagoev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hughes wants to clinch up but Dzagoev keeps it at a distance.
Hughes slips a jab and a cross from Dzagoev.
Dzagoev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dzagoev is breathing heavily.
Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dzagoev circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dillon Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Dzagoev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A big right from Dzagoev misses.
Danga de danga de dang - Hughes scores with a four punch combination!
Dzagoev is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hughes with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Dzagoev to score with a decent uppercut.
Hughes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dzagoev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Dzagoev throws a shot from downtown. Hughes moves away and avoids it.
Vladimir Dzagoev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hughes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dzagoev misses with a wild combination.
Hughes tries to clinch there but Dzagoev circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dzagoev.
Hughes tries to clinch up.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown. Dzagoev tries to sprawl out of it but Hughes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dzagoev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Hughes fails with the takedown.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown but Dzagoev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hughes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dillon Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dzagoev throws an overhand right that lands on Hughes's shoulder, as Hughes tries to avoid the shot.
Dzagoev throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dzagoev lands a slapping body shot.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Dzagoev, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Dzagoev against the cage but Dzagoev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hughes takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hughes is defended easily by Dzagoev.
Hughes's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Dzagoev connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hughes scrambles back to his feet.
Dzagoev throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dzagoev counters with a left and a right that stings Hughes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Hughes with that takedown attempt.
Dzagoev lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hughes backs up against the cage.
Dzagoev swinging wildly here.

Hughes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dzagoev, pushing him back against the cage.
Hughes tries to pull guard but Dzagoev won't allow it.
Hughes is trying to stall.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dzagoev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Hughes 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.

Vladimir Dzagoev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dillon Hughes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Hughes connects with a body shot.
Hughes misses with a takedown
and Dzagoev counters with a three punch combo that has Hughes backing up. Hughes nods at Dzagoev to acknowledge the strikes.
Hughes avoids a punch combination nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hughes dodges the punch combination from Dzagoev.
Dzagoev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dzagoev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hughes misses with a head kick.
Dzagoev misses with the combination.
Hughes has a takedown stuffed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dzagoev works over Hughes's head and body with a nice combination.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dzagoev counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dillon Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dzagoev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hughes avoids the body shot from Dzagoev.

Hughes has closed the distance and engaged Dzagoev in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Hughes is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes goes for a takedown attempt but Dzagoev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hughes misses with an uppercut
and Dzagoev counters with a one-two to the body.
Hughes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dzagoev is working the combinations to good effect here.
Hughes throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Dzagoev's head.
Hughes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dzagoev circles away.
Dzagoev thows a body shot but no joy.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dzagoev keeps the fight on the outside.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hughes. Dzagoev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dzagoev has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dzagoev sprawls well. Dzagoev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes shoots in but no luck this time.
Hughes is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Dzagoev.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hughes takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A punch combination from Dzagoev misses.
Hughes throws a head kick that misses.
Dzagoev misses with a wild combination.
Dzagoev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dzagoev.
Hughes tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes misses with a straight left.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dzagoev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice shot lands for Dzagoev.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.
Dzagoev looks to land a combination but Hughes avoids it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dzagoev throws a right hand that Hughes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hughes also avoids with ease.
Dzagoev stuffs the takedown attempt from Hughes. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
Dillon Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hughes lands with a nice body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladimir Dzagoev.
I've got Dzagoev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Taro Takaoka scores the fight for Vladimir Dzagoev!
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Vladimir Dzagoev!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Vladimir Dzagoev!

Vladimir Dzagoev wins by unanimous decision!