PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fresenius James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fresenius James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hughs
vs
James

178 cm
30
167 lbs
20 - 12 - 0

177 cm
33
165 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Granite 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 20 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joe Hughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Fresenius James!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Anthony Taglia and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James closes the distance and clinches.
Hughs tries a knee to the head but James blocks it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
A right hand to the body from James.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.
Hughs doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hughs misses with a knee strike.
Hughs landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
James tries to work over Hughs's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
James tries to throw a body punch but Hughs avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
A short right from James.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short body shot lands from Hughs as the two fighters clinch.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
James misses with a punch to the body.
Hughs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughs looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Hughs just misses with a elbow thrown towards James's brow.
Hughs lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down James.
Hughs lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of James backwards.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the head but James blocks with his arms.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hughs keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Hughs controls the action.
Hughs prevents a body shot from James.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Hughs has double underhooks.
Hughs is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughs's elbow.
Hughs cracks James with a nice body shot.
James tries to work over Hughs's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hughs blocks a body shot from James.
Hughs lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from James.
James prevents a body shot from Hughs.
James scores with a nice hook to the head.
James is trying to stall.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
James wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hughs as James tries to tie him up.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Hughs.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hughs has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
James stalling in the clinch but Hughs improves position.
Hughs trying to land knees to the body.
James misses with a body punch.
Hughs looking to throw knees to the head but James is blocking nicely.
Hughs misses with a knee to the head.
James misses with a body punch.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
James is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
James misses with a body punch.
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Hughs.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
James tries to work over Hughs's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James has had enough of the clinch but Hughs keeps him there for the moment.
James scores with a hook to the body.
Hughs goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
James lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hughs tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and James avoids it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by James.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hughs is controlling him.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
James misses with a body punch.
James throws a punch but it's blocked by Hughs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hughs blocks an uppercut.
James tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughs's elbow.
Hughs pushes James back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fresenius James dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hughs throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hughs misses with a series of wild punches.
Hughs ducks under a wild hook from James.
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James throws a lazy right hand but Hughs sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hughs lands a head kick!
Hughs tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. James manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
James bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
James misses with a wild combination.
Hughs takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs is looking to slow James down with leg kicks.

James tries to keep at a distance but Hughs has taken the fight into the clinch.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
Hughs is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. James is defending well for now.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hughs connects with a knee to the head.
James tries to throw a body punch but Hughs avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
Hughs lands a nice knee to the body.
James tries a body shot but Hughs blocks it.
Hughs working James over with knees to the body.
Hughs makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
James avoids the elbow strike from Hughs, against the cage.
James lands a body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from James.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a hook to the ribs.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hughs lands with a short shot to the head.
James tries to throw a body punch but Hughs avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
Hughs crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
A right handed body shot lands from James.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Hughs controls the action.
James blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hughs lands a body punch.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.
James avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Hughs misses with an elbow strike.
Hughs blocks a body shot from James.
Hughs using the Thai plumb to throw knees but James has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hughs misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs missing with knees to the body.
Hughs tries to land knees in the clinch but James avoids the damage to the body.
A hook to the body from Hughs.
Hughs blocks a body shot from James.
James avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Hughs tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hughs prevents a body shot from James.
James tries to throw a body punch but Hughs avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
Hughs comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
James is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hughs has him pressed against the cage.
Hughs goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hughs crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
James stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughs putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has James in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hughs struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
James managing to block the knees to the body from Hughs.
Hughs blocks a body shot from James.
James can't find room to land a body shot as Hughs controls the action.
Hughs blocks a body shot from James.
James blocks an elbow strike from Hughs.
James tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hughs throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but James blocks it with crossed arms.
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!
James avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Hughs missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James misses with a body punch.
James misses with a shot to the kidneys.
James struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughs controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Hughs dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughs plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
James jabbing away but nothing is landing.
James misses with the combination.
James throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
James throws a lazy right hand but Hughs sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James misses with a right hand
and Hughs counters with an outside leg kick.
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hughs misses with the combination.
James scores with a hook.
James lands with an overhand left.
James throws an off balance right hand

so Hughs counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughs won't allow James to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James is controlling Hughs's posture.
James is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
James prevents Hughs from improving his position.
Hughs is controlling James's position as best he can from this difficult position.
James wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Hughs uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Hughs has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hughs stands and throws James's legs to the side, diving into side control.
James prevents Hughs from moving into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs lands an elbow.
Hughs working the ground and pound but James is defending the strikes.
Hughs tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if James can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hughs has control of an arm but James manages to advance to Hughs's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James can't escape the position, to get back to his feet.

James gets to his feet and calls for his opponent to stand and trade! Heeeere we go!
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hughs dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on James. That did some damage!
James avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hughs misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
James throws a hook but Hughs avoids it easily.
Hughs shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with James but James pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both fighters circling a little - Hughs finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Fresenius James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughs misses the jab.
A head kick from Hughs lands but James takes it in his stride.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Hughs showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hughs 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Hughs!