PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leandro Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Damozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hughes
vs
Damozzi

187 cm
26
218 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
19
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Elite Canadian Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Leandro Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Damozzi!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Damozzi misses.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Damozzi has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Damozzi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hughes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Hughes scoring with some ground and pound.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Damozzi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
Hughes landing with the ground and pound.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Damozzi has wrist control.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damozzi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Damozzi lands a big shot there that rocks Hughes but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

It looks like Leandro Hughes has been cut.
Damozzi lands with some strikes.

Leandro Hughes's cut is getting worse.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hughes is trying to get back to full guard.
Damozzi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Damozzi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hughes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hughes is looking to improve his position.
Hughes is working hard here to advance position.
Damozzi is trying to control the action in half guard but Hughes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hughes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Hughes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Damozzi is working Hughes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Damozzi won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
Damozzi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've been hearing good reports from Hughes's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Hughes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Damozzi's guard.
Damozzi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hughes's guard.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Damozzi is one step ahead there.
Damozzi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hughes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hughes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Damozzi defending well though.
Hughes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Damozzi is pressing down on Hughes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Damozzi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hughes throws a big elbow that misses.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Damozzi is on top in guard.
Damozzi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hughes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hughes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Damozzi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hughes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Hughes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hughes working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws some wild stikes that Damozzi manages to avoid easily.
Hughes with the ground and pound from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poor strikes thrown by Hughes there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Hughes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Damozzi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hughes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hughes misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Damozzi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Hughes has control of Damozzi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Damozzi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Hughes lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leandro Hughes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Leandro Hughes's cut.
That's time! Hughes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Damozzi is looking to score with low kicks.
Hughes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hughes shoots and misses

and Damozzi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hughes's guard now.
Damozzi chips away with some ground and pound.
Hughes wants to sweep here but Damozzi controlling him for the moment.
Damozzi trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damozzi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Damozzi postures up in Hughes's guard and throws a big left but Hughes blocks it.
Hughes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Damozzi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hughes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Damozzi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Damozzi won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
Damozzi throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Damozzi manages to get himself to full guard.
Hughes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hughes being controlled here momentarily.
Hughes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Damozzi can do anything to dispel that myth.
Damozzi has control of Hughes's left arm, preventing Hughes from doing any damage.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Damozzi has wrist control.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
Hughes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Damozzi looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes working some strikes from top position.
Hughes throws a strike but Damozzi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hughes is on top in guard.
Damozzi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hughes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Damozzi is controlling Hughes's posture.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hughes pushing down on Damozzi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Damozzi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hughes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Damozzi's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Damozzi has wrist control.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Damozzi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Damozzi wants to sweep but no luck.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hughes has gone for a leg lock! Damozzi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hughes's guard.
Damozzi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Damozzi is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damozzi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Damozzi trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damozzi landing some decent shots from guard.

Leandro Hughes's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Damozzi trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Damozzi manages to get himself to full guard.
Damozzi can't keep his opponent in guard - Hughes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Damozzi moves into full guard.
Hughes throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Leandro Hughes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Leandro Hughes's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Damozzi wants to land a leg kick but Hughes is out of range.

Damozzi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hughes to the ground. Damozzi is now in Hughes's guard.
Hughes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Damozzi manages to get himself to full guard.
Damozzi wants to sweep but no luck.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Damozzi has wrist control.
Hughes won't allow Damozzi to sweep him here.
Hughes throws a big elbow that misses.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Damozzi blocks nicely.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Damozzi has wrist control.
Damozzi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Damozzi pulls Hughes in to control the position.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Damozzi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hughes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hughes landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Damozzi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hughes scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Damozzi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Hughes throws an elbow that misses. Damozzi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hughes's guard. Nice move by Damozzi!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damozzi won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
Damozzi content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Damozzi trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Damozzi sitting in guard here, content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Damozzi manages to get himself to full guard.
Damozzi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Damozzi working a defensive guard here.
Damozzi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Damozzi is on top in guard.
Damozzi stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes has momentary wrist control but Damozzi slips an elbow through the middle.
Leandro Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hughes has momentary wrist control but Damozzi slips an elbow through the middle.

Jeez, Leandro Hughes's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Leandro Hughes's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Frank Damozzi!
After the fight, Frank Damozzi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.