PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nigel McHughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesco White (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McHughes comes into the arena with Welcome To My Hood blaring out of the sound system. White has chosen Smoke the Fire as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

McHughes
vs
White

187 cm
28
191 lbs
11 - 10 - 1

200 cm
32
198 lbs
12 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 10 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nigel McHughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jesco White!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
McHughes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
White taking a breather.
McHughes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. White is defending well for now.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McHughes.
White jumps guard but McHughes turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McHughes lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
White taking a breather.
A nice right hand lands inside from McHughes.
A short left from McHughes.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McHughes.
White taking a breather.

White manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McHughes forces his way into half guard.
McHughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
McHughes trying to control from White's half guard. White has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White wants to sweep here but McHughes controlling him for the moment.
White wants to get back to his feet but McHughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McHughes sitting in guard here, content to control.
White really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McHughes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McHughes forces his way into half guard.
White gets back to full guard.
McHughes stays in close to White's body and controls the position.
McHughes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
White keeping moving, preventing McHughes from controlling successfully.
McHughes forces his way into half guard.

McHughes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
McHughes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
White is staying active underneath McHughes, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
White looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
White wants to control but McHughes is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
White trying to control here.
White is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
White circles away from the clinch attempt.
McHughes lands with a nice combination. White backs away looking to recover.
White throws a right and a left that both miss.
McHughes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McHughes misses with a few strikes there.
McHughes tries to bum rush White with a series of wild strikes but White uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

McHughes closes the distance and pushes White back into the cage.
White stalling in the clinch but McHughes improves position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
White tries to pull guard but McHughes holds him up against the cage and eventually White drops back down to his feet.
McHughes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
White tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nigel McHughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesco White.
McHughes throws a knee to the head but misses.
McHughes slowing the pace effectively.
McHughes wants a takedown but no success here.
McHughes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
White misses with a punch on the inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
White is leaning against McHughes and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
McHughes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McHughes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McHughes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel McHughes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McHughes shoots in looking for a takedown but White manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McHughes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

White gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
McHughes lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
White lands a right hand that snaps the head of McHughes backwards.
McHughes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Nice body punch from McHughes.
A short uppercut from McHughes.
Nice body punch from McHughes - that landed with a thud.

McHughes has picked White up - he's going for a ride! McHughes dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McHughes trying to mount his opponent but White defends it.
McHughes is trying to control the action in half guard but White is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
McHughes is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for White!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
White really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
White wants to control but McHughes is having none of it.
McHughes controlling his opponent.
McHughes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as White is looking to escape.
White manages to regain half guard. Good work.

McHughes is trying to work for a kimura but White is defending well.
McHughes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but White does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McHughes is looking for a kimura here.

White makes his way to full guard, as McHughes worked for a kimura.
McHughes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
White wants to get back to his feet but McHughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes wants to control from the top but White keeps moving.
McHughes passes White's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McHughes prevents White from standing back up.
McHughes seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but White does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
McHughes trying to mount his opponent but White defends it.
White has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. McHughes is working away from the top position though.
McHughes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Nigel McHughes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

White gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHughes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but White has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McHughes is working White over against the cage.
Nigel McHughes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
McHughes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
McHughes looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
McHughes lands a hook that snaps the head of White backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
White is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
White is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McHughes to keep the fight standing.
A right hand to the body from McHughes.
McHughes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
McHughes has White pressed against the cage, preventing White from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Still in the clinch, McHughes scores with a nice short uppercut.
McHughes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
White misses with a hook from the clinch.
White tries to break free but McHughes pushes him back against the cage.
White working hard to break the clinch.
McHughes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel McHughes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

White connects with a body shot that sends McHughes's belly button to the back.
McHughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
White throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McHughes counters with a series of strikes. White will be more careful next time no doubt.

McHughes takes the fight into the clinch.
McHughes looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
McHughes drops to a knee looking for a takedown but White gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A nice left hand lands by McHughes.
White tries to land knees in the clinch but McHughes avoids the damage to the body.
McHughes misses with a knee strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McHughes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for White to work.
White is defending well against a takedown attempt.
White has a couple of punches blocked by McHughes.
White is trying to push McHughes away but McHughes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McHughes throws a knee to the head but misses.
McHughes stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
McHughes lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of White backwards.
McHughes wants to stall.
McHughes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
McHughes lands with a left to the head.
McHughes is working White over against the cage.
McHughes tries to land a knee to the head but White blocks with his arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McHughes.
McHughes holding his opponent close, against the cage.
McHughes is pressed up against the cage. White has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McHughes down to the mat. McHughes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
White is on the wrong end of a nice combination from McHughes.
White swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and McHughes counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

White is rocked!

McHughes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
White is still on wobbly legs! Can McHughes finish him?
White missing with knees to the body.
McHughes lands a right hand.
A short right hand to the side of the head by McHughes.

McHughes breaks the clinch.

McHughes moves into the clinch successfully.
McHughes looking to throw knees to the head but White is blocking nicely.
McHughes pushes White against the cage. McHughes is working some dirty boxing. McHughes pushes off with a quick right hook! White goes down! White tries to stand but stumbles back to his kness! McHughes moves in to finish and the ref steps in to prevent any more damage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nigel McHughes!
An out of breath Nigel McHughes thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.