PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Zorg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zorg has chosen Epic Beat as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hughes
vs
Zorg

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

175 cm
26
160 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Determined

D-Back Clothing

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabriel Zorg!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes drops his hands momentarily and Zorg takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hughes takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Zorg lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Zorg looks to land a left hand but Hughes moved out of range nicely.

Hughes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Zorg was covering up waiting for the punch and Hughes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Zorg looking for a guillotine here but Hughes defends easily.

Zorg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Zorg looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hughes cracks Zorg with a solid left hand.

Zorg has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zorg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hughes stands up over Zorg, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Zorg is looking for a triangle but Hughes pushes his legs off easily.
Hughes cracks Zorg with a solid left hand.
Hughes with a flurry of punches that miss.

Zorg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hughes is aware though and is defending well.
Hughes postures up and lands a big shot to Zorg's brow.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
Zorg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zorg looking for a sweep. Not yet Zorg, not yet.
Hughes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hughes postures up in Zorg's guard and throws a big left but Zorg blocks it.
Hughes prevents Zorg from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zorg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zorg looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hughes passes into half guard.
Zorg looks winded!
Hughes trying to control the action but Zorg is working from the bottom.
Zorg manages to get to full guard.
Hughes is sitting in guard, working some 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.

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

Zorg has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hughes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Zorg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
We've been hearing that Hughes has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Zorg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hughes defends it easily.
Hughes works over Zorg with some ground and pound from guard.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
We've been informed that Zorg has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Zorg is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hughes is aware though and is defending well.

Zorg is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Zorg working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Zorg.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.

Zorg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hughes stands and steps away. Zorg gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
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!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hughes fails with the takedown
and Zorg counters with a three punch combo that has Hughes backing up. Hughes nods at Zorg to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabriel Zorg will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zorg shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hughes eats them both and turns towards Zorg to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Hughes shoots and misses
and Zorg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hughes ducks under a wild hook from Zorg.
Zorg cracks Hughes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Zorg throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hughes has his takedown stuffed
letting Zorg counter with a right hand.
Hughes ducks under a wild hook from Zorg.
A big right from Zorg misses.
Hughes takes one to the chin there.
Zorg throws a hook to the side of Hughes's head but Hughes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zorg thows a body shot but no joy.

Hughes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hughes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Hughes decides to stand up.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown but Zorg manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hughes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zorg misses with a straight left.
Some wild striking there from Zorg.
Zorg pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Hughes back to the cage. Zorg follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Zorg is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Zorg circles away easily
and Zorg counters with a one-two to the body.
Hughes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Zorg throws the left hand but Hughes avoids the punch easily.
Zorg fails to land with a series of punches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zorg rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Zorg tries to bum rush Hughes with a series of wild strikes but Hughes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zorg looks to throw the jab but Hughes is out of range.
Zorg fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes slips a jab from Zorg.
Hughes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zorg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hughes somewhat.

Hughes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Zorg on his heels. He'll look to pass Zorg's guard now, I'm sure.

Zorg has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.
Matt Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zorg is on top in guard.
Hughes trying to keep a closed guard but Zorg is proving a slippery customer.
Zorg working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zorg wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Zorg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hughes looking for subs off his back but Zorg has passed one foot through into half guard.
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!
Zorg lands with a punch from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zorg sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hughes defending well though.
Hughes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Zorg scores with a couple of nice shots.
Zorg prevents Hughes from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Zorg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hughes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Zorg misses with a few strikes there.
Zorg tests Hughes's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Zorg sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zorg's corner calls for a 1-2. Zorg obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hughes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Zorg defends well and Hughes ends up having to push Zorg into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hughes can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zorg swings wildly with an uppercut but Hughes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Zorg lands a body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Zorg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Zorg lands with a good body shot.
Gabriel Zorg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zorg bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zorg with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zorg scores with a nice head shot.
Zorg scores with a jab to the jaw.
Zorg lands with a shot to the body.
Zorg scores with a hook.
Hughes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt
and Zorg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zorg misses with a few strikes there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes misses with a takedown
and Zorg counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A cross from Zorg lands.
Hughes drops his hands momentarily and Zorg takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Matt Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zorg moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Hughes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A left and a right from Zorg both land. Nice combination.
A left and a right from Zorg both land. Nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes fails to land the takedown.
Zorg uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hughes has time to react.
Zorg might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Zorg throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Zorg counter with a right hand.
Zorg is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hughes takes one to the chin there.
Zorg rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Hughes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Zorg's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zorg is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Zorg working for a triangle but Hughes defends it easily.
Hughes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zorg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Zorg looking for subs off his back but Hughes has passed one foot through into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zorg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gabriel Zorg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Zorg 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Zorg!
Gabriel Zorg decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.