PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nycky Downtime (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Huddlestone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Downtime kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bring It. Tom Huddlestone told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Downtime
vs
Huddlestone

176 cm
37
159 lbs
32 - 28 - 2

190 cm
34
166 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 32 - 28 - 2, fighting out of New York, Nycky Downtime!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Huddlestone!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Huddlestone checks a leg kick.
Huddlestone unleashes a big counter combination but Downtime bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Nice takedown defense from Downtime. No joy for Huddlestone on that attempt.
Downtime throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Downtime looks to land a combination but Huddlestone avoids it well.
Huddlestone changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Huddlestone goes for a double leg but Downtime avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Downtime continues to drive forward.

Huddlestone closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Huddlestone working the head and body with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downtime takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Downtime is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Huddlestone off and has taken his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Downtime missing with punches from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Huddlestone wants to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huddlestone manages to reverse the position and now he's in Downtime's guard. Nice work there by Huddlestone.
Downtime working a defensive guard here.
Huddlestone is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Downtime keeping full guard, as Huddlestone tries to pass.
Huddlestone looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Huddlestone throws a strike but Downtime rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Huddlestone working for a triangle but Downtime defends it easily.
Downtime pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Huddlestone is keeping the position for now.
Huddlestone trying to control the position here.
Downtime might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Huddlestone striking from the bottom here.

Huddlestone working for a triangle but Downtime defends it easily.
Huddlestone wants to stand and escape but Downtime is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downtime chips away with some ground and pound.
Huddlestone keeping moving, preventing Downtime from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Downtime tries to free his leg and advance position but Huddlestone is retaining full guard.

Huddlestone isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Downtime stacks Huddlestone on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Downtime!

Downtime wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Huddlestone, who protects the arm well.

Downtime tries for a kimura but Huddlestone is defending well.

Huddlestone bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Nycky Downtime seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Huddlestone keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downtime throws a series of punches but Huddlestone moves out of range.
Huddlestone is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Downtime throws a front kick aimed at Huddlestone's knee but Huddlestone avoids it well.
Downtime swings for the body but Huddlestone moves out of range.
And Huddlestone tries to counter it with a takedown but Downtime pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Downtime throws a front kick aimed at Huddlestone's knee but Huddlestone avoids it well.

Huddlestone scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Huddlestone is keen to just control but Downtime is a slippery customer.
Downtime is looking to get back to full guard here but Huddlestone has managed to pass to side control instead.

Huddlestone has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tom Huddlestone will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Huddlestone slips a jab and a cross from Downtime.
We've been told by Downtime's head coaches at HARRY'S that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Downtime misses with a low kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Huddlestone blocks the leg kick.
Downtime throws out a loose jab but Huddlestone uses good head movement to avoid it.
Huddlestone avoids the head kick by Downtime.
Downtime looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Huddlestone feints the counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Downtime cracks Huddlestone with a good jab.
Downtime throws a hook but Huddlestone avoids it easily.
Downtime misses with a head kick.
Huddlestone tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huddlestone fails with the takedown
and Downtime counters with a nice leg kick.
Nice cross by Downtime.
Huddlestone ducks under a wild hook from Downtime.
Huddlestone feints the counter takedown.

Huddlestone looking to score a takedown here. Downtime is defending well but Huddlestone drives through and ends up in Downtime's guard.
Huddlestone controls from within his opponent's guard.
Downtime looking to hit a scissor sweep but Huddlestone is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downtime can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Huddlestone controls the pace.
Huddlestone trying to control the position from guard on top but Downtime is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Huddlestone works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Downtime trying to control from the bottom.
Huddlestone is keen to just control but Downtime is a slippery customer.
Downtime avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Huddlestone.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downtime wants to control but Huddlestone is keeping busy.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Huddlestone fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Good work by Huddlestone as he checks the leg kick.
Downtime misses with a straight left.
Huddlestone with the counter takedown but Downtime avoids it easily.
Downtime misses with a two punch combination.
Huddlestone changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Huddlestone shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone trying to mount his opponent but Downtime defends it.
Downtime trying to control from the bottom.
Huddlestone trying to pass the guard but Downtime defending well.
Huddlestone controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Downtime trying to control here.
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 Nycky Downtime will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Downtime scores with the left hand. Huddlestone knows he should have avoided that one.

Huddlestone is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Downtime's half guard.
Huddlestone content to control rather than advance.
Downtime wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huddlestone looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Huddlestone looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Downtime with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huddlestone wants to take a breather but Downtime is having none of it.
Tom Huddlestone has got the better of the ground game so far.

Downtime looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Huddlestone uses his free foot to push down on Downtime's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Downtime.
Huddlestone throws some wild stikes that Downtime manages to avoid easily.
Huddlestone scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Downtime?
Huddlestone looking to control but Downtime is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Huddlestone is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Downtime can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downtime is trying desperately to improve position.
Downtime is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Huddlestone trying to control but Downtime is having none of it.
Huddlestone throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone with a couple of short strikes.
Huddlestone avoids the attempt from Downtime to control.
Huddlestone throws some wild stikes that Downtime manages to avoid easily.
Downtime is looking to improve his position but Huddlestone isn't that keen on the idea.

Huddlestone with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Huddlestone is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Downtime has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Downtime is desperately trying to improve his position but Huddlestone has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downtime is working hard here to advance position.
A nice elbow there by Huddlestone.
Huddlestone lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Huddlestone connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Huddlestone looking to finish with strikes here!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Huddlestone cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Huddlestone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Huddlestone has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Huddlestone!
An intense looking Tom Huddlestone took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'thank you god!'.