PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damo Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Locke
vs
Hughs

189 cm
19
215 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

191 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Locke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Damo Hughs!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yuuki Gou and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughs throws the kick towards the body but Locke avoids it.
Locke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Hughs looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Locke wants to get back to his feet but Hughs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've been hearing good reports from Locke'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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughs is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Locke wants to stand but Hughs is controlling the position.
Locke on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Locke tries to get out of the position.
Locke keeping moving, preventing Hughs from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughs with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Locke wants to get back to his feet but Hughs is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Locke has momentary wrist control but Hughs slips an elbow through the middle.
Locke knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hughs on the ground.
Locke is looking to stand up but Hughs isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hughs lands with a shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hughs misses with a takedown attempt - Locke sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Locke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hughs doesn't manage to clinch there - Locke circles away.
Locke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Locke stuffs the takedown attempt from Hughs. Hughs gets slowly back to his feet.
Locke throwing a counter right hand but Hughs manages to avoid it.
Hughs tries a head kick but it misses.
An attempted straight right counter from Locke misses the target.
Locke keeps the fight on the outside.
Hughs tries to clinch there but Locke circles away.
Locke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Locke stuffs the takedown attempt from Hughs. Hughs gets slowly back to his feet.
John Locke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damo Hughs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Locke as he jumps to the side.
An attempted straight right counter from Locke misses the target.
Locke leaves Hughs with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hughs looks winded!
Hughs shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Locke as he jumps to the side.
Locke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Hughs tries to close the distance and clinch but Locke swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hughs tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Locke paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hughs wants to clinch.

Hughs moves into range and clinches up with Locke.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Locke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hughs tries to score a body lock takedown but Locke shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Locke misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Locke fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Damo Hughs will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Locke looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Locke stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Locke wants it to stay on the feet.
Hughs shoots in but no luck this time.

Hughs closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Locke did well to prevent Hughs getting side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Locke looks like he's trying to stand up.
Locke trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughs is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Locke defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughs.
Locke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
John Locke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damo Hughs.
Hughs fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Locke slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughs, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hughs fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughs fails with the takedown
and Locke counters with a huge left! Hughs is in big trouble! He's backing up but Locke isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Hughs from any more damage. A dominating finish by Locke!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Locke!