PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Gomi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hank Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gomi comes to the cage accompanied by Slaap lekker!. Kenny Gomi has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gomi
vs
Hughes

175 cm
42
167 lbs
36 - 28 - 1

170 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 36 - 28 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kenny Gomi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hank Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hughes shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gomi is trying to defend but Hughes finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hughes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gomi's head.
Hughes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gomi tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hughes is looking to take a break and control but Gomi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gomi wants to improve his position but Hughes is controlling well.
Gomi 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.
Hughes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gomi 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hughes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gomi tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hughes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gomi's head.
Gomi wants to control but Hughes is keeping busy.
Hughes wants to take a breather but Gomi is having none of it.
Hughes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hughes trying to control the action but Gomi is working from the bottom.
Gomi tries to get to full guard but Hughes has control of the leg.
Hughes throwing shots but Gomi is blocking nicely.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hughes misses with a hook
and Gomi counters with a straight right hand.
Hughes slaps away a takedown attempt from Gomi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hughes stuffs the takedown.
Hughes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Gomi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hughes enables Gomi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hughes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hughes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gomi postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Gomi throws a strike but Hughes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes preventing the sweep.
Hughes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gomi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hughes throws a big elbow that misses.
Gomi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gomi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gomi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to get back to full guard.
Gomi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hughes defending well though.
Hughes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Gomi wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hank Hughes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Gomi fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hughes avoids it really well and circles away.
Gomi lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes throws a body kick, spinning off balance

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

Hughes is looking for a triangle but Gomi pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gomi looking to pass the guard.
Gomi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hughes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gomi pushes down on Hughes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gomi trying to pass the guard but Hughes defending well.

Gomi seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Gomi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hughes wants to get back to full guard but Gomi has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hughes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hughes manages to get back to half guard.
Hughes is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gomi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hughes does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gomi throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Hughes to regain full guard.
Kenny Gomi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gomi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hughes is trying to control the position but Gomi postures up.
Gomi trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hughes manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hughes postures up.
Hughes with a nice head shot there.
Hughes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes postures up in Gomi's guard and throws a big left but Gomi blocks it.
Gomi managing to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hughes tries to sprawl but Gomi drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hughes trying to control here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hughes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gomi pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Gomi dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hughes feints and as Gomi raises his hands in defense, Hughes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hughes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gomi trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Gomi looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Hughes postures up in Gomi's guard and throws a big left but Gomi blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gomi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.
Gomi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gomi is on top in guard.

Gomi is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Hughes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gomi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hughes is trying to keep Gomi in close.
Gomi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Gomi from controlling successfully.
Gomi lands a couple of digs.
Gomi stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hughes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hughes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gomi blocks a low kick nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gomi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hughes is in Gomi's guard.
Hughes lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Gomi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Gomi blocks nicely.
Hughes chips away with some ground and pound.
Gomi is looking to sweep but instead, Hughes has passed into half guard.
Hughes with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gomi trying to control but Hughes postures up.
Gomi controlling the position for now.

Hughes seems to be working for a kimura but Gomi defends the submission attempt.
Gomi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hughes is working away from the top position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters are battling for position here. Gomi manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Hughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hughes 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Hughes!