PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ignacio Pugh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Ancuro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Ancuro has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pugh
vs
Ancuro

184 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

225 cm
20
300 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ignacio Pugh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Ancuro!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ancuro tries a head kick but it misses.
Ancuro scores with a push kick.
Ancuro throws a sloppy head kick and Pugh moves out of range easily.
Ancuro throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ancuro misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pugh tries to counter with a takedown but Ancuro is quick to defend against it.
Ancuro throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pugh really is a fat lump.
Ancuro throws a body kick that misses.
Ancuro tries to bum rush Pugh with a series of wild strikes but Pugh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pugh takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

It looks like Ignacio Pugh has been cut.
Ancuro moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Pugh is breathing heavily.
Pugh blocks a head kick by Ancuro.
Pugh drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ancuro sprawls and moves away.
Ancuro throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pugh.
Michael Ancuro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pugh throws a hook but Ancuro avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pugh has taken the fight to the clinch.
Pugh wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ancuro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ancuro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pugh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ancuro throws a sloppy head kick and Pugh moves out of range easily.
A head kick from Ancuro lands but Pugh takes it in his stride.
Pugh showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ancuro.
Pugh appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Pugh has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ancuro wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pugh throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pugh has Ancuro pressed against the cage, preventing Ancuro from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pugh tries to pull guard but Ancuro won't allow it.

Ancuro manages to break the clinch.
Ancuro throws a combination that misses

and Pugh counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Pugh stands up and waves to Ancuro to follow him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ancuro throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Pugh cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Pugh instigates a clinch.
Ancuro tries to break the clinch but Pugh is controlling the position.

Pugh breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ancuro throws a sloppy head kick and Pugh moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ancuro throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Pugh counters with a single leg into guard. Ancuro didn't expect that.
Ancuro is looking to stand back up but Pugh counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ancuro.

Pugh trying to control the pace.
Ancuro is trying to stand.
Pugh content to control rather than advance.
Ancuro told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Pugh prevents Ancuro from standing back up.
Pugh is controlling the pace.
Pugh's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ancuro tries to kick Pugh off but Pugh keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pugh slows the pace down in half guard.
Further stalling from Pugh.
Ancuro is looking to get back to is feet but Pugh passes into side control.
Pugh in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Pugh decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ancuro to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Ancuro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ignacio Pugh's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Ancuro tries a head kick but it misses.
Ancuro tries to bum rush Pugh with a series of wild strikes but Pugh uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ancuro misses with a double jab.

Pugh decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Ancuro pushes Pugh off and gets back to his feet.
Ancuro misses with a body kick.
Ancuro tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ancuro looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick by Ancuro misses
and Pugh counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ancuro thinking.
Michael Ancuro seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Pugh moves into range and clinches up with Ancuro.
Ancuro is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ancuro is breathing heavily.

Pugh breaks from the clinch.

Pugh clinches up with Ancuro and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pugh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ancuro fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ancuro looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
An attempted straight right counter from Pugh misses the target.

Pugh drives through and clinches with Ancuro against the cage.
Pugh scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ancuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pugh has him pressed against the cage.

Pugh breaks from the clinch.

Pugh closes the distance and clinches.
Pugh fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Pugh manages to pull guard.
Pugh throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pugh has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Ancuro has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Ancuro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pugh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ancuro's efforts to push away.

Pugh pulls Ancuro into 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!
Ancuro tries to stand but Pugh is controlling from the bottom.

Ancuro stands up from Pugh's guard - Ancuro perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ancuro bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ancuro misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pugh avoids the head kick by Ancuro.

Pugh has managed to clinch.
Ancuro wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ancuro is trying to break the clinch but Pugh is controlling him.

Pugh has picked Ancuro up - he's going for a ride! Pugh dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ancuro is looking to get back to is feet but Pugh passes into side control.
A lull in the action here as Pugh stalls from top position.

Pugh decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pugh forces Ancuro back against the cage and clinches.
Ancuro tries to break the clinch but Pugh is controlling the position.
Pugh jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ancuro walks away with a smile on his face. Pugh gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ignacio Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ancuro throws a push kick but Pugh slaps the foot to one side.
Pugh drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ancuro sprawls and moves away.
Ancuro throws the kick towards the body but Pugh avoids it.
Ancuro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pugh pushes Ancuro up against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ancuro tries to circle away but Pugh has him pinned against the cage.

Ancuro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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 Ignacio Pugh will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ignacio Pugh's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pugh closes the distance and pushes Ancuro back into the cage.
Ancuro has had enough of the clinch but Pugh keeps him there for the moment.
Ancuro is trying to break the clinch but Pugh is controlling him.

Ancuro breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ancuro pushes Pugh away with a front kick.
Pugh dodges the punch combination from Ancuro.
Pugh slips a jab and a cross from Ancuro.
Pugh throwing a counter right hand but Ancuro manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ancuro throws a head kick but Pugh moves out of range.
Pugh half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Pugh has managed to clinch.
Pugh tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Ancuro just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ancuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pugh has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ancuro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Pugh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ancuro's efforts to push away.
Pugh keeps control of Ancuro as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ancuro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Ancuro is trying to force a seperation but Pugh has the dominant position.

Pugh's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ancuro looks for the body kick but Pugh saw that one coming.

Pugh closes the distance and pushes Ancuro back into the cage.
Ancuro wants to get back to striking at distance but Pugh won't allow it.

Pugh breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pugh is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pugh on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Pugh clinches with his opponent.
Pugh drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ancuro gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Pugh ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Pugh no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Ancuro stands and steps away. Pugh gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ancuro throws a sloppy head kick and Pugh moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ancuro misses with the combination.
Pugh avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pugh attempts a counter takedown but Ancuro avoids it well and moves away.
Pugh tries to clinch up but Ancuro circles away and keeps his distance.
Ancuro misses with a combination
and Pugh counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Michael Ancuro is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pugh shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Pugh has closed the distance and engaged Ancuro in a clinch.
Ancuro wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pugh has him pressed against the cage.
Pugh fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ignacio Pugh. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pugh keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ancuro's efforts to push away.
Pugh is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pugh stalling against the cage.
Ancuro wants to get back to striking at distance but Pugh won't allow it.
Ancuro tries to circle away but Pugh has him pinned against the cage.

Ancuro breaks from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Pugh instigates a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Ancuro's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pugh lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ignacio Pugh.
I think Pugh has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ignacio Pugh!
Michael Ancuro was interviewed post fight and said 'He got the better of me, fair play. I can't wait to see him try it a second time. I'll be ready, and waiting.'.