PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Peter Martin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathias Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin comes to the cage accompanied by Freude schöner Götter Funken. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Martin
vs
Hughes

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Dangerous GnP
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Peter Martin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mathias Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes stuffs the takedown attempt from Martin. Martin gets slowly back to his feet.
Hughes misses with a double jab.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mathias Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Martin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hughes circles away.
Hughes lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Peter Martin has been cut.
Nice takedown defense from Hughes. No joy for Martin on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Martin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes throws a right and a left that Martin avoids nicely.
Hughes tries to bum rush Martin with a series of wild strikes but Martin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Martin instigates a clinch.
Hughes has had enough of the clinch but Martin keeps him there for the moment.
Hughes is looking to break free of the clinch but Martin has double underhooks.
Hughes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hughes looks gassed!
Martin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Martin rushes Hughes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Martin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martin lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Martin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Martin wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Martin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Martin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Martin stays in close to Hughes's body and controls the position.

Hughes pushes Martin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Martin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hughes misses with a double jab.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.

Martin clinches up with Hughes and pushes him back against the cage.
Martin just leaning against Hughes, taking a breather.

Martin gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Martin wants to pass the guard but Hughes is defending well.
Hughes is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Martin scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hughes tries to kick Martin off but Martin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Hughes tries to keep at a distance but Martin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Martin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hughes fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Martin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hughes.

Martin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martin lands in his opponent's guard.
Martin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Martin wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Martin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wants to stand but Martin is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Martin trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hughes has his feet on Martin's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Martin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hughes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four 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.
Martin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hughes pinned against the cage. Hughes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hughes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hughes displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Martin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet but Martin drags him back down.

Hughes throws Martin to one side and escapes!
Hughes throws a right hand that Martin ducks under and follows up with a left that Martin also avoids with ease.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.

Martin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hughes to the mat! Hughes manages to get full guard.
Hughes is looking to stand up but Martin isn't so interested in that idea.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Martin from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hughes manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Martin shoots for a double leg takedown but Hughes sprawls well. He's pushed Martin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Peter Martin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Peter Martin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Martin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Martin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hughes is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Martin is controlling him well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Martin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Hughes throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Hughes throws a right hand that Martin ducks under and follows up with a left that Martin also avoids with ease.
Danga de danga de dang - Hughes scores with a four punch combination!
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Martin shoots in but no luck this time.

Martin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Hughes pushes Martin off and gets back to his feet.
Hughes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Hughes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hughes moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Martin shoots in for a double leg but Hughes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Martin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Martin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hughes pinned against the cage. Hughes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hughes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Martin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hughes tries to avoid it but Martin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hughes to the ground. Hughes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Martin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hughes circles away.
Hughes throws a right and a left that Martin avoids nicely.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hughes tries to bum rush Martin with a series of wild strikes but Martin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Martin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martin lands in his opponent's guard.
Martin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Martin is in close to Hughes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Martin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hughes has his feet on Martin's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Martin misses with a body kick.
Martin shoots in but no luck this time.

Martin rushes Hughes and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but Martin has him pressed against the cage.
Martin looking for a takedown.

Martin breaks from the clinch.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Martin.
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martin misses with a takedown attempt - Hughes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hughes throws a right hand that Martin ducks under and follows up with a left that Martin also avoids with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes swinging wilding here.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horrible takedown by Martin or perhaps it was just good defense by Hughes which made him look bad.
Martin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hughes.
Martin shoots for a double leg takedown but Hughes sprawls well. He's pushed Martin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mathias Hughes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughes throws a nice looking combination but Martin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Martin gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hughes swivels and escapes.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes misses with a few strikes there.
Hughes fails to land with a series of punches.
Hughes throws a right and a left that Martin avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hughes misses with a few strikes there.
Martin shoots for a double leg takedown but Hughes sprawls well. He's pushed Martin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Martin with that takedown attempt.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Martin shoots in but Hughes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hughes looks to land a combination but Martin avoids it well.
Martin closes the distance and clinches up with Hughes, looking for a takedown. Martin pushes Hughes against the cage but Hughes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hughes as he avoids it easily.
Hughes throws a right and a left that Martin avoids nicely.
Hughes looks to land a combination but Martin avoids it well.
Hughes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Martin moves into the clinch successfully.
Martin lands a body shot in the clinch.
Martin wants a takedown.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Martin fails to land the takedown.
Martin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
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 Peter Martin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Peter Martin's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Martin looks for a takedown but Hughes sprawls well.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Martin avoids them all with ease.
Martin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hughes.
Martin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hughes swivels and escapes.
Martin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Peter Martin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Martin moves out of range.
Martin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hughes circles away.
Horrible takedown by Martin or perhaps it was just good defense by Hughes which made him look bad.
Martin fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Martin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Martin shoots for a double leg takedown but Hughes sprawls well. He's pushed Martin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Martin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hughes's waist but Hughes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Martin off to one side.
Hughes misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Martin slips a jab and a cross from Hughes.
Hughes misses with the combination.
Martin shoots in but no luck this time.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Martin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Martin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Martin lands in his opponent's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Martin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Martin cracks Hughes with a solid left hand.

Hughes pushes Martin off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hughes misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Martin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Martin wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet but Martin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Martin postures up and lands a big shot to Hughes's brow.

Hughes scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Martin has a takedown stuffed.
Martin looks for a takedown but Hughes sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from Hughes.
Martin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hughes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hughes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Martin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Peter Martin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Martin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hughes as he jumps to the side.
Martin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hughes misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Martin clinches up with Hughes and pushes him back against the cage.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Hughes throws a right hand that Martin ducks under and follows up with a left that Martin also avoids with ease.
Martin fails with the takedown.
Hughes throws a right hand that Martin ducks under and follows up with a left that Martin also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Hughes misses.
Nice takedown defense from Hughes. No joy for Martin on that attempt.
Hughes looks to land a combination but Martin avoids it well.
Martin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hughes circles away.
Martin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hughes pinned against the cage. Hughes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Martin slips a jab and a cross from Hughes.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Martin darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.
Martin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Martin looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Martin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hughes pulls his leg out and moves away.
Martin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hughes.
No luck for Martin with that takedown attempt.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Martin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Martin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Martin trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Hughes is looking to stand up but Martin isn't so interested in that idea.
Peter Martin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Martin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Hughes wriggles free and stands up.
Mathias Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Martin darts in and clinches Hughes up against the cage.

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 Peter Martin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Martin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Peter Martin!