PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nigel McHughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Radev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McHughes comes to the cage accompanied by Welcome To My Hood. Nikolai Radev acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

McHughes
vs
Radev

187 cm
36
191 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

184 cm
33
190 lbs
21 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nigel McHughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nikolai Radev!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McHughes bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from McHughes. Radev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Radev loads up on a big right hand but McHughes slips the punch.
Radev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McHughes.
McHughes misses with a hook. Radev ducked under it nicely.
McHughes scores with a shot to the body.
Radev feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McHughes's calf.
Radev throws a leg kick that is checked
and McHughes counters with a straight right hand.
Radev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McHughes sprawls well. McHughes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Radev gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Radev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McHughes.
McHughes lands a body shot.
Radev looks to score with a jab to the body but McHughes is just out of range.
McHughes is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Radev.
A bone on bone clash there as McHughes blocks the leg kick.
Radev misses with a straight right.
McHughes tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Radev paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McHughes misses with a low kick.
Radev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A leg kick checked by McHughes.
Radev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Radev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
McHughes misses the shot to the body.
McHughes punishes Radev's body with a nice straight punch.
Radev tries to score with a low kick but McHughes moves his leg out of the way.
An inside leg kick lands from Radev.
McHughes ducks under a wild hook from Radev.
Radev misses with an uppercut. McHughes saw that one coming.
McHughes staying out of range there.
Radev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Radev connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radev swings for the body but McHughes moves out of range.
A quick step to the side and McHughes tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

McHughes closes the distance and pushes Radev back into the cage.
Radev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Radev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Radev is leaning against McHughes and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McHughes.
McHughes prevents the takedown attempt.
Radev tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McHughes's elbow.
McHughes lands a hook that snaps the head of Radev backwards.
Radev misses with some punches.
Radev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
McHughes swings wildly with an uppercut but Radev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Radev wants a takedown but no success here.
Nigel McHughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Radev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
McHughes scores with a shot to the side of Radev's head.
Radev lands a body punch.
Radev scores with a shot to the side of McHughes's head.
Radev effectively controlling the action here.
Radev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McHughes is defending well.
A shot in the inside from Radev.
Radev pushes McHughes back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Radev throws a punch but it's blocked by McHughes.
Radev misses with some punches.
Radev lands a shoulder strike.

Radev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Radev lands a head kick!
McHughes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
McHughes moves out of range as Radev throws a body kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McHughes throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Radev motions for McHughes to come forward. Radev throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
McHughes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Radev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
McHughes on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Radev looks to score with a jab to the body but McHughes is just out of range.
Radev throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Radev slips a straight right by McHughes.
Radev wants to counter the offense by McHughes and move into the clinch position.
Radev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nigel McHughes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Radev throws a sloppy head kick and McHughes moves out of range easily.
Radev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Radev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

McHughes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Radev.
A big left from Radev misses.
Good exchange - Radev coming out on top.
Radev scores with a jab to the body.
Radev connects with a body shot that sends McHughes's belly button to the back.
Good leg kick by Radev there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McHughes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A clash of legs there as McHughes blocks the low kick.
As Radev tries to get set, McHughes tries to push him back and clinch up but Radev manages to avoid the attempt.
McHughes throws a head kick but Radev moves out of range.
McHughes just misses with a punch to the body.
Radev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
McHughes is looking to wear down Radev with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McHughes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Radev.
Radev throws out a counter right but McHughes avoids it with no problem.
Radev misses with a low kick.
Radev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McHughes.
Radev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Radev lands with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Radev misses with a body shot.
It looked like McHughes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Radev throws a leg kick that misses.
Nikolai Radev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McHughes throws a low kick but it's checked well by Radev.
Radev keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McHughes.
Radev dodges the punch combination from McHughes.
Radev is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Radev avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An inside leg kick lands from Radev.
Radev misses with a looping left.
Radev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McHughes.
McHughes looks to land a left hand but Radev moved out of range nicely.
McHughes just misses with a punch to the body.
McHughes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Radev looks for the body kick but McHughes saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Radev connects with an inside leg kick.
Donk. Radev catches McHughes right on the button with a cross.
A slow jab from Radev misses its intended target.
McHughes throws a body punch but Radev moves out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Radev lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McHughes misses with a hook
and Radev counters with a good low kick that McHughes was not able to check.
McHughes throws out a loose jab but Radev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Radev is looking to chop away at McHughes's legs.
Radev scores with a spinning back kick!
Radev lands with a thumping leg kick.
McHughes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Radev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
McHughes swings for the body but Radev moves out of range.
Radev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev cracks McHughes with a good jab.
McHughes ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McHughes is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A jab from Radev misses.
Radev throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Nice defenses there by McHughes.
McHughes checks a leg kick.
McHughes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Radev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Radev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Radev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Radev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McHughes.
Radev throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Radev scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Radev blocks a head kick by McHughes.
McHughes loads up on a big right hand but Radev slips the punch.
Radev cracks McHughes with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Radev misses the target.
McHughes connects with a high kick.
McHughes throws a body shot but no joy.
Radev shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
McHughes takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
McHughes turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
A combination from McHughes does no damage.
Radev follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
McHughes throws a head kick that misses.
Radev swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
An inside leg kick lands from Radev.
Radev throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck McHughes on the side of the head.
Radev throws a leg kick which misses McHughes's front leg but catches the back leg as McHughes tries to avoid it.
Radev looks to land a left hand but McHughes moved out of range nicely.
McHughes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McHughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Radev manages to avoid it.
Radev steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from McHughes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Radev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Some bone on bone action there as Radev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Radev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Radev looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Radev feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to McHughes's calf.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Radev.
Radev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McHughes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Radev lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Radev moves out of range of the leg kick from McHughes.
Radev wants to counter with a clinch but McHughes pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McHughes misses with a hook
and Radev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Radev misses the target.
McHughes throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
McHughes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Radev can pounce on him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Radev throws a leg kick which misses McHughes's front leg but catches the back leg as McHughes tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes's corner calls for a 1-2. McHughes obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
McHughes misses with a low kick.
Radev throws a front kick aimed at McHughes's knee but McHughes avoids it well.
McHughes is looking to counter punch.
McHughes throws a leg kick
and Radev counters with a nice leg kick.
Radev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McHughes.
Radev misses with a hook.
Some bone on bone action there as Radev checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Radev blocks the body kick.
Radev lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Radev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McHughes was well out of range. Poor timing from Radev.
McHughes looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
McHughes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Radev throws out the jab.
A jab from McHughes misses.
Radev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHughes throws out a leg kick but Radev moves out of range and McHughes only half commits.
McHughes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Radev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Radev uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McHughes.
A bone on bone clash there as McHughes blocks the leg kick.
McHughes misses with a body kick.
McHughes throws a low kick but Radev avoids it.
Radev lands a nice hook to McHughes's body. McHughes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Radev misses with a hook.
McHughes is looking to counter the offense by Radev and move into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Radev misses the shot to the body.
McHughes checks a low kick from Radev.
McHughes tries a head kick but it misses.
Nigel McHughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Radev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McHughes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Radev postures up and lands a big shot to McHughes's brow.
McHughes keeping full guard, as Radev tries to pass.
McHughes looking for a sweep. Not yet McHughes, not yet.
McHughes pulls Radev in close to prevent any damage.
Radev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Radev trying to control but McHughes is working from the bottom.
Radev with a nice head shot there.
Radev throwing strikes from guard but McHughes blocks nicely.

That's four 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.
Radev trying to control the position from guard on top but McHughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Radev is looking to work some ground and pound but McHughes has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Radev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McHughes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Radev defends it easily.
Nikolai Radev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Radev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Radev controls from within his opponent's guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Radev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Radev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Radev!
Our winner, Nikolai Radev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.