PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joe Hughs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hughs
vs
Vega

178 cm
44
167 lbs
41 - 32 - 0

178 cm
36
169 lbs
12 - 13 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 41 - 32 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Hughs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Vega!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hughs moves into range and clinches up with Vega.
Hughs stops a takedown attempt from Vega.
Vega avoiding damage as Hughs throws knees to the body.
Vega scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vega lands an elbow inside that Hughs shrugs off.

Vega has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hughs is trying to keep an underhook but Vega manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Vega wants to free his trapped foot but Hughs is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Vega is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hughs tries to roll over but Vega keeps him under control.
Vega wants to pass the guard but Hughs is defending well.
Hughs is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vega is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vega working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vega is working for a guillotine from mount but Hughs frees his head quite easily.
Hughs really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Vega trying to control but Hughs is having none of it.
Hughs tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vega lands a big elbow.
Vega is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Vega goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Hughs is on top in guard.
Hughs knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vega on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughs in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vega is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hughs working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vega's head.
Vega controlling Hughs's posture.
Hughs postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vega has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Vega bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hughs's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vega advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vega trying to mount his opponent but Hughs defends it.

Vega is looking for a kimura but Hughs is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vega to get the leverage.

Hughs is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vega pulls his head out easily.

Vega is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hughs sees it coming and defends easily.
Vega wants to pass the guard but Hughs is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughs connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Vega is pressing down on Hughs's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hughs is holding on for now.

Hughs looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hughs regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vega advances to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vega passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hughs!
Hughs is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hughs is bucking up trying to escape but Vega cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Vega controlling his opponent.
Hughs taking shots to the head.

Vega is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hughs can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vega tries to control but Hughs wriggling away.
Vega prevents Hughs from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Vega dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice straight punches there by Vega. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Vega.

Vega fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hughs, pushing him back against the cage.
Hughs avoids a wild elbow strike from Vega.
Hughs goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vega lands a body punch.
Vega has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vega lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Hughs.
Hughs lands an elbow inside that Vega shrugs off.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vega throws an elbow but misses.
Vega works on Hughs's body with a couple of short punches.
Hughs takes an elbow to the forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughs misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vega.
Vega creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hughs's defenses.
Hughs misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Vega works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vega passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega is looking to take a break and control but Hughs is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vega has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Vega sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Hughs defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Vega.
Vega lands a nice shot to the head.
Hughs is working to get back to half guard.
Vega can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hughs is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega lands with some strikes.

Hughs is rocked!

Vega looking to isolate an arm here. Hughs doesn't see it coming and as Vega extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Vega!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Vega!
During a confident post fight interview, Steve Vega thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.