PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mitch Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Logan Cullen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hughes
vs
Cullen

195 cm
19
188 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

184 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mitch Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Logan Cullen!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Columbo Gatti and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes tries to clinch there but Cullen circles away.
Hughes scores with a jab to the body.
Cullen tries to clinch but Hughes moves away

and Hughes counters with a single leg into guard. Cullen didn't expect that.
Hughes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cullen working a defensive guard here.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Cullen keeps moving.
Cullen is trying to control the position but Hughes postures up.

Cullen has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hughes off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Hughes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cullen is trying to improve his position.
An elbow from Hughes crashes against the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes working away.
Hughes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Hughes is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cullen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cullen is not content to let Hughes control the position.
Cullen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Hughes tries to move to full mount but Cullen actually manages to regain half guard.
Cullen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hughes counters by clinching up.
Cullen landing knees to the head.
A knee to the head by Cullen.
Hughes scores with a shot to the side of Cullen's head.
Hughes missing with knees to the body.

Cullen has Hughes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Cullen pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Hughes tumbling to the mat - Cullen dives into Hughes's guard.
Hughes wants to hit a switch here but Cullen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hughes there!
Cullen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Cullen looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hughes tries to hold on but Cullen pushes him away.
Cullen blocks Hughes's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes wants to hold on but Cullen pushes him away.
Hughes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hughes is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hughes gets back to half guard.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.
Cullen trying to control the action but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Hughes keeping control of the position.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Cullen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Hughes dominated that round.
That's time! Hughes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hughes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Logan Cullen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cullen closes the distance but Hughes moves to the side
and Hughes counters with a big head kick but Cullen shrugs it off.

Hughes moves into range and clinches up with Cullen.

Cullen decides to pull guard.
Cullen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Cullen is keeping the position.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Cullen keeps moving.
Cullen is breathing heavily.
Cullen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Cullen is keeping the position.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Cullen.
Hughes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Cullen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Hughes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hughes scores with a takedown into Cullen's guard.
Cullen wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes passes Cullen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hughes controlling the pace.
Hughes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cullen defending well though.
Hughes is looking to advance position but Cullen won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cullen keeps working.
Hughes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hughes moves nicely into side control.
Hughes in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cullen parries the strikes from Hughes easily there. Hughes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Cullen to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Cullen!
Hughes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hughes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hughes with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Hughes connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cullen wants to hold on but Hughes pushes him away.
Hughes looking to control but Cullen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Cullen is bucking up trying to escape but Hughes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Cullen taking shots to the head.
Cullen is squirming around, avoiding Hughes's attempts to control the action.
Hughes 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.
Hughes with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mitch Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cullen tries to hold on but Hughes pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Hughes dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hughes connects with a high kick.

Hughes has Cullen up against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes lands with a kick to the temple. Cullen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A low kick from Cullen misses
and Hughes counters with a one-two to the body.

Hughes scores a takedown into full mount!
Cullen wants to control but Hughes is having none of it.
Cullen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hughes lands a heavy elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes breaks from Cullen's wrist control and lands an elbow.
BOOM! Hughes connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Hughes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Cullen is surviving well by controlling Hughes's body position as best he can.
Hughes with good strikes from the mount here!
Cullen is working to get back to half guard.

Hughes working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Cullen turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Hughes off and cradles Cullen's limp body as Hughes celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Mitch Hughes!