PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Fitzsimmons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Winston Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fitzsimmons's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Rule Britannia. 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.

Fitzsimmons
vs
Hughes

188 cm
32
211 lbs
23 - 12 - 1

194 cm
30
205 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jim Fitzsimmons!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Winston Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes misses with a wild body shot.
Fitzsimmons throws a lazy right hand but Hughes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Fitzsimmons throws a front kick aimed at Hughes's knee but Hughes avoids it well.
A jab from Hughes misses.
Hughes lands a lovely overhand right.
Fitzsimmons looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Fitzsimmons ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
Hughes throws a poor cross that misses

and Fitzsimmons counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hughes working aggressively here.
Fitzsimmons blocking some punches.

Fitzsimmons escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hughes missing with a left hand there. Fitzsimmons was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Hughes's ribcage but misses.
We've been informed that Hughes has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons misses with a leg kick.
Hughes throws a head kick but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Hughes throws a wild body kick that Fitzsimmons sees coming a mile off.
Nice uppercut lands for Hughes. That snapped Fitzsimmons's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons missing with a left hand there. Hughes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Fitzsimmons throws a looping overhand right but Hughes ducks down to avoid it.
Hughes throws an overhand right that lands on Fitzsimmons's shoulder, as Fitzsimmons tries to avoid the shot.
Fitzsimmons dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hughes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hughes uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Fitzsimmons.
Hughes misses with a looping right.
Fitzsimmons connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A clash of legs there as Fitzsimmons blocks the low kick.
Fitzsimmons will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Fitzsimmons misses with a body shot
and Hughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fitzsimmons misses with an uppercut
and Hughes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hughes throws an off balance right hand
and Fitzsimmons counters with an outside leg kick.
Fitzsimmons tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hughes manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a nice outside leg kick.
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!
Hughes takes one to the chin there.
Hughes ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Fitzsimmons wants to land a leg kick but Hughes is out of range.
Hughes tries to land a leg kick but Fitzsimmons saw it coming and moves away.
Fitzsimmons swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hughes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fitzsimmons ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
An inside leg kick from Hughes misses.
Hughes throws a body kick that misses.
Fitzsimmons lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Fitzsimmons lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Fitzsimmons checks it.
A nice inside leg kick there by Fitzsimmons. That's going to slow Hughes down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a sloppy body shot
and Fitzsimmons connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fitzsimmons was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.
Fitzsimmons is looking for a counter combo.
Hughes throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hughes misses the jab.
Nice cross by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons throws a jab when Hughes was well out of range.
Good leg kick by Hughes there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Hughes connects with a body shot.
Hughes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Fitzsimmons lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hughes circles away quickly and effectively.
Fitzsimmons steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
Hughes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Fitzsimmons. Those never looked like landing.
Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hughes.
It looked like Fitzsimmons wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hughes throws out a counter right but Fitzsimmons avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild body kick that Hughes sees coming a mile off.
Hughes let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Nice uppercut there from Hughes.
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!
Hughes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Fitzsimmons throws a big shot that misses.
It seemed like Hughes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hughes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fitzsimmons throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.
Fitzsimmons thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fitzsimmons misses with a straight left.
Hughes avoids the body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hughes.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Fitzsimmons uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fitzsimmons throws a predictable looking body shot
enabling Hughes to counter with a crisp jab.
Fitzsimmons misses with a left hand
and Hughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hughes misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Winston Hughes will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hughes looks to throw the jab but Fitzsimmons is out of range.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fitzsimmons lands with a nice body punch.
Fitzsimmons lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hughes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fitzsimmons's calf.
Fitzsimmons slips a straight right by Hughes.
Hughes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Fitzsimmons.
Hughes avoids a kick to the body.
Fitzsimmons turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Jab, jab by Hughes - just one landing.
Hughes motions for Fitzsimmons to come forward. Hughes throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fitzsimmons keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hughes.
Fitzsimmons is looking to counter the offense by Hughes and move into the clinch.
Fitzsimmons throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hughes on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughes throws a hook but Fitzsimmons avoids it easily.
Hughes missing with a left hand there. Fitzsimmons was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fitzsimmons is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hughes.
Hughes misses with a hook.
Fitzsimmons is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hughes.
Hughes misses with a looping left.
Hughes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons looks to clinch
and Hughes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Fitzsimmons scores with a hook to the body. Hughes takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Fitzsimmons pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hughes misses with a looping left.
Fitzsimmons connects with a single shot there.
Fitzsimmons dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hughes. That did some damage!
Fitzsimmons swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hughes staying out of range there.

Fitzsimmons gets a clinch.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but Fitzsimmons is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Hughes scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hughes prevents a body shot from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Fitzsimmons throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hughes misses the shot to the body.
Fitzsimmons appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Fitzsimmons throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Fitzsimmons throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hughes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Fitzsimmons doesn't seem bothered though.
Fitzsimmons takes a swing at Hughes's ribcage but misses.
Fitzsimmons looks to score with a jab to the body but Hughes is just out of range.
Fitzsimmons chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hughes wants to slow Fitzsimmons down by chopping away at his legs.
Fitzsimmons takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hughes scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hughes throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Good exchange - Fitzsimmons coming out on top.
Jim Fitzsimmons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes blocks a jab.
Jab, jab by Fitzsimmons - just one landing.
Fitzsimmons tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes lands a glancing blow to the side of Fitzsimmons's head.
Hughes slips under a jab.
Fitzsimmons misses with an attempted mid kick.
Fitzsimmons blocks a leg kick.
Fitzsimmons seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Nice uppercut there from Hughes.
Fitzsimmons looks to land a left hand but Hughes moved out of range nicely.
Hughes misses with a hook.
Fitzsimmons takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons lands with a good body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzsimmons throws an overhand right that lands on Hughes's shoulder, as Hughes tries to avoid the shot.
Fitzsimmons moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Fitzsimmons swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A little jabbing left from Hughes on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
A big left from Hughes misses.
Hughes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fitzsimmons missing with a left hand there. Hughes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hughes lands a glancing blow to the side of Fitzsimmons's head.
Hughes blocks the body kick.
A lazy left from Hughes finds it's target.
Fitzsimmons misses with a jab to the body
and Hughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Fitzsimmons rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hughes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hughes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Fitzsimmons looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hughes staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Winston Hughes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hughes lands a nice leg kick that just misses Fitzsimmons's sensitive parts.
That kick from Hughes tenderised Fitzsimmons's leg. Fitzsimmons is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hughes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Fitzsimmons.
Hughes scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Hughes fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fitzsimmons thows a leg kick but Hughes checks it
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.
Fitzsimmons lands a jab.
Fitzsimmons moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hughes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hughes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fitzsimmons takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hughes scores with a jab to the head.
Hughes stuns Fitzsimmons with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fitzsimmons misses the shot to the body.
Hughes looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
The fighters circling - Hughes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Fitzsimmons connects with a leg kick. Hughes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hughes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Fitzsimmons!
Hughes checks a leg kick nicely.
A head kick misses from Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Fitzsimmons misses with a head kick.
Hughes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Fitzsimmons with a body shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Fitzsimmons as he connects with a hook.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Winston Hughes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hughes is looking to slow Fitzsimmons down with leg kicks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fitzsimmons misses with a right hand
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes looks to land a right hand but Fitzsimmons moved out of range.
Hughes cracks Fitzsimmons with a right hand to the side of the head.
Fitzsimmons misses the shot to the body.
Fitzsimmons throws a wild body kick that Hughes sees coming a mile off.
Hughes throws a lazy right hand but Fitzsimmons sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hughes, right into the meat.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick but Hughes checks it.
Hughes now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Hughes swings for the body but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.
Hughes chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fitzsimmons misses with a wild body shot.
Hughes scores with a nice head shot.
Hughes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Fitzsimmons in his tracks.
Hughes with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hughes throws a body punch but Fitzsimmons moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitzsimmons lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Fitzsimmons throws a leg kick that is checked
and Fitzsimmons takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hughes throws a poor cross that misses
letting Fitzsimmons counter with a right hand.
Hughes uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fitzsimmons.
Fitzsimmons moves out of range of the leg kick from Hughes.
Jim Fitzsimmons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fitzsimmons fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hughes checks it well.
Fitzsimmons scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fitzsimmons throws a right hand that misses
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hughes scores with a nice right hand.
Fitzsimmons feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hughess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hughes throws a good cross that connects.
Fitzsimmons keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fitzsimmons clinches up with Hughes and pushes him back against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Hughes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fitzsimmons backwards.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fitzsimmons goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hughes throws out a leg kick but Fitzsimmons moves out of range and Hughes only half commits.
Fitzsimmons keeps Hughes at a distance using the push kick.
Fitzsimmons thows a leg kick but Hughes checks it
and Hughes counters with a nice uppercut.
Hughes tries a low kick but Fitzsimmons avoids it.
Hughes feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Fitzsimmons's calf.
Fitzsimmons feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Hughes's calf.
Fitzsimmons is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hughes.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fitzsimmons connects with a leg kick. Hughes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hughes throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Fitzsimmons stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The fighters circling - Fitzsimmons throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Winston Hughes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hughes fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Winston Hughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hughes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Winston Hughes!
Post fight, Winston Hughes took to the microphone: 'Ho ho! Silly commoner.'.
Jim Fitzsimmons spoke after the fight, saying 'A jolly good scrap, old chum! I say, will you join me for a spot of gin and tonic?'.