PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Numbers Holman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jake Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jake Hughes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Holman
vs
Hughes

170 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

185 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Numbers Holman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Holman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hughes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Holman sprawls well initially but Hughes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Hughes is working for a kimura but Holman is defending it quite comfortably.
Holman tries to kick Hughes off but Hughes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Holman wants to get back to full guard but Hughes has passed into side control.
Hughes scores with punches from side control.
Hughes controls the position.
Holman tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hughes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes is working Holman over with some ground and pound from side control.
Holman is looking for a sweep.
Hughes creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Holman manages to get back to half guard.
Hughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Holman is trying to stand up here but Hughes is controlling him well.
Hughes drops an elbow to the side of Holman's head.
Holman tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Hughes wants to control but Holman is keeping him busy.
Nice strikes from Hughes there.
Hughes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Holman wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Hughes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holman is looking to improve his position.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Holman is defending well.
Hughes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Holman manages to get to full guard.

Hughes gets to his feet. Holman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hughes clinches up with Holman and pushes him back against the cage.
Hughes is working for takedown but Holman is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes working hard to break the clinch.
Hughes fails to pull guard.
Holman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hughes pulls Holman into guard.
Holman chips away with some ground and pound.
Hughes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Holman lands a couple of elbows.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hughes holds on and takes a little breather.
Holman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Holman from controlling successfully.

Holman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Holman.
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Holman attempts a counter takedown but Hughes avoids it well and moves away.
Holman 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 Holman off to one side.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hughes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hughes scores with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Holman keeps the fight on the outside.
Holman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hughes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hughes lands in his opponent's guard.

Holman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hughes is aware though and is defending well.
Holman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Holman is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughes defends well.
Hughes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hughes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes stands up and waves to Holman to follow him.
Hughes lands a nice shot to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Holman fails with a takedown attempt.
Jake Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hughes gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is nestled in close to Holman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hughes controlling the pace.
Hughes looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Holman wants to get back to full guard.
Hughes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Let's hope that Hughes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Hughes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Holman defends it well.
Holman wants to improve his position but Hughes is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Holman is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him
Hughes uses his free foot to push down on Holman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Holman.
Holman is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Hughes has taken his back!
Hughes lands shots from the back.
Holman tries to escape but Hughes has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Holman is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Holman is trying to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holman defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hughes's arms.
I would not like to be Holman right now.
Hughes is not going to allow Holman to sit and survive in this position.
Hughes struggling to keep hold of the position.
Holman tries to escape but Hughes has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

Hughes is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Hughes trying to control momentarily.
Jake Hughes has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Holman tries to escape but Hughes has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Holman throws an elbow that misses.
Holman misses with a punch on the inside.
Hughes jumps guard but Holman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Holman defends well and Hughes ends up having to push Holman into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Holman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Holman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Hughes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Holman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hughes is in Holman's guard.
Holman will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hughes doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hughes manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hughes stays in close to Holman's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holman can't keep his opponent in guard - Hughes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hughes trying to control the action but Holman is working from the bottom.
Holman gets back to full guard.

Hughes stands up from Holman's guard - Hughes perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hughes takes a swing at Holman's ribcage but misses.
Holman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hughes sprawls and moves away.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Holman as he avoids it easily.
Holman is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hughes.
Numbers Holman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Hughes.
Hughes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Holman.
Holman has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hughes throws a head kick but Holman moves out of range.
Holman is looking to counter the offense by Hughes and move into the clinch.
Holman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hughes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Hughes swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Holman lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hughes jumps guard but Holman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hughes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Holman pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hughes displaying some good clinch control by pressing Holman up against the cage.
Hughes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Holman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hughes.
Holman stalls.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Holman jumps into guard, dragging Hughes to the mat.

Holman kicks Hughes off and gets to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hughes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Holman half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Hughes scores with a takedown into Holman's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes sitting in guard here, content to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jake Hughes.
Well Hughes 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jake Hughes!