PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clark Rivers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Hughes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rivers
vs
Hughes

167 cm
18
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Clark Rivers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rivers misses with a takedown

and Hughes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hughes.
Rivers is trying to pull guard but Hughes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Rivers has hold of one of Hughes's legs. Hughes is fighting the takedown attempt but Rivers gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Rivers could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hughes is adopting a defensive guard.
Hughes scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Hughes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes punching to the body, from the bottom.
Hughes is trying to keep Rivers in close.
Hughes wants to stand up but Rivers is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Rivers passes into side control.
Hughes is trying to improve his position.
Rivers is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Rivers has control of an arm but Hughes manages to advance to Rivers's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughes patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Hughes has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Hughes doesn't have the hooks in and Rivers manages to turn into his guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hughes holds on and takes a little breather.

Rivers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hughes looking to control but Rivers passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivers stops Hughes from getting back to his feet.
Hughes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes is looking to get back to full guard here but Rivers has managed to pass to side control instead.
Rivers wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hughes keeps working.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Rivers taking a breather here.
Hughes tries to improve position but can't.
Rivers is looking to take a break and control but Hughes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rivers slows the pace down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Clark Rivers will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hughes rushes Rivers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes tries to pull guard but Rivers forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Hughes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rivers just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rivers stalling in the clinch.
Rivers is looking to take this one to the mat.

Rivers gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Hughes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hughes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hughes content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control but Rivers is working from the bottom.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Rivers.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Rivers keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rivers has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hughes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rivers looking for a guillotine here but Hughes defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hughes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hughes is looking to stand up but Rivers won't let him.
Clark Rivers overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hughes tries to free his leg and advance position but Rivers is retaining full guard.
Hughes advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries to stand and escape but Rivers is controlling the position.
Hughes is looking to stall here but Rivers recovers full guard.
Hughes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hughes chips away with some ground and pound.
Hughes controlling from the top position.
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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hughes lands a body shot.
Rivers blocks a head kick by Hughes.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rivers sprawls well. Rivers wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
Clark Rivers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Hughes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hughes slaps away a takedown attempt from Rivers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughes lands a left and a right that send Rivers crashing to the mat, dazed. Hughes thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

It looks like Clark Rivers has been cut.
A punch combination from Hughes misses.
Rivers throws a wild hook but Hughes just manages to duck under it and - ooooh! Rivers gets nailed by a brutal uppercut which crumples him back against the cage! The referee jumps in - Hughes raises his hands in celebration and walks away!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Hughes!