PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Decebal Ionescu (ranked 5699 p4p, 0 weight class) and Henry Hughes (ranked 6414 p4p, 0 weight class). Henry Hughes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ionescu
vs
Hughes

180 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Decebal Ionescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Henry Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Sandra Marshall and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown attempt by Ionescu or perhaps it was just good defense by Hughes, which made it look bad.
Hughes tries a head kick but it misses.
Ionescu is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Hughes.

Ionescu tries to keep at a distance but Hughes has taken the fight into the clinch.

Hughes pulls guard effortlessly.
Ionescu throws a big right hand that misses.
Ionescu trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ionescu's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hughes wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ionescu stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ionescu.
Ionescu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ionescu shoots in for a double leg but Hughes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Decebal Ionescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ionescu drives through with a takedown into Hughes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ionescu is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Hughes is looking for a triangle here but Ionescu uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Ionescu trying to control the action but Hughes is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ionescu tries to score with some ground and pound. Hughes controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Ionescu is trying to get an arm triangle but Hughes is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ionescu decides to stand back up. Ionescu steps back and let's Hughes get back to his feet.
Ionescu throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hughes's head.
Ionescu 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 Ionescu off to one side.
A nice side step and Hughes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
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!
Ionescu looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Ionescu moves out of range.
Hughes lunges at Ionescu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ionescu's hand.
Hughes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ionescu is looking to counter the offense by Hughes and move into the clinch.

Hughes has managed to clinch.
Ionescu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Hughes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ionescu doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Hughes drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hughes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ionescu looking to control.
Ionescu wants to stand but Hughes is controlling the position.
Ionescu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes passes Ionescu's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ionescu wants to control the action here but instead Hughes manages to pass to full mount!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ionescu wants to control but Hughes is having none of it.
Ionescu working to try and regain half guard.
Hughes raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hughes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ionescu's face.
Ionescu sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ionescu regains full guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Hughes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hughes has closed the distance and engaged Ionescu in a clinch.
Hughes landing knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Ionescu.
Hughes jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ionescu walks away with a smile on his face. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ionescu fails with the takedown.
Ionescu misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hughes misses with a looping right.
Decebal Ionescu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hughes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ionescu.

Hughes drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Ionescu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hughes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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 fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ionescu tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hughes avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes breaks the clinch.
Hughes just misses with a punch to the body.
Henry Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hughes gets caught flat footed, as Ionescu shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ionescu is pushing down on Hughes's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hughes is fighting to maintain full guard but Ionescu has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hughes is breathing heavily.

Ionescu stands up and beckons Hughes to join him on the feet.
Ionescu cracks Hughes with an open hand slap.
Ionescu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hughes can pounce on him.

Ionescu closes the distance and pushes Hughes back into the cage.
Ionescu has had enough of the clinch but Hughes keeps him there for the moment.
Ionescu tries to pull guard but Hughes won't allow it.
Ionescu tries to break free but Hughes pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ionescu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hughes dives in for a single leg takedown but Ionescu sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Decebal Ionescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Henry Hughes.

Hughes rushes Ionescu and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ionescu is trying to pull guard but Hughes turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Hughes wants to clinch up but Ionescu keeps it at a distance.

Ionescu gets a clinch.

Ionescu ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Ionescu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Ionescu striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Ionescu is trying to keep Hughes in close.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Ionescu keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ionescu trying to keep a closed guard but Hughes is proving a slippery customer.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
Hughes postures up.
Hughes trying to control but Ionescu is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt
and Ionescu counters with a straight right hand.

Ionescu drives through and clinches with Hughes against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Ionescu to keep the fight standing.
Ionescu is looking to control Hughes's arms but Hughes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ionescu has his back to the cage.
Ionescu tries to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling the position.

Ionescu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hughes throws a strike but Ionescu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ionescu wanted to stand there but Hughes had control of the position.
Ionescu stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.
Hughes managing to control the position.
Hughes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Decebal Ionescu dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Ionescu fails with a takedown attempt.
Ionescu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hughes swivels and escapes.
Hughes throws a counter combo.
Hughes misses with a head kick.

Hughes has closed the distance and engaged Ionescu in a clinch.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Ionescu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hughes tries to avoid it but Ionescu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hughes to the ground. Hughes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Decebal Ionescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ionescu gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hughes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hughes looking to sit in guard and control but Ionescu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ionescu throwing strikes but missing.
Decebal Ionescu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ionescu manages to get himself to full guard.

Hughes lands a couple of elbows.
Ionescu wants to sweep but no luck.
Ionescu is working hard here to advance position.
Hughes throws a big elbow that misses.
Ionescu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Ionescu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ionescu is on top in guard.

Ionescu wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ionescu trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ionescu won't allow Hughes to get back to his feet.
Ionescu working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ionescu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hughes's guard.
Ionescu is just content to waste time from the top position. Hughes takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ionescu trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Ionescu won't allow Hughes to get back to his feet.
Hughes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hughes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ionescu trying to control here.
Hughes is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Ionescu reverses the position - he's now on top in Hughes's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ionescu wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Hughes can't keep his opponent in guard - Ionescu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ionescu trying to control the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ionescu is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Henry Hughes.
I think Hughes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29

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