PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bryan McLawhorn (ranked 7636 p4p, 302 weight class) and Jake Hughes (ranked 7450 p4p, 296 weight class). Bryan McLawhorn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McLawhorn
vs
Hughes

155 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bryan McLawhorn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, John Kavanagh and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes scores with a nice right hand.
McLawhorn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

McLawhorn pushes Hughes up against the cage in a clinch.
McLawhorn has Hughes pressed against the cage, preventing Hughes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from McLawhorn.
Hughes fails to pull guard.
Hughes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hughes has McLawhorn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McLawhorn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McLawhorn stalls.

McLawhorn jumps guard and drags Hughes to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but McLawhorn manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

McLawhorn is pushing down on Hughes's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hughes is fighting to maintain full guard but McLawhorn has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McLawhorn stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
McLawhorn closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
McLawhorn leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bryan McLawhorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Hughes.
Hughes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McLawhorn is looking to counter the offense by Hughes and move into the clinch.
Hughes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hughes stuffs the takedown attempt from McLawhorn. McLawhorn gets slowly back to his feet.
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McLawhorn tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McLawhorn to the ground. McLawhorn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hughes shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McLawhorn pinned against the cage. McLawhorn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries a head kick but it misses.
McLawhorn shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hughes defends it nicely.
No luck for Hughes with that takedown attempt.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
McLawhorn throws a head kick but Hughes moves out of range.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hughes was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

McLawhorn throws Hughes to one side and escapes!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes moves into the clinch.

McLawhorn pulls guard successfully.
Hughes won't allow McLawhorn to sweep him here.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but McLawhorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes trying to stand up but can't free himself from McLawhorn's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control but McLawhorn is working from the bottom.
Hughes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McLawhorn is on top in guard.

McLawhorn lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
McLawhorn distracts Hughes with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
McLawhorn is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan McLawhorn dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

McLawhorn keeps the fight on the outside.
McLawhorn appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hughes stuffs the takedown attempt from McLawhorn. McLawhorn gets slowly back to his feet.
Bryan McLawhorn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but McLawhorn sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
McLawhorn avoids the head kick by Hughes.
Hughes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McLawhorn shoots in for a takedown but Hughes shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McLawhorn stuffs the takedown attempt from Hughes. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.
Bryan McLawhorn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jake Hughes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice sprawl there from McLawhorn as Hughes shoots in.
Hughes slips a jab and a cross from McLawhorn.

Hughes moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes tries to circle away but McLawhorn has him pinned against the cage.
Hughes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but McLawhorn is controlling him.
Hughes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
McLawhorn controlling the action here for a moment.
We've been informed that Hughes has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
McLawhorn is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hughes can do to turn this around?
Hughes is trying to maintain a safe position but McLawhorn gets an underhook and turns Hughes into the cage.
Hughes jumps guard but McLawhorn stands there with Hughes around his waist. Hughes gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hughes prevents a takedown attempt there.
McLawhorn avoiding damage.

That's two 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.

McLawhorn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughes fails with an attempt to clinch.
McLawhorn half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Hughes has taken the fight to the clinch.
McLawhorn misses with the head strike.
Hughes is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hughes letting McLawhorn take a breather here.
Hughes tries to pull guard but McLawhorn won't allow it.
Hughes tries to pull guard but McLawhorn holds him up against the cage and eventually Hughes drops back down to his feet.

McLawhorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLawhorn throws a right and a left that both miss.
McLawhorn tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hughes paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hughes gets a clinch.
Hughes tries to pull guard but McLawhorn holds him up against the cage and eventually Hughes drops back down to his feet.
McLawhorn wants a takedown but no success here.
McLawhorn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hughes pulls him back up using the underhooks.
McLawhorn is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hughes is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McLawhorn avoiding damage as Hughes throws knees to the body.
McLawhorn is trying to drag Hughes to the mat but Hughes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A bit of stalling here from Hughes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes can't break the clinch.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but McLawhorn is controlling him.
McLawhorn is trying to drag Hughes to the mat but Hughes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
McLawhorn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McLawhorn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hughes walks away with a smile on his face. McLawhorn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McLawhorn keeps the fight on the outside.

Hughes clinches up with McLawhorn and pushes him back against the cage.
McLawhorn wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jake Hughes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McLawhorn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hughes swivels and escapes.
McLawhorn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hughes darts in and clinches McLawhorn up against the cage.
McLawhorn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hughes avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hughes takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hughes misses with a hook to the ribs.
McLawhorn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bryan McLawhorn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right hand to the body from Hughes.
Jake Hughes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hughes taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLawhorn trying to land knees to the body.
Hughes dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Hughes gets underhooks to prevent McLawhorn's takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes tries to pull guard but McLawhorn won't allow it.

McLawhorn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hughes cracks a nice hook into McLawhorn's ribs.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McLawhorn has his takedown stuffed
and Hughes counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with McLawhorn, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes McLawhorn against the cage but McLawhorn circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
McLawhorn blocks a head kick by Hughes.
Hughes shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Hughes rushes McLawhorn and presses him up against the cage.
McLawhorn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hughes tries to break the clinch but McLawhorn is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McLawhorn jumps guard.
Hughes trying to control but McLawhorn is working from the bottom.
McLawhorn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes being controlled here momentarily.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but McLawhorn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McLawhorn is trying to control the position but Hughes postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control but McLawhorn is working from the bottom.

McLawhorn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hughes really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McLawhorn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

McLawhorn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
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.
McLawhorn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bryan McLawhorn is winning the standup battle so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hughes dives in and grabs McLawhorn's left leg, looking for a takedown. McLawhorn pushes down on Hughes's head and hops out.
McLawhorn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hughes avoids it really well and circles away.

Hughes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hughes tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. McLawhorn smiles and moves away.
Hughes throws the kick towards the body but McLawhorn avoids it.

Hughes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but McLawhorn keeps working.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jake Hughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29

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