PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jake Hughes (ranked 6261 p4p, 0 weight class) and Darragh Hollingsworth (ranked 6345 p4p, 465 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hughes
vs
Hollingsworth

170 cm
23
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jake Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Darragh Hollingsworth!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hollingsworth goes for a double leg but Hughes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hughes continues to drive forward.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch but Hollingsworth swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hollingsworth sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hughes somewhat.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown but Hollingsworth manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hughes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Hughes closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hollingsworth quickly recovers to half guard.

Hollingsworth makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Hughes throws a head kick but Hollingsworth moves out of range.
Hughes moves in looking to clinch but Hollingsworth pushes him off.
Hollingsworth tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hughes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hollingsworth with the counter takedown but Hughes avoids it easily.
Hughes lands a jab-cross combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hollingsworth goes for a double leg but Hughes avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hughes continues to drive forward.

Hughes has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hughes leaning against his opponent.
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 Hollingsworth walks away with a smile on his face. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes is looking to clinch but Hollingsworth is avoiding it.

Hollingsworth forces Hughes back against the cage and clinches.
Hughes is trying to break the clinch but Hollingsworth is controlling him.

Hollingsworth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hollingsworth dives in for a single leg takedown but Hughes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hughes misses with a wild combination.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hollingsworth as he avoids it easily.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Hollingsworth, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Hollingsworth against the cage but Hollingsworth circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollingsworth looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Hughes with that takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Hollingsworth sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hughes taking a breather.

Hollingsworth successfully pulls guard.

Hughes got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hollingsworth has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hughes has managed to get both his arms back between Hollingsworth's legs - danger averted.
Hollingsworth working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes looking to pass the guard.
Hollingsworth avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hollingsworth is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughes defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hollingsworth is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hughes wants to get up but he can't break Hollingsworth's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hollingsworth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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 is trying to get back to full guard.
Hughes is doing well to control the position and prevent Hollingsworth from advancing to side control.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Hollingsworth is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hollingsworth throwing shots but Hughes is blocking nicely.
Hollingsworth sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hughes defending well though.
Hughes is trying to stand.
Hollingsworth is taking a breather. Hughes says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hollingsworth not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hollingsworth has managed to clinch.
Hollingsworth has Hughes pressed against the cage, preventing Hughes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hughes tries to circle away but Hollingsworth has him pinned against the cage.
Hollingsworth is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hollingsworth looking for a takedown.
Hughes jumps guard but Hollingsworth turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hughes has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Hollingsworth after a bit of a struggle.
Hollingsworth misses with an elbow over the top.

Hollingsworth pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hollingsworth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hollingsworth works his way into full mount!
Hughes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hollingsworth on the ground.
Hughes is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hollingsworth trying to control but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hughes can't escape the position.
Hughes wants to control but Hollingsworth is having none of it.

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.
Hughes is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Hughes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hughes tries to hold on but Hollingsworth postures up.
Hollingsworth has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hollingsworth with a couple of short strikes.
Hughes is trying to reverse the position but instead Hollingsworth has taken his back - oops!
Hughes prevents Hollingsworth from getting a body triangle.

Hughes preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hollingsworth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hollingsworth is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hughes defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Hughes covering up well under a series of strikes from Hollingsworth.
Hughes trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
You can see the frustration on Hughes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hollingsworth misses with a punch to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hollingsworth gets his hands free as Hughes looks to control.
Hughes prevents Hollingsworth from getting a body triangle.
Hughes covering up well under a series of strikes from Hollingsworth.
Hollingsworth keeps control of the position as Hughes tries to break free.
Hollingsworth tries to keep control of the position but Hughes is staying busy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hughes is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Hughes wants to control his opponent's hands but Hollingsworth gets his hands free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darragh Hollingsworth 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!

Nice sprawl there from Hollingsworth as Hughes shoots in.
Hughes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Hollingsworth closes the distance and pushes Hughes back into the cage.
Hughes is trying to pull guard but Hollingsworth turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Hughes tries to throw a body punch but Hollingsworth avoids it by throwing Hughes back against the cage.
Hughes wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Hughes's face as he tries to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hollingsworth missing with knees to the body.
Hollingsworth keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hughes's efforts to push away.
Hollingsworth just leaning against Hughes, taking a breather.
Hughes wants to take the fight to the mat but Hollingsworth manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jake Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Hughes tries to pull guard but Hollingsworth won't allow it.
Hollingsworth goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hollingsworth is defended easily by Hughes.
Nice takedown defense from Hollingsworth. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Hollingsworth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hughes moves in looking to clinch but Hollingsworth pushes him off.
Hughes goes for a double leg but Hollingsworth avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hollingsworth continues to drive forward.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Hollingsworth shows good takedown defense.
Hollingsworth tries to counter with a clinch but Hughes shakes him off and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hollingsworth is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hughes sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hughes wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Hughes lands a nice looking body kick.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hollingsworth sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hughes tries to clinch up.
Hughes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hughes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hollingsworth sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hughes somewhat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hollingsworth. Hughes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hughes is looking to counter the offense by Hollingsworth and move into the clinch.
Jake Hughes is winning the standup battle so far.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hollingsworth sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hughes shoots in for a double leg but Hollingsworth sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hollingsworth.
Hughes bucks up and tries to throw Hollingsworth off but instead Hollingsworth has got his back!
Hughes can't escape the position.
Hollingsworth trying to control.
Hughes trying to control the position but Hollingsworth manages to sink in the hooks.
Darragh Hollingsworth has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hollingsworth really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Hughes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hollingsworth controlling well, preventing Hughes from escaping the position.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.

Hollingsworth working for a choke but Hughes is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I really don't envy Hughes right now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Darragh Hollingsworth comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hollingsworth 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 Donald Grub scores the fight for Darragh Hollingsworth!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Darragh Hollingsworth!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Darragh Hollingsworth!

Darragh Hollingsworth wins by unanimous decision!