PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bronson Hughes (ranked 780 p4p, 88 weight class) and Harry Baals (ranked 569 p4p, 63 weight class). Hughes comes to the cage accompanied by Slam - By: Onyx. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hughes
vs
Baals

170 cm
33
154 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

185 cm
28
155 lbs
23 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bronson Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry Baals!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baals moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice straight punches there by Baals. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Baals.
Hughes misses the jab.
Hughes swings widly with a right hand
and Baals counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hughes throws a shot from downtown. Baals moves away and avoids it.
Jab from Hughes.
Hughes throws a jab but it's blocked by Baals.
Baals misses with a looping left.
Baals just misses with a punch to the body.
Hughes is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Baals's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Hughes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Baals sprawls well initially but Hughes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Baals is trying to get back to full guard.
Hughes not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Baals trying to control but Hughes postures up.

Hughes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Baals doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hughes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ground and pound from Hughes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hughes is trying to control the action in half guard but Baals is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baals tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Baals slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Baals blocks nicely.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baals swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baals is trying to control the position but Hughes postures up.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
Baals looking to control.

Baals working for a triangle but Hughes defends it easily.
Baals looking for a sweep. Not yet Baals, not yet.
Hughes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hughes passes Baals's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Baals is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hughes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Baals with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baals is not content to let Hughes control the position.
Baals tries to get to full guard but Hughes has control of the leg.
Hughes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Baals on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Baals wants to get back to full guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hughes connects with a nice short shot to Baals's temple.
Baals wants to get back to full guard.
Baals is trying to maintain the position but Hughes is very close to passing his half guard.

Baals actively working from the bottom here.
Hughes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Baals wants to control but Hughes is keeping busy.
Hughes working the head and body with strikes.
Hughes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hughes tries to pass to full mount but Baals defends it.
Ground and pound from Hughes.
Hughes landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Baals on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Baals is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes slips a nice elbow through Baals's hands, connecting with Baals's forehead.

Baals is rocked!
Hughes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Baals slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hughes with a nice head shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronson Hughes dominated that 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.

A head kick misses from Hughes.
Hughes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hughes moves away from the strike by Baals.
A chopping leg kick lands by Baals.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.
Hughes dips to his left and cracks Baals with an uppercut!
Hughes throws a body shot but no joy.
Baals counters with a body kick.
Baals with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Baals throws a head kick that misses.
Baals gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hughes.
Hughes lands a jab to the nose.
Hughes lands with a right hand.
Baals moves out of range as Hughes strikes.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Baals uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Baals.
And Baals tries to counter it with a takedown but Hughes pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Baals gets caught napping as Hughes dives in and scores a takedown. Baals manages to retain guard.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Baals keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes distracts Baals with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hughes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hughes working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hughes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hughes preventing the sweep.
Hughes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Baals swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Baals looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Baals throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baals keeping full guard, as Hughes tries to pass.
Hughes postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hughes connects with a couple of short punches.
Hughes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Baals can do to turn this around?
Hughes working some strikes from top position.
Hughes working some strikes from top position.
Hughes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hughes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Baals's head.

Baals is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughes defends well.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hughes is working Baals over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hughes with a nice head shot there.
Baals is still in real trouble! Can Hughes finish him?

Hughes is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Baals is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Baals has escaped and now he's on top!

Baals seems to have recovered his senses.
Baals is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Baals preventing the sweep.
Baals trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Baals stands up over Hughes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hughes looking for a sweep. Not yet Hughes, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Baals's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baals won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
Bronson Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baals chips away with some ground and pound.
Hughes keeping full guard, as Baals tries to pass.
Baals trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hughes working for a triangle but Baals defends it easily.
Hughes wants to sweep here but Baals controlling him for the moment.
Hughes is trying to keep Baals in close.
Hughes is really struggling to control Baals but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Baals lands a couple of elbows.
Baals postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bronson Hughes dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hughes misses the jab.
Hughes definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Baals moves out of range as Hughes strikes.
Baals changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hughes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Baals checks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Baals misses.
Baals throws a shot from downtown. Hughes moves away and avoids it.
Baals blocks a head kick by Hughes.
Hughes is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Baals displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hughes throws out the jab.
Hughes throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Baals connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Baals misses with a body shot.
Hughes misses with an uppercut. Baals saw that one coming.
Baals turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circling - Hughes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Nice body kick from Baals.
Hughes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The fighters circling - Hughes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A jab lands there for Baals.
Baals fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hughes manages to avoid it.
Hughes tries to counter by clinching up but Baals breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes takes one to the side of the head.
Hughes misses the jab.
A head kick misses from Hughes.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Baals moved away.
Baals throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Baals sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Baals raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Baals moves out of range as Hughes strikes.
Hughes throws a shot from downtown. Baals moves away and avoids it.
Baals lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Baals uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
Baals throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hughes slips a jab from Baals.
Baals ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
Baals throws a leg kick but Hughes sees it coming and moves out of range.
Hughes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bronson Hughes is winning the standup battle so far.
Baals ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
Baals moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Baals sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hughes lands with an overhand left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughes on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Baals. Baals obviously looking to wear him down.
A big left from Hughes misses.
Hughes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Baals.
Hughes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hughes backing away here, and Baals unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hughes throws a hook but Baals avoids it easily.
Harry Baals has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hughes throws a head kick but Baals moves out of range.
Baals misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Baals throws a shot from downtown. Hughes moves away and avoids it.
Baals steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.
Baals scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Baals cracks the inside of Hughes's front leg.
Hughes scores with a three punch combo!
Bronson Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baals throws a hook to the side of Hughes's head but Hughes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Baals swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hughes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Baals is fending him off so far but Hughes persists. Nope, Baals circles away and we're back to standing.
Baals is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bronson Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Baals walks into a stiff left hand from Hughes.
Baals misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hughes tries to counter with a takedown but Baals is quick to defend against it.
Baals looks to score with a jab to the body but Hughes is just out of range.
Baals throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hughes jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Despite the aggression on Baals's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Baals throws a hook but Hughes blocks it.
Hughes throws a head kick but Baals moves out of range.
A slow jab from Baals misses its intended target.
Hughes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Baals!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes dives in and grabs Baals's left leg, looking for a takedown. Baals pushes down on Hughes's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bronson Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Baals.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Baals closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A nice inside leg kick there by Baals. That's going to slow Hughes down.
Hughes misses with an uppercut. Baals saw that one coming.
Hughes blocks a head kick by Baals.
Hughes tries to counter by clinching up but Baals breaks away and moves out of range.
Baals tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Baals cracks Hughes with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A jab from Hughes finds it's way through Baals's defenses.
Hughes throws a lazy uppercut
and Hughes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hughes cracks Baals with an open hand slap.
Hughes lands a jab to the nose.
Hughes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Baals.
Baals shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughes throws a lazy uppercut

and Baals counters with a single leg into guard. Hughes didn't expect that.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harry Baals.
Well Hughes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bronson Hughes!
Post fight, Bronson Hughes took to the microphone: 'I want that title back. Gil Jacobson; I'm coming for you.'.