PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Seymour Hughes (ranked 815 p4p, 105 weight class) and James Smith (ranked 1438 p4p, 177 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Hughes
vs
Smith

167 cm
21
164 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

176 cm
28
164 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Seymour Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Smith!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Ben Hemmingworth and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith shoots for a double leg takedown but Hughes sprawls well. He's pushed Smith's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Smith uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith has his takedown stuffed
and Hughes counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like James Smith has been cut.
Smith scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hughes misses with a body punch
and Smith counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Smith moves out of range as Hughes strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Smith counters with a stiff right hand.
Smith throws a right hand that misses
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith with a poor takedown
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.
Seymour Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Smith.
Smith slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith shoots in and drives through. Hughes sprawls well.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Hughes counter with a right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Smith.
Hughes ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
James Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smith tries to bum rush Hughes with a series of wild strikes but Hughes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Hughes tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hughes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A counter left hand to the body from Hughes misses its target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries for a takedown but Hughes circles away easily
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Hughes swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Hughes gets caught napping as Smith dives in and scores a takedown. Hughes manages to retain guard.

Hughes looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Smith is working Hughes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Hughes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Hughes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hughes is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Hughes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.

Hughes is looking for a triangle but Smith pushes his legs off easily.

Smith avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hughes looking to control.

Hughes looking for a guillotine here but Smith defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Smith has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Five Round Fight Club NY (50 max). Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smith keeping full guard, as Hughes tries to pass.
Smith is controlling Hughes's posture.
Smith keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Hughes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smith is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Seymour Hughes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Smith's cut.
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.

Smith scores with a jab to the head.
Smith fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hughes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Seymour Hughes is winning the standup battle so far.
Smith dives in for a single leg takedown but Hughes sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hughes misses with the combination.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Hughes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith misses with a body shot.
Hughes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
It looked like Hughes was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Smith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt.
Hughes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Smith misses with a takedown attempt
and Hughes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Seymour Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Smith.
Hughes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hughes.
Smith throws a sloppy body shot
and Hughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smith tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hughes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smith somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a swing at Hughes's ribcage but misses.
Hughes throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hughes throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith throws out a loose jab but Hughes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hughes throwing a counter right hand but Smith manages to avoid it.
Smith takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Smith swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hughes misses with an uppercut. Smith saw that one coming.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Hughes has his feet on Smith's thighs here. He's pushed Smith off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Smith screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Seymour Hughes!
A pretty intense looking Seymour Hughes took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.