PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Fiore Azul (ranked 2131 p4p, 2745 weight class) and Marcus Hughes (ranked 291 p4p, 368 weight class). 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.

Azul
vs
Hughes

182 cm
24
199
7 - 3 - 0

190 cm
25
199
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
HELLBENT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Fiore Azul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Azul.
Azul connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hughes has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Azul fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hughes manages to avoid it.
Some bone on bone action there as Hughes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hughes staying out of range there.
Azul throws a hook but Hughes blocks it.
Azul drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
A big right from Hughes misses.
Azul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Azul definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azul tries to move into range but Hughes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Azul thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hughes throws the left hand but Azul avoids the punch easily.
Azul misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Azul as Hughes shoots in.
Hughes connects with the punch.
Hughes takes one on the chin but seems OK.

It looks like Marcus Hughes has been cut.
Azul slips under a jab from Hughes.
Azul drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Azul throws a body shot but no joy.
Azul throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hughes.
Hughes has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hughes dips to his left and cracks Azul with an uppercut!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hughes. Azul does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Azul manages to avoid it.
Hughes throws an overhand right that lands on Azul's shoulder, as Azul tries to avoid the shot.
Hughes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Marcus Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azul throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Azul slips a jab from Hughes.
It looked like Azul was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hughes.
Hughes slips a straight right by Azul.
Hughes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Azul throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hughes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Azul takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The fight stays on the outside here - Azul looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azul thows a left - swing and a miss!
Azul misses with an uppercut.
Azul defending well as Hughes loads up on a big left hand.
Azul is looking to land body kicks.
Azul scores with a decent looking hook.

Azul gets caught napping as Hughes dives in and scores a takedown. Azul manages to retain guard.
Azul tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azul is controlling Hughes's posture.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Azul.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hughes landing with the ground and pound.
Azul looking to control.
Azul manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hughes manages to get himself to full guard.

Azul has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Azul accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Azul throws a strike but Hughes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughes won't allow Azul to sweep him here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marcus Hughes will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Marcus Hughes's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A nice leg kick from Azul, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hughes moves into range and connects with a jab.
Azul misses with a straight left.
Azul gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hughes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Azul moves away.
Hughes loads up on a big right hand but Azul slips the punch.

Azul closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hughes quickly recovers to half guard.
Hughes wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azul is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Azul prevents Hughes from improving his position.
Azul wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hughes keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hughes.
Azul won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
Azul throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hughes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Azul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Azul is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Azul is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Azul content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azul working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hughes's head.
Azul trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
Fiore Azul overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hughes lands a couple of shots from the bottom.
Azul makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Azul lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hughes is trying to keep Azul in close.

Azul avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Azul from controlling successfully.
Azul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hughes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hughes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hughes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Azul controls the pace.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Azul from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Azul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Azul is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Hughes has his foot on Azul's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Azul works his way back into a safe position though.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Azul from controlling successfully.
Azul content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Azul in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Azul accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hughes trying to keep a closed guard but Azul is proving a slippery customer.
Azul trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Fiore Azul dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Hughes's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hughes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hughes misses with a hook. Azul ducked under it nicely.
Azul throws a right and a left that both miss.
Azul lands a glancing blow to the side of Hughes's head.

Hughes closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Azul's guard.
Azul seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azul has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hughes has passed into side control.
Azul tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes throws an elbow but Azul slips to the side and avoids it well.
Azul is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hughes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

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.
Azul tries to get to full guard but Hughes has control of the leg.
Azul makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Azul.
Hughes throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Azul works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Azul is on top in guard.

Hughes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Azul is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Azul throwing strikes but missing.
Hughes can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Azul controls the pace.
Azul makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Azul is one step ahead there.
Azul throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Azul looking to sit in guard and control but Hughes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

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

Hughes working a defensive guard here.

Hughes looking for a guillotine here but Azul defends easily.
Azul missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Azul is in close to Hughes's body, working some short punches and elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marcus 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight for Fiore Azul!
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight for Fiore Azul!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Fiore Azul!

Fiore Azul wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Fiore Azul thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.