PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Kaloev (ranked 2218 p4p, 3146 weight class) and Marcus Hughes (ranked 298 p4p, 417 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kaloev
vs
Hughes

160 cm
31
185
13 - 9 - 0

190 cm
26
199
7 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Abdul Kaloev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Hughes!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes with a hook.
Hughes throws an overhand right that lands on Kaloev's shoulder, as Kaloev tries to avoid the shot.
Hughes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've been hearing reports that Kaloev has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Hughes swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kaloev.
Hughes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Kaloev takes one on the button.
Kaloev misses with a wild body shot.
Hughes looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A big right from Hughes misses.
Kaloev throws a leg kick
and Hughes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kaloev at a distance.
Kaloev slips a jab from Hughes.
Kaloev misses with an uppercut
and Kaloev takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Jab, jab by Hughes - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaloev throws a leg kick but Hughes moved away.
Hughes throws out a powerful jab.

Kaloev bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Kaloev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hughes, who protects the arm well.
Kaloev working away.
Kaloev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hughes keeps working.
Hughes tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kaloev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hughes, who protects the arm well.
Hughes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev regains full guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaloev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kaloev passes Hughes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kaloev is thwarting Hughes's attempts to control the position.
Kaloev is trying to control the action in half guard but Hughes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kaloev is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hughes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hughes tries to roll over but Kaloev keeps him under control.
Kaloev passes to full mount!
Hughes is looking to improve his position but Kaloev isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries to hold on but Kaloev pushes him away.
Hughes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kaloev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kaloev is landing with some decent strikes but Hughes is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kaloev tries to control but Hughes wriggling away.
Hughes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kaloev looking to control but Hughes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kaloev tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hughes is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hughes's face.
Hughes is squirming around, avoiding Kaloev's attempts to control the action.
Hughes is desperately trying to improve his position but Kaloev has a good base and remains in mount.
Hughes tries to hold on but Kaloev pushes him away.
Kaloev throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kaloev controlling the position easily from mount.
Kaloev wants to control the pace but Hughes is squirming around nicely.
Hughes sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kaloev moves nicely into side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Abdul Kaloev will probably get the nod.
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.

The fighters circling - Hughes throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kaloev staying out of range there.

Kaloev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kaloev 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 Kaloev defends it easily.
Hughes keeping full guard, as Kaloev tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaloev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Kaloev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hughes is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kaloev off and has taken his back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaloev manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hughes's guard. Nice work there by Kaloev.
Kaloev trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes can't keep his opponent in guard - Kaloev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hughes is controlling Kaloev's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hughes wants to control but Kaloev is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Kaloev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kaloev seems to be working for a kimura but Hughes defends the submission attempt.

Kaloev is looking for a kimura but Hughes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kaloev to get the leverage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to control but can't.
Kaloev works his way into full mount!
Hughes wants to control but Kaloev is having none of it.
Kaloev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hughes is looking to escape.
Kaloev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hughes is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hughes is looking to escape.
Hughes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kaloev is thwarting Hughes's attempts to control the position.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back.
Hughes is trying to control but Kaloev passes into side control!
Kaloev advances to full mount.

Kaloev goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hughes turns into him and now he's in Kaloev's guard.
Kaloev 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.
Hughes is looking to control Kaloev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hughes avoid being mounted?
Hughes is staying active underneath Kaloev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hughes trying to hold on to Kaloev's head to control him but Kaloev postures up.
Kaloev is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Hughes!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Abdul Kaloev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kaloev looking to secure an arm triangle but Hughes defends it well.
The referee warns Hughes that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Kaloev dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kaloev blocks a jab.
Kaloev half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
A jab from Hughes does it's job there.
Hughes throws the left hand but Kaloev avoids the punch easily.
Hughes throws a jab when Kaloev was well out of range.
Kaloev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hughes is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Kaloev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Kaloev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hughes controls Kaloev momentarily but Kaloev frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaloev wants to pass the guard but Hughes is keeping the position.
Kaloev advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaloev tries to pass to full mount but Hughes defends it.
Hughes is not content to let Kaloev control the position.
Hughes scores with a few weak punches.

Hughes actively working from the bottom here.
Kaloev uses his free foot to push down on Hughes's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hughes.
Hughes tries to hold on but Kaloev pushes him away.
Kaloev thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

Kaloev working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hughes is looking to improve his position but Kaloev isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev avoids the attempt from Hughes to control.
Hughes gets back to half guard.
Hughes trying to hold on to Kaloev's head to control him but Kaloev postures up.
Kaloev is looking to take a break and control but Hughes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hughes regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hughes looking for a guillotine here but Kaloev defends easily.
Kaloev advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev works his way into side control.
Hughes sneaks back into half guard.

Kaloev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hughes moves into full guard.
Kaloev wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.
Kaloev wants to pass the guard but Hughes is keeping the position.

Hughes throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kaloev uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaloev advances to full mount.
Kaloev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hughes can do to turn this around?
Hughes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Abdul Kaloev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kaloev throwing strikes here but Hughes is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kaloev wants to control the pace but Hughes is squirming around nicely.
Marcus Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Kaloev is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hughes to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hughes shrugs it off.
Kaloev looking to control but Hughes is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaloev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hughes?

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Kaloev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kaloev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Abdul Kaloev!
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight for Abdul Kaloev!
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight for Abdul Kaloev!

Abdul Kaloev wins by unanimous decision!
Abdul Kaloev made sure to mention his sponsor, Conquer in his post fight interview.