PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Sanninen (ranked 2551 p4p, 2590 weight class) and Marcus Hughes (ranked 344 p4p, 350 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.

Sanninen
vs
Hughes

190 cm
26
200
9 - 9 - 0

190 cm
27
199
8 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Fantasy Threads

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 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Daniel Sanninen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanninen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hughes, pushing him back against the cage.
Sanninen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Sanninen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike.
Sanninen throws an elbow but it misses.
Sanninen throws an elbow but it misses.
Sanninen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hughes blocks it with crossed arms.
Hughes dodges an elbow strike from Sanninen.
Sanninen misses with a knee to the head.
Hughes looking for a takedown.
Our sources have told us that Sanninen has been working on his elbows in the gym.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sanninen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sanninen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hughes blocks the elbow strike.
Sanninen gets underhooks to prevent Hughes's takedown attempt.
Sanninen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes avoids the elbow strike from Sanninen, against the cage.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike.
Hughes wants a takedown.
Daniel Sanninen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marcus Hughes.
Hughes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanninen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sanninen swinging wildly here.
Hughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sanninen was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.

Sanninen instigates a clinch.
Sanninen gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hughes.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike.
Hughes dodges an elbow strike from Sanninen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes blocks the elbow strike.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike from Sanninen.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Sanninen manages to get underhooks.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sanninen throws an elbow but misses.
Hughes dodges an elbow strike from Sanninen.
Sanninen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sanninen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hughes's brow.
Sanninen lands an elbow that stopped Hughes in his tracks for a moment.
Sanninen misses with a knee to the head.
Sanninen lands an elbow inside.
Sanninen throws an elbow but it misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A short right from Sanninen on the inside.
Hughes can't get the takedown.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Sanninen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hughes's brow.
Sanninen prevents the takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sanninen tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sanninen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hughes is trying to drag Sanninen to the mat but Sanninen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hughes dodges an elbow strike from Sanninen.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike from Sanninen.
Sanninen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sanninen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Sanninen lands an elbow just above Hughes 's eye.

It looks like Marcus Hughes has been cut.
Hughes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Sanninen is defending well.
Sanninen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sanninen throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanninen misses with an elbow strike.
Sanninen misses with an elbow over the top.
Sanninen connects with a knee to the head.
Sanninen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hughes has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hughes blocks an elbow strike from Sanninen.
Hughes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sanninen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A swing and a miss from Hughes.
Sanninen throws a body shot but no joy.
Hughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Sanninen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hughes blocks the elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes tries to score a body lock takedown but Sanninen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sanninen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Sanninen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Sanninen lands with a right to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Sanninen dominated that round.
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.

Hughes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hughes throws a sloppy body shot
and Sanninen counters with a slapping leg kick.

Hughes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sanninen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hughes is in Sanninen's guard.
Sanninen wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.

Sanninen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sanninen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sanninen has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.
Hughes working some strikes from top position.

Sanninen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hughes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hughes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sanninen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Sanninen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes chips away with some ground and pound.

Sanninen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughes defends well.
Hughes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hughes scoring with some ground and pound.
Sanninen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hughes can do to turn this around?

Sanninen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hughes stacks Sanninen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hughes!
Hughes cracks Sanninen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sanninen is looking for a sweep.
Sanninen is working hard here to advance position.
Hughes scores with punches from side control.
Sanninen is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Sanninen on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sanninen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hughes cracks Sanninen with a big right hand but Sanninen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hughes trying to control the action but Sanninen is working from the bottom.
Sanninen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Hughes connects with a decent elbow.
Sanninen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hughes scores with a big shot from side control... and another... and another! Oh Sanninen is done here - save him referee! More strikes land and eventually the ref does step in and Hughes can finally stop beating on his defenseless opponent!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marcus Hughes!