PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thufir Hawat (ranked 2452 p4p, 5572 weight class) and Mark Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hawat
vs
Hughes

185 cm
24
178
10 - 11 - 0

178 cm
21
178
0 - 0 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Thufir Hawat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Mark Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hughes.
Mark Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hawat throws a push kick but Hughes slaps the foot to one side.
Hawat scores with a jab.
Hughes misses with a straight left.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hughes has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hawat throws a sloppy head kick and Hughes moves out of range easily.
Hawat has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hawat takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hughes connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hawat's hands.
Hawat scores with a sloppy right hand. Hughes should have avoided that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hawat. Hughes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hawat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hughes.
Hughes scores with a sloppy right hand. Hawat should have avoided that one.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hawat.
Hawat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.
Hawat slips a straight right by Hughes.

Hughes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hawat is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.
Hughes is looking to pass into half guard but Hawat pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hawat is in guard.

Hawat is fighting to break Hughes's control of his arms but Hughes is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hughes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hawat has passed into side control.
Hawat tries to advance to mount but can't.
Hughes struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to get back to half guard.
Hawat has control of an arm but Hughes manages to advance to Hawat's back!
Hughes keeps control of the position as Hawat tries to break free.
Hughes throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Hawat rolls, trying to escape but Hughes keeps control of the position.

Hughes looking for the choke but no joy.
Hughes has the hooks in. Hawat is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hawat has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hughes has the hooks in. Hawat is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Well, with Hughes on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Hawat is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Hawat trying to control the position but Hughes manages to sink in the hooks.
Hughes has the hooks in. Hawat is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Hawat showing good submission defense here.
Hawat is trying to remain composed but Hughes is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Hawat tries to break free.

Hawat showing good submission defense here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hughes has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hawat has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Hawat tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hughes working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hughes with a couple of short strikes.
Hughes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hawat can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hawat's face.
Hughes tries to control but Hawat wriggling away.
Hughes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mark 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.

Hughes misses with a hook.
Hawat avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hughes clobbers Hawat with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hughes keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hawat.
Hawat connects with a leg kick.
Hawat throws out a leg kick but Hughes moves out of range and Hawat only half commits.
Hughes cracks Hawat with an open hand slap.
Hawat steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
Hawat is looking to counter with head kicks.
Hawat goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mark Hughes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hawat pushes Hughes away with a front kick.
Hughes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hawat.
It seemed like Hughes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hawat swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hawat moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Hawat tries to land a leg kick but Hughes saw it coming and moves away.
Hawat throws a lazy right hand but Hughes sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Nice uppercut there from Hughes.
Hughes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hughes misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hawat tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hawat lands with a nice body kick.
Hawat with a jab.
Nice defenses there by Hawat.
Hughes might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hughes punishes Hawat's body with a nice straight punch.
Hughes goes for a double leg but Hawat avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hawat continues to drive forward.
It looked like Hawat was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hughes.
Hughes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hawat can pounce on him.
Hughes cracks Hawat with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hughes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hawat slips under a jab from Hughes.
A counter left hand to the body from Hawat misses its target.
Hughes moves out of range of the body kick from Hawat.
Hughes changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hughes scores with a punch to the head.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Hawat shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hawat ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hughes moves away.
Hawat lands a nice shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes misses with an uppercut.
Hughes takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hawat throws the left hand but Hughes avoids the punch easily.
Hughes walks into a jab.
Hughes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hawat finds it's way round the side to connect with Hughes's head.
Hughes throws a lazy right hand but Hawat sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hawat throws a big counter combination but Hughes scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hughes misses with a looping left.
Hughes misses the jab.
Hughes throws a looping overhand right but Hawat ducks down to avoid it.
Hawat tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hughes scores with a nice right hand.
Hawat throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Mark Hughes has been cut.
Hawat feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hughess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hawat was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.
Hughes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hawat moves away.
Hawat throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hughes is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hawat with a body shot.
Hughes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Hawat uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hawat throws a counter high kick but Hughes was just alert enough to avoid it.
Hawat tries a head kick but it misses.
Hawat misses with a looping left.
Hughes slips under a jab from Hawat.
Hughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hawat manages to avoid it.
Hawat appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Hawat throws a head kick that half lands.
Hawat throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hawat finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hawat scores with a nice body kick.
Hawat scores with a body shot.
Hawat throws a head kick but Hughes moves out of range.
Hawat bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hawat tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hawat to the ground. Hawat escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Thufir Hawat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hughes.
Hawat lands a leg kick that knocks Hughes off balance momentarily.
Hawat throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hughes's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hawat stuffs the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hawat looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hawat just misses with a punch to the body.
Hughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hawat takes one to the chin there.
Hawat fakes the leg kick and cracks Hughes in the body.
Hawat misses with a kick to the body.
Thufir Hawat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hawat on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hughes with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hawat counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hawat lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hawat is looking to land body kicks.
Hawat looks for the body kick but Hughes saw that one coming.
Hughes misses with an uppercut. Hawat saw that one coming.
Hawat throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hughes crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hawat - the referee stops the clock and Hughes gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hawat. Hughes manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hawat pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hawat thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hughes scores with a jab to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thufir Hawat dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mark Hughes's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Hughes slips a jab from Hawat.
Hughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hawat misses with a low kick.
Hawat uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hughes.

Hawat gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hughes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Hawat keeps moving.
Hawat trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes looking to sit in guard and control but Hawat gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hughes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hawat has passed into side control.
Mark Hughes has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hughes regains half guard.
Hawat with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hughes trying to hold on to Hawat's head to control him but Hawat postures up.
Hughes is looking for a sweep. Hawat is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hawat controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hughes is looking to improve his position.
Hawat tries to pass to full mount but Hughes defends it.
Hawat takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hughes tries to get to full guard but Hawat has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hawat tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hughes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hawat is looking to slow Hughes down with leg kicks.
Hughes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hawat in his tracks.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Hawat uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hughes misses with a body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hawat.
A swing and a miss from Hughes.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hawat.
Hughes displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hawat throws out the jab.
Hughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hawat throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A leg kick checked by Hughes.
Hawat misses with a kick to the body.
Hawat throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hughes blocks a jab.
Hughes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hawat.
Hawat moves out of range of the strikes.
Hughes walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Hughes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hawat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hawat looks to throw a body kick
and Hughes counters with a straight right hand.
Hughes avoids the head kick by Hawat.
Hawat buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes throws a shot from downtown. Hawat moves away and avoids it.
Hawat pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hawat gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hawat ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thufir Hawat showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hawat has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thufir Hawat!