PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Kirkson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kirkson comes into the arena with Bring Tha Noize blaring out of the sound system. Stephan Kirkson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kirkson
vs
Hughes

184 cm
19
210 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

188 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Stephan Kirkson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andy Hughes!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirkson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kirkson wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.
Hughes misses with the combination.

Hughes looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kirkson tries to get to full guard but Hughes has control of the leg.
Kirkson pushes Hughes off looking to stand but Hughes dives back in and keeps control.

Kirkson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hughes postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kirkson to stand up.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kirkson can't escape the position.
Hughes landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes content just to control the position here.
Hughes lands a big elbow.
Kirkson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hughes controlling from the full mount.
Hughes cracks Kirkson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kirkson is trying desperately to improve position.
Hughes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kirkson is looking to escape.
Kirkson is in a horrible position here. Hughes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hughes cracks Kirkson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kirkson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hughes lands a big elbow.
Kirkson is breathing heavily.
Hughes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Hughes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Kirkson is surviving well by controlling Hughes's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Hughes working for a submission but Kirkson is keeping him at bay.
Hughes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kirkson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirkson is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughes has a good base and remains in mount.
Hughes wants to control the pace but Kirkson is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Hughes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes scoring with strikes but Kirkson is staying in there.
Hughes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kirkson is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hughes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughes takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kirkson wants to control but Hughes is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Hughes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hughes pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Kirkson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.
Hughes moves out of range of the strikes.
Hughes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hughes lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kirkson circles away quickly and effectively.
Hughes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Kirkson is just out of range.
Kirkson misses with a head kick.
Hughes lets loose with a powerful body kick. Kirkson will feel that in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.
Hughes sizes up Kirkson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kirkson with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hughes counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Hughes not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirkson tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Hughes is looking to advance position but Kirkson won't allow it.
Hughes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Hughes stands up and beckons Kirkson to join him on the feet.
Kirkson fails with the takedown
and Hughes counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hughes lands a nice hook to Kirkson's body. Kirkson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hughes misses with a few strikes there.
Hughes misses with a low kick as Kirkson jumps back.
Kirkson darts in trying to clinch
and Hughes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Hughes feints and as Kirkson raises his hands in defense, Hughes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Kirkson keeps moving.

Hughes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hughes lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirkson throws a head kick that misses
and Hughes finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A big right from Kirkson misses.

Hughes looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kirkson!
Kirkson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kirkson regains half guard.
Kirkson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kirkson trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hughes is looking to take a break and control but Kirkson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hughes is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hughes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kirkson throws a combination that misses

so Hughes counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kirkson working a defensive guard here.
Hughes is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughes throws a body kick that misses.
Kirkson darts in trying to clinch

and Hughes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kirkson is trying to control the position but Hughes postures up.
Kirkson wants to hit a switch here but Hughes passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Kirkson there!
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes controlling the position easily from mount.
Hughes lands with some strikes.
Kirkson working to try and regain half guard.
Hughes scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kirkson?
Kirkson can't escape the position.
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Kirkson is looking to get to half guard.
Hughes unloading with bombs!
Andy Hughes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughes is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hughes pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Hughes won't let Kirkson get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hughes controlling from the full mount.
Hughes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kirkson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kirkson is trying to escape the mount.
Andy Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hughes looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kirkson is trying to escape the mount.
Hughes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kirkson looks a forlorn figure.
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Stephan Kirkson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Andy Hughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hughes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 26:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Hughes!