PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bolli Gru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hughes Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gru comes to the cage accompanied by Red Hot Chili Peppers - Suck My Kiss. Matt Hughes Jr has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gru
vs
Hughes Jr

182 cm
19
149 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bolli Gru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Hughes Jr!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes Jr is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gru.

It looks like Matt Hughes Jr has been cut.
Hughes Jr circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hughes Jr displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Gru.
Bolli Gru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hughes Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hughes Jr looking to control but Gru is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gru keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes Jr thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Gru is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hughes Jr looking to control but Gru is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gru is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughes Jr has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes Jr controlling the position easily from mount.
Hughes Jr misses with a head shot.

Hughes Jr is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gru can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hughes Jr trying to control but Gru is having none of it.

That's two 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.
Gru keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gru tries to hold on but Hughes Jr pushes him away.
Hughes Jr tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hughes Jr's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Gru is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes Jr looking to control and managing it successfully.
Gru wants to control but Hughes Jr is having none of it.
Gru is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gru is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gru is breathing heavily.
Hughes Jr throws some wild stikes that Gru manages to avoid easily.
Hughes Jr throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hughes Jr looking to finish with strikes here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gru is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Hughes Jr there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bolli Gru dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Hughes Jr's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Some wild striking there from Gru.

Hughes Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Gru really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Gru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hughes Jr gets to his feet. Gru looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hughes Jr bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Gru wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hughes Jr happy to just control the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes Jr has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gru!
Hughes Jr sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hughes Jr tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Hughes Jr looking to finish with strikes here!
Gru is in a horrible position here. Hughes Jr smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hughes Jr looking to ground and pound but Gru is blocking nicely.
Hughes Jr controlling from the full mount.
Hughes Jr throwing strikes here but Gru is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes Jr 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 Jr lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hughes Jr landing punches.
Hughes Jr in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hughes Jr controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes Jr throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Hughes Jr jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Gru manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Hughes Jr passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Gru!
Hughes Jr tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Hughes Jr's cut.
That's time! Gru's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hughes Jr shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hughes Jr stands and steps away. Gru gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Gru moves in looking to clinch but Hughes Jr pushes him off.

Hughes Jr rushes Gru and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes Jr tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Gru is trying to break the clinch but Hughes Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Hughes Jr tries to pull guard but Gru holds him up against the cage and eventually Hughes Jr drops back down to his feet.
Gru looking for a takedown.
Hughes Jr tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gru avoids it.
Gru prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bolli Gru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hughes Jr.
Hughes Jr drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gru pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gru throws a right hand that Hughes Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Hughes Jr also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Hughes Jr or perhaps it was just good defense by Gru which made him look bad.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hughes Jr.
No joy there for Gru, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Hughes Jr forces Gru back against the cage and clinches.

Hughes Jr lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hughes Jr is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hughes Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughes Jr escapes and gets back to his feet.
Gru tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Hughes Jr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hughes Jr.
Gru working hard to break the clinch.

Hughes Jr wants the takedown. Gru is fighting it off but Hughes Jr persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Gru's guard against the cage.
Hughes Jr controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gru keeping moving, preventing Hughes Jr from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gru is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Gru can't keep his opponent in guard - Hughes Jr advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gru blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hughes Jr.
Hughes Jr is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Hughes Jr is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Gru is just riding it out for now. Hughes Jr eventually gives up the hold.

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.
Gru is trying to stand up here but Hughes Jr is controlling him well.
Gru is trying to maintain the position but Hughes Jr is very close to passing his half guard.
Hughes Jr is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hughes Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hughes Jr 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29

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