PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bud Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spencer has chosen Banana Joe Theme as his entrance music. Mark Hughes has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hughes
vs
Spencer

194 cm
25
279 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

194 cm
23
275 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mark Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Bud Spencer!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes lands a jab to Spencer's midsection.
Hughes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Spencer momentarily.
Hughes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Spencer takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hughes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hughes misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Hughes misses.
Spencer takes one to the side of the head.
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 throws a lazy right hand but Spencer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Spencer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hughes.
Hughes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spencer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hughes cracks a nice hook into Spencer's ribs.
Spencer on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Spencer blocks a jab.
Hughes wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Spencer looks gassed!
Hughes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Spencer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hughes jabs Spencer right on the nose. Spencer blinks but takes it well.
Hughes throws out a powerful jab.
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hughes scores with a punch to the head.
Mark Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes works Spencer's body with a nice hook.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Spencer avoids them all with ease.
Hughes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spencer slips under a jab.
Hughes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mark Hughes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughes connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hughes takes a swing at Spencer's ribcage but misses.
Spencer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
Hughes takes a swing at Spencer's ribcage but misses.
Spencer throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.
Hughes lands a really nice looking cross but Spencer seems unphased.
Hughes lands a lovely overhand right.
Hughes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spencer.
Hughes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hughes.
Hughes connects with a jab.
Hughes just misses with a punch to the body.
Hughes swings for the body but Spencer moves out of range.
Hughes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Spencer avoids the body shot from Hughes.
Hughes lands a nice hook to Spencer's body. Spencer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hughes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hughes lands a jab to the nose.
Hughes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Hughes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hughes is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hughes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Spencer's head backwards.
Hughes scores with a one two! Spencer had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Hughes lands with a straight right. Spencer didn't see that one coming.

Spencer is rocked!
Hughes lands a nice looking body shot.
Spencer drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Spencer is still on wobbly legs! Can Hughes finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Hughes.
Spencer seems to have recovered his senses.
Hughes lands a jab to the nose.
Hughes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spencer.
Hughes lands a nice hook to Spencer's body. Spencer takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Spencer takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A shot to the liver by Hughes. Beautiful body shot.
Hughes closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hughes throws a good cross that connects.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spencer manages to avoid it.
Hughes dips to his left and cracks Spencer with an uppercut!
Hughes misses with a body shot.
Hughes bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Spencer's head.
Hughes scores with a body shot.
Hughes throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes connects with a good right hand that stumbles Spencer. Spencer circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hughes lands with an uppercut that bounces Spencer off the cage and back into rage.
Hughes throws out a loose jab but Spencer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good work by Hughes as he checks the leg kick.
A big right from Hughes misses.
Spencer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hughes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hughes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spencer was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.
Spencer tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Spencer is just out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The fighters circle momentarily. Hughes darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
A punch lands to the side of Spencer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Spencer throws a head kick but Hughes moves out of range.
Hughes misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hughes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hughes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hughes lands an overhand right.
Hughes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spencer can do to turn this around?
A jab from Hughes misses.
Hughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Spencer is just out of range.
Hughes lands the left hand.
A head kick from Spencer lands but Hughes takes it in his stride.
Hughes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hughes throws a hook but Spencer blocks it.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spencer was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.
Hughes swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Spencer rushes Hughes and presses him up against the cage.
Spencer lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Spencer.
Hughes lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Spencer backwards.
Spencer tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughes's elbow.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Spencer is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Spencer has a takedown stuffed.
Hughes misses with a looping right.
Spencer misses with a body kick.
Spencer slips under a jab from Hughes.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hughes, as that shot connected.
Hughes scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Hughes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hughes lands with a nice body punch.
Hughes misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spencer.
Hughes swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Spencer 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 cracks Spencer with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hughes takes a swing at Spencer's ribcage but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a nice looking combination but Spencer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hughes lands a nice shot that snaps Spencer's head back.
Spencer throws a body kick that misses.
Spencer walks into a stiff left hand from Hughes.
Hughes misses with an uppercut. Spencer saw that one coming.
Spencer with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hughes to score with a decent uppercut.
Hughes keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Hughes works the jab nicely.
Spencer blocks a jab.
Spencer throws a low kick but Hughes avoids it.
Spencer tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes throws a good cross that connects.
Hughes connects with a right hand. Spencer shakes it off.
Hughes throws a looping overhand right but Spencer ducks down to avoid it.
Hughes missing with a left hand there. Spencer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hughes throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a right hand that Spencer ducks under and follows up with a left that Spencer also avoids with ease.
Spencer slips a straight right by Hughes.
Spencer lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hughes swings for the body but Spencer moves out of range.
Hughes lands with a hook. Spencer tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hughes connects with a looping right hand.
Hughes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hughes misses with an uppercut.
Hughes throws a jab when Spencer was well out of range.
Hughes throws a hook but Spencer blocks it.
Spencer tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes throws a right and a left that Spencer avoids nicely.
Spencer fails with a takedown attempt.
No joy there for Hughes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer looks to throw the jab but Hughes is out of range.
Spencer on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Spencer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hughes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hughes fails to land with a series of punches.
Spencer has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hughes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hughes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mark Hughes is winning the standup battle so far.
Hughes loads up on a big right hand but Spencer slips the punch.
Hughes works Spencer's body with a nice hook.

Spencer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hughes is trying to stand up here but Spencer is controlling him well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Well, if Spencer is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hughes dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hughes throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Spencer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hughes looks to land a left hand but Spencer moved out of range nicely.
Hughes doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hughes misses with a looping right.
Hughes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Spencer was well out of range. Poor timing from Hughes.
Spencer lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hughes's sensitive parts.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
Hughes misses with a body shot

and Spencer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Hughes's guard now.
Hughes wants to stand and escape but Spencer is having none of it.
Spencer trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spencer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hughes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hughes tries to get out of the position.
Spencer is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes is looking to stand up but Spencer isn't so interested in that idea.
Spencer stands up over Hughes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes has momentary wrist control but Spencer slips an elbow through the middle.
Spencer trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spencer won't allow Hughes to get back to his feet.
Hughes being controlled here, momentarily.
Spencer stops Hughes from standing up.
Spencer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Spencer has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Spencer shoots in and drives through. Hughes sprawls well.
Spencer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Spencer uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
Spencer lands a nice shot to the body.
Hughes swings away with a body shot that misses

and Spencer counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hughes won't be happy with that.
Spencer creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Hughes is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Spencer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hughes keeps working.
Hughes bucks up and tries to throw Spencer off but instead Spencer has got his back!
Spencer lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Hughes hold on?!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes looking very determined here, making life difficult for Spencer.
Spencer throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Hughes has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Spencer is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Spencer controls the action.
Spencer trying to control momentarily.
Hughes looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Spencer scores with punches to the body.
Hughes has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Bud Spencer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mark Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer landing with strikes.
Spencer lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Hughes.

Spencer is persistently looking for the submission but Hughes is defending it well.
Hughes looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Bud Spencer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Can Hughes hold on?! Spencer is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Hughes trying to get back to his feet but Spencer is in full control for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spencer connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Hughes to escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bud Spencer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hughes 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:27

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