PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonard Fitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hughes might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Hank Williams Jr. - Country Boy Can Survive . Fitch has chosen Metallica - Turn The Page as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hughes
vs
Fitch

175 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leonard Fitch!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Chris Downing and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fitch misses with a low kick.
Fitch looks for a takedown but Hughes sprawls well.

Hughes darts in and clinches Fitch up against the cage.
Fitch drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hughes gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Fitch tries to circle away but Hughes has him pinned against the cage.

Hughes turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Hughes is trying to get an arm triangle but Fitch is defending well.
Fitch prevents Hughes from improving position.
Hughes working the body and head with strikes.

Hughes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hughes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch struggling a bit here.
Fitch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hughes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Hughes tries for a kimura but Fitch is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fitch wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Fitch is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Hughes fails to land a wild elbow strike.

Hughes working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hughes scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Fitch to see if he's OK.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fitch can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hughes is breathing heavily.

Hughes tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hughes tries to move into full mount but can't pass Fitch's legs.

Fitch throws Hughes to one side and escapes!
Nice takedown defense from Hughes. No joy for Fitch on that attempt.
Matt Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leonard Fitch.
Fitch gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hughes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hughes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fitch looking for a guillotine here but Hughes defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Fitch blocks nicely.
Hughes postures up.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hughes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Fitch looking for a guillotine here but Hughes defends easily.
Hughes trying to control but Fitch is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fitch preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Fitch working a defensive guard here.
Hughes slips nicely into half guard.
Hughes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hughes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hughes wants to work for an arm triangle but Fitch is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes dominated that round.
That's time! Hughes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Fitch shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hughes trying to keep a closed guard but Fitch is proving a slippery customer.
Fitch is stalling in the full guard.

Hughes is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Hughes wants the takedown. Fitch is fighting it off but Hughes persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Fitch's guard against the cage.
Fitch looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Fitch throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hughes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Matt Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fitch working a defensive guard here.
Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.

Hughes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Fitch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fitch 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.
Hughes connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hughes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Fitch keeps moving.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fitch keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Hughes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hughes has gone for a leg lock! Fitch slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hughes's guard.
Fitch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Fitch's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hughes pushes Fitch off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes tries to sprawl but Fitch drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fitch wants to take a breather but Hughes is having none of it.
Fitch throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Fitch wants to take a breather but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes is looking to control Fitch's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hughes avoid being mounted?
Hughes is looking to improve his position.
Fitch wants to take a breather but Hughes is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Fitch tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Hughes actively working from the bottom here.
Hughes is pressing down on Fitch's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hughes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hughes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hughes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Fitch from controlling successfully.

Hughes is looking for a triangle but Fitch pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Hughes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Fitch defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Leonard Fitch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Fitch lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Fitch cracks Hughes with a right hand to the side of the head.

Hughes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fitch to the ground. Hughes is now in Fitch's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hughes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Fitch holds on and takes a little breather.
Fitch wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.
Fitch working a defensive guard here.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
Fitch keeping full guard, as Hughes tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Fitch blocks nicely.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Fitch keeps moving.
Fitch seems keen to control Hughes's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Leonard Fitch.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hughes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jab from Fitch.
Hughes dives in and grabs Fitch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Fitch pushes down on Hughes's head and hops out.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hughes checks a leg kick.
Matt Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown but Fitch manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hughes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fitch shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hughes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Fitch did well to prevent Hughes getting side control.

Hughes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Fitch defends it well.
Hughes throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hughes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fitch has hold of Hughes's hands but Hughes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Hughes is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Fitch is just riding it out for now. Hughes eventually gives up the hold.
Fitch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fitch keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Fitch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hughes is working away from the top position though.
Hughes is keen to just control but Fitch is a slippery customer.

Fitch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hughes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fitch defending well though.

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.
Fitch is trying to maintain the position but Hughes is very close to passing his half guard.
Fitch is trying to control but Hughes manages to pass to mount!
Hughes scoring with strikes but Fitch is staying in there.

Hughes has hold of Fitch's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Fitch manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hughes looking to finish with strikes here!
Hughes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28

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