PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hughes's entrance music is A Country Boy Can Survive. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hughes
vs
Jackson

175 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Hughes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy Jackson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jackson tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hughes.

Jackson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Hughes won't let him.
Jackson wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Billy Jackson.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Jackson enables Hughes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Jackson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hughes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes tries to free his leg and advance position but Jackson is retaining full guard.
Hughes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Jackson can do anything to dispel that myth.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Hughes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hughes misses with a takedown

and Jackson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hughes clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
I would not like to be Hughes right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson avoiding Hughes 's attempts to control his hands.
Jackson wants to control but Hughes is keeping busy.
Jackson not allowing Hughes to control his hands.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes covering up well under a series of strikes from Jackson.
Jackson controls the action.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Jackson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Jackson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hughes's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Jackson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jackson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Jackson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Jackson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Jackson showed some decent athleticism there.
Hughes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hughes has Jackson pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hughes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jackson is looking to stand up but Hughes won't let him.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Billy Jackson was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Hughes gets tackled into the cage by Jackson. Jackson maintains the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Jackson has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hughes regains guard immediately.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to stand and escape but instead Hughes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Jackson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hughes controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Matt Hughes just wasn't active enough.
Jackson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Jackson.
Matt Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hughes fails with the takedown.

Jackson feints and as Hughes raises his hands in defense, Jackson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes working a defensive guard here.
Hughes has a closed guard, preventing Jackson from standing up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Billy Jackson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hughes shoots in but Jackson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Jackson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hughes looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughes regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Jackson 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!

Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Jackson gets the takedown into side control.
Hughes is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Jackson working the ground and pound from side control.
Hughes managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Jackson.

Jackson swings around for an armbar but Hughes sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Jackson's guard.
Hughes trying to control but Jackson is working from the bottom.
Billy Jackson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughes sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Jackson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hughes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jackson working a defensive guard here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hughes gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Hughes drags him back down.
Jackson seems a little lost for a moment, as Hughes dominates the positioning.
Hughes trying to control the position but Jackson is working away.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom here.
A lull in the action here as Hughes stalls from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jackson is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson is looking to reverse the position.
Hughes staying calm.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Jackson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hughes takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hughes looks for a takedown but Jackson sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jackson takes the fight into the clinch.
Jackson landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hughes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Jackson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Jackson. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Jackson, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Jackson against the cage but Jackson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Jackson drives through with a takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Jackson really 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 scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jackson wants to get back to full guard.
Hughes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hughes is working away from the top position though.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hughes moves out of range as Jackson throws a body kick.
Jackson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jackson wants it to stay on the feet.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Hughes with that takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Jackson clinches.

Jackson manages to break the clinch.

Jackson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hughes quickly recovers to half guard.
Jackson wants to control but Hughes is keeping him busy.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Jackson is thwarting Hughes's attempts to control the position.

Billy Jackson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Jackson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jackson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hughes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Jackson wants to stand but Hughes has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hughes keeps working.

Jackson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hughes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Billy Jackson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Jackson throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Jackson shows good takedown defense.
A nice combination there by Jackson.
Jackson tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.

Jackson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Jackson with the ground and pound but Hughes uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Jackson wants to stand but Hughes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes has control of Jackson's left arm, preventing Jackson from doing any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Jackson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hughes's guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Billy Jackson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Hughes scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Hughes seems content to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Matt Hughes wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown but Jackson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hughes's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Jackson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Jackson is working for a kimura but Hughes is defending it quite comfortably.
Jackson wants to take a breather but Hughes is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to maintain the position but Jackson is very close to passing his half guard.
Jackson controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Billy Jackson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Hughes shoots in and gets a takedown into Jackson's guard.
Jackson looking to control.
Jackson being controlled here, momentarily.
Hughes looking to pass the guard.
Hughes's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jackson scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Matt Hughes.
Well Jackson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 45:50
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 46:49
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Jackson!
Billy Jackson is the new welterweight champion!