PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hakeem Nicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicks comes to the cage accompanied by You Suck. Hughes comes into a darkened arena with his song building. A Country Boy Can Survive kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Matt Hughes will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Nicks
vs
Hughes

182 cm
22
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
26
170 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hakeem Nicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matt Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nicks wants to clinch.

Nicks fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hughes to the ground. Nicks is now in Hughes's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Nicks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hughes keeping full guard, as Nicks tries to pass.
Nicks wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hakeem Nicks.
Nicks tries to bum rush Hughes with a series of wild strikes but Hughes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nicks swinging wildly here.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt

and Nicks counters with a shoot takedown. Hughes fights it but they end up in guard.
Nicks trying to move into half guard but instead Hughes has managed to sweep!
Hughes advances to half guard.
Hughes is looking to take a break and control but Nicks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nicks wants to get back to full guard.
Hughes is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
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 is looking to take a break and control but Nicks is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicks throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Nicks wants to control but Hughes is keeping busy.
Nicks is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nicks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hughes is working away from the top position though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nicks slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Nicks manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hughes on his heels. He'll look to pass Hughes's guard now, I'm sure.
Nicks stays in close to Hughes's body and controls the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nicks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hakeem Nicks has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Nicks 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.
Nicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nicks is breathing heavily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hughes working a defensive guard here.

We're going to have a standup here because Hakeem Nicks wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hughes enables Nicks to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hughes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nicks content to stall in guard here.

Hakeem Nicks has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Nicks circles away easily

and Nicks counters with a takedown into side control.
Hakeem Nicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hughes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nicks is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hughes has escaped the position, nice work there.
Nicks tries to advance to mount but Hughes denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeem Nicks dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nicks shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hughes manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nicks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hakeem Nicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nicks trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.

We're going to have a standup here because Hakeem Nicks wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Hughes enables Nicks to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Hughes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Nicks from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hakeem Nicks.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Nicks, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Nicks against the cage but Nicks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Nicks moves into the clinch.
Nicks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Nicks misses with some punches.

Nicks 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.
Nicks tries to free his leg and advance position but Hughes is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nicks trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Hakeem Nicks.
Nicks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Nicks wants it to stay on the feet.

Nicks clinches up with Hughes and pushes him back against the cage.

Nicks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes closes the distance and clinches up with Nicks, looking for a takedown. Hughes pushes Nicks against the cage but Nicks circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hakeem Nicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hughes.

Hughes tries to keep at a distance but Nicks has taken the fight into the clinch.

Nicks pulls guard effortlessly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Nicks keeps moving.
Nicks pulls Hughes in close to prevent any damage.
Hughes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

Nicks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hughes tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Nicks is in Hughes's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nicks sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hakeem Nicks wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Nicks throws a combination that misses

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughes wants to control but Nicks is keeping him busy.
Nicks is looking to improve his position.
Hughes moves nicely into side control.
Hughes wants to control but Nicks is keeping him busy.
Nicks gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Nicks is looking to improve his position but Hughes isn't that keen on the idea.
Hughes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nicks is looking to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hakeem Nicks dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hughes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nicks trying to move into half guard but instead Hughes has managed to sweep!

Nicks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hughes can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Nicks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Nicks keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nicks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes trying to control but Nicks is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Matt Hughes wasn't active enough on the ground.
Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nicks circles away.

Nicks drives through with a takedown into guard.
Nicks looking to pass the guard.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Nicks from controlling successfully.

That's two 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 Hakeem Nicks just wasn't active enough.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Nicks.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.
Hughes fails to land the takedown.
Hakeem Nicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hughes.

Nicks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Nicks is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hughes still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hughes has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes just content to control the position.
Hughes wants to control but Nicks is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Nicks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hughes controlling from side mount.
Nicks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes controlling from side mount.
Hughes wants to control but Nicks is keeping him busy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

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

Nicks drives through with a takedown into Hughes's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hakeem Nicks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nicks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hakeem Nicks!
During a confident post fight interview, Hakeem Nicks thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.