PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vinnie Sproston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sproston
vs
Hughes

179 cm
23
154 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
21
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Vinnie Sproston!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Johny Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sproston blocks a head kick by Hughes.
Hughes tries to bum rush Sproston with a series of wild strikes but Sproston uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hughes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Sproston sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Sproston!
Hughes misses with a body shot.

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

Hughes jumps guard and drags Sproston to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sproston wants to stand but Hughes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sproston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sproston is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hughes wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sproston wants to stand but Hughes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hughes pulls Sproston in close to prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Johny Hughes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sproston doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Hughes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sproston lands with a kick to the ribs.
Sproston throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sproston misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sproston lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Hughes digs a good body shot into Sproston's ribs.
Hughes closes the distance but Sproston moves to the side
and Sproston counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sproston throws a head kick that half lands.
Hughes's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hughes duly obliges.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hughes.
Sproston misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hughes.
Hughes connects with a body shot that sends Sproston's belly button to the back.
Sproston wants to clinch.
Hughes lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hughes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sproston tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hughes is in Sproston's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sproston trying to control the position.
Sproston is looking to sweep but instead, Hughes has passed into half guard.
Hughes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Sproston is concentrating on defense, preventing Hughes from advancing position.
Sproston is looking to improve his position.
Hughes controlling the action here.

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 referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hughes misses with a kick to the body.
Sproston lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Sproston moves out of range.
Sproston fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hughes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sproston moves away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sproston enables Hughes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sproston manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sproston is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sproston keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Hughes preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hughes gets to his feet - Sproston follows without any prompting.
Hughes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes looks gassed!
Hughes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sproston displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hughes.
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!
Jab from Sproston.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sproston buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Sproston scores with a kick to the body.
Sproston fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hughes on the side of the head.
A solid body kick from Sproston.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johny Hughes will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A solid body kick from Sproston.
Vinnie Sproston is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sproston avoids the head kick by Hughes.
Vinnie Sproston seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sproston scores with the left hand. Hughes knows he should have avoided that one.
Sproston shoots in and drives through. Hughes sprawls well.
Sproston is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A jab lands there for Sproston.
Hughes jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
A punch combination from Hughes misses.
Sproston bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sproston throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hughes.
Sproston uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hughes.
Sproston throws a nice head kick!
Sproston scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sproston misses with a head kick.
Sproston shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hughes pinned against the cage. Hughes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A slapping leg kick lands for Sproston.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sproston throws a sloppy head kick and Hughes moves out of range easily.
Hughes tries to clinch but Sproston moves out of range.
Hughes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Sproston stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sproston wants it to stay on the feet.
Sproston throws a nice inside leg kick.
Sproston fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hughes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sproston connects with a high kick.
Sproston sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Sproston fakes the leg kick and cracks Hughes in the body.
Sproston blocks the body kick.
Sproston tries a head kick but it misses.
Some wild striking there from Hughes.
Both fighters circling a little - Sproston finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sproston defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.
No joy there for Hughes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hughes throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hughes takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sproston plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Both fighters circling a little - Sproston finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sproston connects with a looping right hand.
Sproston connects with an inside leg kick.
Sproston lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Sproston is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hughes takes a kick to the side of the head.
A solid leg kick lands there for Sproston.
A combination from Hughes does no damage.
Sproston moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Vinnie Sproston is winning the standup battle so far.
Sproston pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sproston plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sproston throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sproston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hughes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Sproston rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hughes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sproston shoots in looking for a takedown. Hughes tries to sprawl out of it but Sproston keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hughes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vinnie Sproston. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes misses with a wild combination.
Hughes is looking to clinch but Sproston is avoiding it.
Hughes tries to clinch but Sproston moves out of range.
Sproston swats away the attempt to clinch by Hughes.
Hughes has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Sproston.

Sproston clinches.

Sproston manages to break the clinch.
Hughes is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Sproston rather than just go for the knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sproston slips under a jab from Hughes.
Hughes wants to clinch up but Sproston keeps it at a distance.
Sproston tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sproston explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

Hughes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sproston prevents the takedown attempt.

Sproston breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sproston thows a body kick. Hughes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hughes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Sproston manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sproston moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Hughes's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sproston lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Sproston.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sproston chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A nice combination there by Hughes.
Sproston tries to clinch but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vinnie Sproston dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Hughes feints and as Sproston raises his hands in defense, Hughes changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hughes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Sproston's head.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sproston swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Sproston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Sproston keeps moving.

Hughes drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sproston looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sproston looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sproston!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes manages to work his way to half guard, despite Sproston's best efforts.
Hughes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sproston is trying to control. Hughes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hughes trying to control here.
Hughes is staying active underneath Sproston, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Sproston sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hughes defending well though.
It looks like Sproston is going to stand back up.
Hughes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sproston is working away from the top position though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Sproston avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a sloppy head kick and Sproston moves out of range easily.
Sproston scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Sproston is looking to clinch but Hughes is avoiding it.
Hughes takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Sproston moved away.
Sproston throws a head kick that Hughes semi-blocks.
Sproston lands with a slapping head kick.
Sproston throws a series of punches but Hughes avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Hughes. Those never looked like landing.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes has Sproston pressed against the cage, preventing Sproston from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sproston throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hughes tries a body shot but Sproston blocks it.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Hughes jumps guard and drags Sproston to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Sproston from controlling successfully.
Hughes is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sproston is controlling him.

Hughes manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Sproston moves into range and clinches up with Hughes.

Sproston pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes tries to clinch up.
Sproston scores with a kick to the body.
Sproston dodges the punch combination from Hughes.

Sproston moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Sproston.
Sproston wants to take the fight to the mat but Hughes manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Sproston escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sproston lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sproston enables Hughes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sproston manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sproston keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Hughes throws a big right hand that misses.
Sproston is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sproston pushes Hughes off and scrambles back to his feet.

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 Vinnie Sproston.
I think Sproston 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:28
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vinnie Sproston!
A victorious Vinnie Sproston thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.