PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Robert Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Penn comes to the cage accompanied by Can't be touched. Robert Penn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Penn
vs
Hughes

180 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Self confident

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Robert Penn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes takes one to the chin there.
Matt Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes shoots in for a double leg but Penn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hughes dodges the punch combination from Penn.
Hughes gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Penn counters with a right hand to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Penn.
Hughes is looking to clinch.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.
Robert Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hughes.
Penn shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hughes eats them both and turns towards Penn to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Penn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Hughes has Penn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Penn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Penn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Penn misses with the combination.
Penn digs a good hook to Hughes's body.
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Penn tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Penn to the ground. Penn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Penn slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughes, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hughes tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Penn counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes fails to land the takedown.

Penn clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Penn wants to break the clinch but can't.
Penn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A right handed body shot lands from Penn.
Hughes is working for takedown but Penn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Penn gets underhooks to prevent Hughes's takedown attempt.
Penn is pressed up against the cage. Hughes has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Penn down to the mat. Penn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Penn moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Penn moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Penn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hughes, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Penn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hughes has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Robert Penn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Penn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Penn lands a jab-cross combination.

Penn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughes keeps control of Penn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Penn tries to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling the position.
Penn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hughes.
Penn is trying to break the clinch but Hughes has him pressed against the cage.
Penn wants to break free but Hughes has control.
Hughes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Penn fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hughes has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Penn finds it's way round the side to connect with Hughes's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penn lands a nice hook to Hughes's body. Hughes takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Hughes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Penn is looking to stand up but Hughes isn't so interested in that idea.
Penn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Penn wants to get back to his feet but Hughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hughes postures up in Penn's guard and throws a big left but Penn blocks it.

Hughes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Hughes thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Hughes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hughes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn wants to stand up but Hughes is controlling him.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hughes is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Penn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Penn's head.

Penn uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt - Penn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Penn defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hughes.
Hughes tries to bum rush Penn with a series of wild strikes but Penn uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Penn lands with a nice combination. Hughes backs away looking to recover.
Penn lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A shot to the liver by Penn. Beautiful body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Penn dominated that 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.

An inside leg kick lands from Penn.
Penn misses with a jab, cross combination.

Penn takes the fight into the clinch.
Penn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hughes.
A frustrated look appears on Penn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hughes is looking for a takedown.
Penn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hughes has him pressed against the cage.
Hughes goes for a takedown attempt but Penn pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Robert Penn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Hughes.
Penn lands a two punch combo.
Penn dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Penn tries to clinch there but Hughes circles away.
Hughes checks a leg kick nicely.
Hughes doesn't manage to clinch there - Penn circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hughes is defended easily by Penn.
Nice sprawl there from Penn as Hughes shoots in.
Robert Penn is winning the standup battle so far.
Penn tries to clinch up but Hughes circles away and keeps his distance.

Penn moves into the clinch.
Hughes keeps control of Penn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hughes has Penn pressed against the cage, preventing Penn from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Hughes has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Penn clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Penn is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hughes lands punches and elbows.

Penn showing good submission defense here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Penn wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hughes sinks in the hooks and is looking for the choke. He's got it! Penn taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matt Hughes!