PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mata Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiger JK (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hughes
vs
JK

170 cm
25
134 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
134 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mata Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tiger JK!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Dirk Anderson and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
JK fails with the takedown.

Hughes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
JK not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hughes tries to free his leg and advance position but JK is retaining full guard.
Hughes stays in close to JK's body and controls the position.
JK looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
JK looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
JK with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
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 controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

JK has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.
Hughes postures up and lands a big shot to JK's brow.
Hughes passes JK's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hughes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
JK tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Hughes not doing much here.
JK on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
JK wants to improve his position but Hughes is controlling well.
Hughes slows the pace down in half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hughes tries to pass to full mount but JK defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hughes is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hughes is working for a submission of some sort.
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 content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hughes is trying to work for a kimura but JK is defending well.
Hughes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for JK!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is landing with some decent strikes but JK is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
JK can't escape the position.
Hughes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hughes controlling from mount.
Hughes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
JK bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
JK preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hughes is on top in guard.
JK tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hughes showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
JK looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hughes looking to pass the guard.
Hughes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
JK keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hughes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of JK's head.
Hughes passes into half guard.

Hughes is sneakily working for an arm triangle but JK sees it coming and defends easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
JK wants to get back to full guard.

Hughes seems to be working for a kimura but JK defends the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mata Hughes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

JK has his takedown stuffed

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into guard.
JK trying to control the position.
Hughes postures up and lands a big shot to JK's brow.
Hughes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hughes passes JK's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hughes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
JK is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hughes scores with a couple of nice shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughes slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hughes stalling.
JK is refusing to be controlled, as Hughes sits in half guard.
Hughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
JK tries to get to full guard but Hughes has control of the leg.
Hughes stalling.

Mata Hughes has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Hughes fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging JK to the ground. Hughes is now in JK's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes advances to half guard.
Hughes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
JK manages to get to full guard.
Hughes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
This has been an exciting period of action!
JK lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hughes!
Hughes is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
JK tries to control but Hughes wriggling away.
Hughes can't escape the position.
Hughes regains half guard.
Hughes wants to control but JK is keeping busy.
JK prevents Hughes from improving his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

JK is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
JK trying to pass the guard but Hughes defending well.

JK is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hughes sees it coming and defends easily.
JK wants to pass to mount but Hughes is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hughes moves into full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes has JK pulled in close to control his posture.
Hughes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hughes trying to control the action but JK is working from the bottom.
JK is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hughes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mata Hughes dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hughes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. JK did well to prevent Hughes getting side control.
Hughes prevents JK from improving his position.
Hughes takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Mata Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hughes tries to pass to full mount but JK defends it.

Hughes looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
JK looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes trying to pass the guard but JK defending well.
JK is pressing down on Hughes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. JK swivels though and keeps the full guard.
JK looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.
Hughes sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hughes trying to control but JK is working from the bottom.
Hughes is pushing down on JK's leg trying to pass to half guard. JK is fighting to maintain full guard but Hughes has managed to sneak the leg through.

Hughes wants to work for an arm triangle but JK is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

JK looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Hughes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. JK doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hughes.
Hughes is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hughes working JK over with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
JK won't allow Hughes to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes controlling the pace.
Hughes wants to take a breather but JK is having none of it.
JK is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hughes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hughes's back!
Hughes is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

JK is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Hughes taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from JK.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tiger JK!
An out of breath Tiger JK thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.