PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between George Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rugal Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hughes
vs
Gracie

187 cm
18
221 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, George Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rugal Gracie!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Frank Dennis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt

and Gracie counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.
Gracie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gracie got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hughes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gracie has managed to get both his arms back between Hughes's legs - danger averted.
Gracie trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hughes looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Hughes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hughes trying to control the position.
Gracie must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gracie drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hughes dives on top into guard.

Gracie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hughes controlling from the top position.
Hughes won't allow Gracie to sweep him here.
Our spies down at at Cozad MMA Las Vegas inform us that Gracie has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Gracie pulls Hughes in close to prevent any damage.
Gracie looking for a sweep. Not yet Gracie, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Gracie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gracie is adopting a defensive guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hughes misses with the combination.
Hughes fails with the takedown.
Hughes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hughes to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hughes is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hughes looking to pass the guard.

Gracie had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hughes defends it easily.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Gracie is keeping the position.
Gracie keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Gracie tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracie is retaining full guard.
Hughes passes into half guard.
Hughes trying to control from half guard but Gracie is working away.
Gracie looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hughes is keen to just control but Gracie is a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A big right from Gracie misses.
Gracie changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hughes tries to avoid it but Gracie manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hughes to the ground. Hughes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Gracie fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hughes manages to avoid it.
Gracie tries to land a front kick but Hughes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hughes misses with a hook. Gracie ducked under it nicely.
Gracie throws a jab but it's blocked by Hughes.
Hughes looks to throw the jab but Gracie is out of range.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gracie but Gracie pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for George Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gracie wants to clinch up but Hughes keeps it at a distance.

Gracie gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gracie is looking for a kimura but Hughes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gracie to get the leverage.
Rugal Gracie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughes is trying to control but can't.

Gracie 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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gracie in particular looking to stall.
Hughes is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hughes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Gracie is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hughes wants to get back to full guard.

Hughes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gracie pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hughes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Hughes is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hughes wants to control the position but Gracie says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes looking for submissions off his back.
Hughes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gracie is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hughes is staying active underneath Gracie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hughes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hughes.

Hughes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Gracie is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hughes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gracie seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Gracie from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gracie drops his hands momentarily and Hughes takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hughes gets caught flat footed, as Gracie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rugal Gracie 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! This is the final round!

Hughes with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Hughes!
Hughes seems a little lost for a moment, as Gracie dominates the positioning.

Gracie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hughes knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hughes gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Hughes gets full guard.

Hughes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gracie doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gracie manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.

Hughes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gracie defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gracie advances position into side control!

Gracie wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hughes, who protects the arm well.
Hughes is looking for a sweep.
Hughes is trying to control Gracie's posture but Gracie avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Gracie controlling the position from side mount.

Gracie tries for a kimura but Hughes is defending well.
Hughes manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Gracie won't allow Hughes to pass to mount.

Hughes seems to be working for a kimura but Gracie defends the submission attempt.

Hughes is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him
Hughes trying to control the action but Gracie is working from the bottom.
Gracie is positioning himself well to prevent Hughes advancing to mount.
Gracie tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Gracie is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hughes is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Gracie wants to hold on but Hughes pushes him away.
Hughes throwing strikes here but Gracie is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Hughes working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Hughes is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gracie is surviving well by controlling Hughes's body position as best he can.
Hughes prevents Gracie from getting the reversal.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hughes looking to control but Gracie is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Gracie avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hughes.

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 George Hughes.
I think Hughes 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 George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Hughes!