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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Rave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nigel McHughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rave comes to the cage accompanied by What Happened?. McHughes has chosen Welcome To My Hood as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 185 cm
38
193 lbs
31 - 23 - 0 |
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187 cm
32
191 lbs
18 - 11 - 1 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
31 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Craig Rave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
18 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nigel McHughes!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rave connects with a right hand. McHughes shakes it off.
McHughes looks to land a left hand but Rave moved out of range nicely.
McHughes throws a series of punches but Rave avoids them all with ease.
McHughes feints a jab promting Rave to slip. McHughes then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rave slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Rave definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Rave throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McHughes looks to throw the jab but Rave is out of range.
Rave fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but McHughes avoids it really well and circles away.
McHughes now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The crowd cheers as McHughes lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rave doesn't seem phased though.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Rave defending well as McHughes loads up on a big left hand.
Rave takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McHughes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McHughes scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice takedown defense from Rave. No joy for McHughes on that attempt.
Rave attempts a counter takedown but McHughes avoids it well and moves away.
McHughes takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rave throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McHughes counters with a three punch combo that has Rave backing up. Rave nods at McHughes to acknowledge the strikes.
Good standup being displayed there by Rave as he connects with a hook.
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!
Rave slips under a jab from McHughes.
Rave attempts a counter takedown but McHughes avoids it well and moves away.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rave uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McHughes.
McHughes misses with a looping left.
Rave appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
McHughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rave sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
McHughes thows a leg kick but Rave checks it
and Rave counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Rave is keen to just control but McHughes is a slippery customer.
Rave is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so McHughes is just riding it out for now. Rave eventually gives up the hold.
Rave not landing any meaningful shots this time.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
McHughes trying to control but Rave postures up.
Rave is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
McHughes trying to control from the bottom.
Rave with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
McHughes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
McHughes is trying to control but can't.
The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McHughes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rave swings for the body but McHughes moves out of range.
Rave misses with a low kick as McHughes jumps back.
McHughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
McHughes cracks Rave with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rave misses with a jab to the body
and McHughes counters with a straight right hand.
Rave throws a body shot but no joy.
Rave connects with a leg kick. McHughes looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
McHughes keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
McHughes on the wrong end of a nice jab.
McHughes takes a shot to the body in his stride.
McHughes throws a hook but Rave blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Nigel McHughes will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
McHughes digs a good body shot into Rave's ribs.
Rave looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McHughes!
McHughes looking for a sweep but Rave has passed into full mount! Oh no!
McHughes is squirming around, avoiding Rave's attempts to control the action.
McHughes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McHughes is looking to get to half guard.
McHughes avoids a series of strikes thrown by Rave.
McHughes tries to hold on but Rave postures up.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes is looking to get to half guard.
Rave lands a big shot there that rocks McHughes but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rave avoids the attempt from McHughes to control.
Rave lands with some strikes.
Rave tries to push McHughes's head away but McHughes is holding on tight.
McHughes wants to control but Rave is having none of it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rave lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
McHughes is trying desperately to improve position.
Rave lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Craig Rave overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
McHughes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rave has control of McHughes's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and McHughes regains control of the situation pretty easily.
McHughes keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes taking shots to the head.
Rave avoids the attempt from McHughes to control.
McHughes is squirming around, avoiding Rave's attempts to control the action.
Rave lands a heavy elbow.
Rave is landing with some decent strikes but McHughes is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
McHughes is desperately trying to improve his position but Rave has a good base and remains in mount.
Rave is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. McHughes can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Rave landing strikes from the mount.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHughes sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Rave is looking to advance position but McHughes won't allow it.
McHughes is controlling Rave's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Rave trying to control the action but McHughes is working from the bottom.
McHughes regains full guard. Nicely done.
McHughes keeping moving, preventing Rave from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rave in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Craig Rave dominated that second round.
That's time! Rave's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!
Rave tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McHughes was well out of range. Poor timing from Rave.
McHughes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nigel McHughes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McHughes takes one to the side of the head.
Rave misses the jab.
Rave moves out of range as McHughes strikes.
McHughes cracks Rave with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Rave lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A jab from Rave does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rave fails to land the takedown.
Rave on the wrong end of a nice hook.
That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes throws a hook but Rave blocks it.
Rave misses with an uppercut. McHughes saw that one coming.
McHughes misses with a low kick as Rave jumps back.
Rave connects with a solid leg kick.
Rave with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rave.
McHughes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHughes cracks Rave with a right hand to the side of the head.
McHughes looks to score with a jab to the body but Rave is just out of range.
Rave is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McHughes can do to turn this around?
Nice takedown defense from Rave. No joy for McHughes on that attempt.
A punch combination from McHughes misses.
Rave defending well as McHughes loads up on a big left hand.
Rave attempts a counter takedown but McHughes avoids it well and moves away.
Rave throws a leg kick which misses McHughes's front leg but catches the back leg as McHughes tries to avoid it.
A momentary lapse in concentration from McHughes enables Rave to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. McHughes manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rave content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rave stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McHughes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rave working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McHughes is on top in guard.
McHughes throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rave trying to control the position.
McHughes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rave is keeping the position for now.
Rave manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McHughes manages to get himself to full guard.
Rave won't allow McHughes to sweep him here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rave postures up.
Rave trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McHughes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McHughes trying to control from Rave's half guard. Rave has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
McHughes advances position into side control!
Rave tries to strike but it doesn't land.
McHughes is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rave has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rave manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
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 Craig Rave.
I think Rave 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Rave!
An out of breath Craig Rave thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
45% |
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