PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Trent Haaker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haaker comes to the cage accompanied by Im Not Your Boyfriend. On his way into the cage it seems that Trent Haaker has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Trent Haaker seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Haaker
vs
Hughes

185 cm
19
175 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

176 cm
22
181 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Rastafarii Clothing

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Trent Haaker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matt Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haaker throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.
Haaker misses with a few strikes there.
Hughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Haaker sprawls well. He's pushed Hughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hughes finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Hughes throws a right and a left that Haaker avoids nicely.
Haaker throws a left that rocks Hughes and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Haaker dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Hughes regain composure!

Hughes is rocked!

It looks like Matt Hughes has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Haaker tries to stand but Hughes is controlling his head.
Hughes is still in real trouble! Can Haaker finish him?

Haaker has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Haaker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hughes seems to have recovered his senses.
Haaker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Haaker keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hughes misses the shot to the body.
Hughes ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Haaker moves away.
Hughes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Trent Haaker has been cut.
Nice uppercut lands for Haaker. That snapped Hughes's head back.

Hughes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hughes connects with a nice short shot to Haaker's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaker gets back to full guard.
Haaker wants to stand up but Hughes is controlling him.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haaker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Haaker is breathing heavily.
Haaker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hughes is looking to work some ground and pound but Haaker has wrist control.
Hughes trying to control but Haaker is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Haaker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Haaker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hughes counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hughes scoring with strikes but Haaker is staying in there.
Hughes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes looking to control but Haaker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hughes dominating with strikes here.
Hughes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Haaker is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Hughes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Haaker taking shots to the head.
Hughes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Haaker can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hughes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Haaker taking shots to the head.
Hughes lands a big shot there that rocks Haaker but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hughes controlling from the full mount.
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!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Haaker keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hughes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Haaker looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes controlling from the full mount.

Hughes wants to finish this one by submission but Haaker is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hughes.
Haaker is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Hughes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hughes putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Haaker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hughes on the ground.
Hughes raining down shots from the mount!
Hughes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Haaker is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
BOOM! Hughes connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hughes has hold of Haaker's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Haaker manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The referee warns Haaker that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hughes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
A nice elbow there by Hughes.
Haaker wants to get back to his feet.

Hughes is working for a guillotine from mount but Haaker frees his head quite easily.
Hughes scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Haaker is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughes has a good base and remains in mount.
Haaker really wants to buck Hughes off and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hughes swinging wilding here.

Hughes rushes Haaker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes misses with a body punch.
Hughes is pressed up against the cage. Haaker has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hughes down to the mat. Hughes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Haaker swats away the attempt to clinch by Hughes.
Haaker avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Trent Haaker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hughes throws a leg kick but Haaker sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Haaker tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Haaker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hughes.

Hughes moves into the clinch.
Haaker tries to break the clinch but Hughes is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes can't break the clinch.
Haaker is looking to break free of the clinch but Hughes has double underhooks.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hughes.
Haaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Hughes won't allow it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hughes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Haaker can't break the clinch.
Hughes tries to break the clinch but Haaker is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haaker wants to get back to striking at distance but Hughes won't allow it.
Hughes wants to break the clinch but can't.
Haaker is trying to break free.
Haaker can't break the clinch.
Hughes slowing the pace effectively.
Hughes lands a body punch.
Hughes is working Haaker over against the cage.

Hughes breaks the clinch.
Hughes tries to score with a low kick but Haaker moves his leg out of the way.
Hughes rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Haaker moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hughes takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Haaker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hughes.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Well, if Hughes is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hughes working over Haaker with some ground and pound. Haaker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes working the head and body with strikes.
Hughes seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hughes prevents Haaker from standing back up.

Hughes stands up and beckons Haaker to join him on the feet.

Hughes gets the takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes grinds an elbow into Haaker's temple.
Hughes is working Haaker over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hughes has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Haaker is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Hughes is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Haaker can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Matt Hughes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughes unloading with bombs!
Hughes controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haaker is looking to get to half guard.
Hughes scoring with strikes but Haaker is staying in there.
Hughes looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
You get the feeling that Haaker really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Haaker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Haaker wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hughes cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hughes with the ground and pound from mount.
Hughes with good strikes from the mount here!
Hughes with a couple of short strikes.
Hughes lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Hughes connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hughes sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hughes connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Hughes working for a submission but Haaker is keeping him at bay.
Haaker is in a horrible position here. Hughes smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hughes lands a nice shot to the head.
Hughes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Haaker hang on?
Hughes lands with some strikes.
A nice elbow there by Hughes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Haaker is looking to improve his position but Hughes isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A jab from Hughes misses.
Haaker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Haaker falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hughes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hughes showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Haaker.
Haaker with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hughes to score with a decent uppercut.
Trent Haaker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Haaker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Haaker closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Hughes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hughes cracks Haaker with a big right hand but Haaker just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hughes advances to full mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes with shots to the head and body - Haaker looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hughes with a couple of short strikes.
Haaker is bucking up trying to escape but Hughes cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Haaker wants to get back to his feet.
Hughes in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hughes punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hughes cracks Haaker with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Hughes is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Haaker can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Hughes scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Haaker?
Haaker is desperately trying to improve his position but Hughes has a good base and remains in mount.
Hughes controlling the position easily from mount.
Hughes pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hughes lands a heavy elbow.
Haaker is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hughes with good strikes from the mount here!
Hughes scoring with strikes but Haaker is staying in there.
Haaker really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hughes lands a big elbow.
Haaker is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Hughes with the ground and pound from mount.
Hughes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Haaker is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Haaker looks a forlorn figure.
Hughes postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Haaker looks a forlorn figure.
Hughes controlling from mount.
Hughes breaks from Haaker's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Hughes looking to secure an arm triangle but Haaker defends it well.
Hughes lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hughes trying to control but Haaker is having none of it.
Hughes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hughes landing strikes from the mount.
Haaker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hughes lands a heavy elbow.
Haaker is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Trent Haaker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hughes lands a heavy elbow.
Hughes lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Haaker hang on?
Hughes looking to control and managing it successfully.
Matt Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hughes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hughes winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

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