PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raul Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Royce Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hughes
vs
Rua

192 cm
20
275 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
270 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Convicted Trap House

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Raul Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Royce Rua!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hughes.
Rua tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Hughes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Rua doesn't seem bothered though.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hughes takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot by Hughes.
Hughes throws an overhand right that lands on Rua's shoulder, as Rua tries to avoid the shot.
Rua tries to score with a low kick but Hughes moves his leg out of the way.
Rua takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rua tries to move into range but Hughes moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rua takes a shot to the body in his stride.
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!
Rua shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Royce Rua seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rua has managed to clinch.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Hughes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hughes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes falls off balance throwing a combination

and Rua counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hughes won't be happy with that.
Rua throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hughes is looking for a sweep.
Hughes is working hard here to advance position.

Rua working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Hughes wants to control but Rua postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is looking for a sweep.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rua shoots for a takedown but Hughes saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Rua pushes Hughes up against the cage in a clinch.

Hughes breaks from the clinch.
Rua avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rua shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hughes pinned against the cage. Hughes gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hughes scores with a nice strike.
Hughes lands a glancing blow to the side of Rua's head.
Hughes lands with a straight right. Rua didn't see that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Rua with that takedown attempt.
Raul Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Rua.
Hughes smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hughes lands with a hook. Rua tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Rua swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Hughes lands a head shot.
Hughes is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rua walks into a jab.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Hughes throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hughes throws a series of strikes that have Rua backpedaling.
A shot to de liver by Hughes. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughes slips a jab from Rua.
Rua throws out a leg kick but Hughes moves out of range and Rua only half commits.

Rua bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hughes is looking to regain half guard here but Rua keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Hughes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hughes is looking for a sweep.
Rua working the head with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua wants to control but Hughes is keeping him busy.
Hughes is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Hughes dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hughes's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hughes duly obliges.
Hughes lands a glancing blow to the side of Rua's head.
Raul Hughes is winning the standup battle so far.
Rua shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hughes sprawls well. Hughes wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rua gets slowly back to his feet.
Hughes lands a nice shot to the body.
Hughes lands a nice hook to Rua's body. Rua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rua moves out of range of the strikes.
Rua has a takedown stuffed.
Hughes misses with a wild combination.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hughes misses with a few strikes there.
Rua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hughes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Raul Hughes is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughes throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.
Hughes moves away from the strike by Rua.
Rua fails with a takedown attempt.
Raul Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Rua.
Rua defending well as Hughes loads up on a big left hand.
Hughes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rua misses with a wild combination.

That's two 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.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Hughes swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hughes stalks Rua and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rua's face. Rua staggers backwards, shaken.
Hughes cracks Rua with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hughes misses with a straight left.
Hughes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rua shoots in but Hughes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hughes dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rua throws a shot from downtown. Hughes moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hughes moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Rua looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Rua misses the jab.
Hughes cracks a nice hook into Rua's ribs.
Rua is breathing heavily.
Rua wants to clinch.
Hughes cracks Rua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Royce Rua is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left lands for Hughes.
Nice straight punches there by Hughes. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hughes.
Hughes lands a slapping body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rua shoots in and bounces Hughes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rua looking to sit in guard and control but Hughes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hughes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hughes keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A leg kick checked by Hughes.
Hughes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Hughes dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rua is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hughes.
Rua moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rua walks into a straight right hand from Hughes.
Rua throws the left hand but Hughes avoids the punch easily.
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Hughes.
Hughes lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rua shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hughes defends it nicely.
Hughes misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hughes duly obliges.
Rua closes the distance and clinches up with Hughes, looking for a takedown. Rua pushes Hughes against the cage but Hughes circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Hughes.
Good standup being displayed there by Hughes as he connects with a hook.
Rua looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Raul Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Royce Rua.
Rua takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A punch combination from Hughes misses.
Rua has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hughes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rua gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rua scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua trying to control from half guard but Hughes is working away.
Rua wants to free his trapped foot but Hughes is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hughes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rua.
Rua trying to mount his opponent but Hughes defends it.
Hughes is trying to control but can't.
Hughes wants to get back to full guard but Rua has passed into side control.
Rua throwing strikes here but Hughes is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hughes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?
Rua looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rua avoids the attempt from Hughes to control.
Royce Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Raul Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rua trying to control but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rua thowing shots but they're missing.
Hughes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rua thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hughes tries to hold on but Rua postures up.
Rua trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hughes tries to reverse the position but Rua maintains control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hughes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27

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