PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gunnar Nelson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hughes
vs
Nelson

175 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
184 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mark Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gunnar Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson cracks Hughes with a good jab.
Nelson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hughes looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hughes slips a straight right by Nelson.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Nelson as he avoids it easily.

Hughes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Nelson was covering up waiting for the punch and Hughes finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Nelson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Nelson wants to sweep here but Hughes controlling him for the moment.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Nelson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hughes is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Nelson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson controls Hughes momentarily but Hughes frees himself.
Hughes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nelson is keeping the position for now.
Hughes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nelson on the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nelson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nelson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nelson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hughes manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hughes working a defensive guard here.
Hughes is wriggling around but Nelson manages to pass to half guard.
Hughes on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hughes tries to get out of the position.
Hughes is refusing to be controlled, as Nelson sits in half guard.

Nelson seems to be looking for submissions.

Nelson wants to work for an arm triangle but Hughes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nelson prevents Hughes from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is looking to escape.
Nelson wants to take a breather but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes wants to get back to his feet.
Nelson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hughes's head.
Nelson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hughes working to try and regain half guard.
Nelson working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Nelson.

Nelson looking for a guillotine from mount but Hughes is having none of it.
Nelson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hughes tries to reverse the position but Nelson maintains control.
Hughes wants to hold on but Nelson pushes him away.

Nelson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Nelson prevents Hughes from getting the reversal.
Hughes has given up his back here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gunnar Nelson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hughes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nelson did well to prevent Hughes getting side control.

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.
Still in half guard, Hughes seems content to control.
Nelson is looking for a sweep. Hughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nelson.
Hughes trying to control but Nelson is working from the bottom.

Hughes gets to his feet. Nelson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nelson blocks a head kick by Hughes.
Hughes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hughes.
Nelson regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to pass the guard but Nelson defending well.

Nelson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hughes trying to control from half guard but Nelson is working away.
Nelson is trying to get back to full guard.
Nelson gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hughes's guard.
Hughes wants to stand up but Nelson is controlling him.

Hughes looking for a guillotine here but Nelson defends easily.
Hughes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hughes working for a triangle but Nelson defends it easily.
Nelson wants to pass the guard but Hughes is keeping the position.

That's four 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.
Nelson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nelson passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Hughes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Hughes's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hughes dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hughes closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Nelson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hughes is working away from the top position though.
Hughes keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hughes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nelson's head.
Nelson is refusing to be controlled, as Hughes sits in half guard.
Hughes is looking to advance position but Nelson won't allow it.
Nelson is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson is refusing to be controlled, as Hughes sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mark Hughes.

Hughes fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nelson, pushing him back against the cage.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.

Hughes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Nelson did well to prevent Hughes getting side control.
Mark Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Nelson tries to roll over but Hughes keeps him under control.
Nelson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nelson wants to sweep here but Hughes controlling him for the moment.
Hughes trying to stand up but can't free himself from Nelson's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes stopping the sweep attempt from Nelson.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nelson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Nelson keeping full guard, as Hughes tries to pass.
Nelson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hughes is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Nelson keeps moving.
Nelson looking for a sweep. Not yet Nelson, not yet.
Hughes has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Hughes stands up from Nelson's guard - Hughes perhaps looking for a knockout.
Hughes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nelson misses with a straight right.

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 bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nelson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hughes.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Nelson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
You can see the frustration on Nelson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Nelson is pushing Hughes's head away, looking to escape. Hughes manages to hold on to the position though.
Nelson is looking for a sweep.
Hughes controlling the position from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nelson is not content to let Hughes control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

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