PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Hopler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frej Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hopler comes to the cage accompanied by Bodies (Let the Bodies Hit the Floor) . Frej Hughes told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hopler
vs
Hughes

196 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sammy Hopler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Frej Hughes!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hughes is defended easily by Hopler.
Hopler looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Hopler stuffs the takedown attempt from Hughes. Hughes gets slowly back to his feet.

Hughes scores with a takedown into Hopler's guard.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Hopler blocks nicely.
Hughes thows a big elbow that misses.
Hopler has momentary wrist control but Hughes slips an elbow through the middle.
Hughes trying to control but Hopler is working from the bottom.
Hughes throwing strikes from guard but Hopler blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hughes drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hughes jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hughes landing with the ground and pound.
Hughes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hughes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopler's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hughes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopler's head.
Hopler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hughes is controlling him.
Hughes scoring with some ground and pound.
Hughes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hughes pushing down on Hopler's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hopler has hold of Hughes's hands but Hughes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hopler wants to improve his position but Hughes is controlling well.

Hughes is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Hughes is working for a submission of some sort.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hopler with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hughes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hughes lands a nice short elbow.
Hughes scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hopler is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hughes scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Hopler has hold of Hughes's hands but Hughes slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hughes slips a nice elbow through Hopler's hands, connecting with Hopler's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes lands strikes from half guard.
Hughes is trying to control. Hopler wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hughes slips a nice elbow through Hopler's hands, connecting with Hopler's forehead.
Hughes prevents Hopler from standing back up.
Hughes is nestled in close to Hopler, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Hughes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hopler doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hughes.
Hughes stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hughes is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hopler has managed to free his arm - good work.
Hughes throwing shots but Hopler is blocking nicely.
Hughes drops an elbow to the side of Hopler's head.
Hughes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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!
Hopler trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hopler as he avoids it easily.
Hopler shoots in for a double leg but Hughes sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Frej Hughes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hopler is trying to keep Hughes in close.
Hughes scoring with some ground and pound.

Hughes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hopler, up you get!

Hughes shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hopler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Hughes working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hopler wants to control but Hughes postures up.
Hopler is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hughes is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hughes lands an elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hughes is working Hopler over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hughes scoring with punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hopler is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hopler is trying to buck Hughes off.

Hughes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hughes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hughes scoring with punches and elbows.
Hughes landing strikes.
Hopler takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Hopler is looking to get back to his feet here but Hughes is keeping cool and he's managed to take Hopler's back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Hughes lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Hughes punches Hopler on the ear.
Hughes scores with punches and elbows.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Hughes. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Hughes is punishing Hopler with strikes - can he finish him?!
Hopler manages to reverse the position and now he's in Hughes's guard. Nice work there by Hopler.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hopler with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopler stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.
Hughes can't keep his opponent in guard - Hopler advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Hughes kicks off Hopler and gets to his feet.
Hopler misses with a takedown attempt - Hughes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Hopler avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopler fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Hopler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Hopler sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Hopler gets a takedown into half guard.
Hopler is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Hopler is keen to just control but Hughes is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Hughes tries to roll over but Hopler keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frej Hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hughes closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hopler circles away.
Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.

Hopler gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hughes to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hughes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hughes's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Hopler is looking for a triangle but Hughes pushes his legs off easily.
Hughes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Hopler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hughes distracts Hopler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hughes trying to control but Hopler is working from the bottom.
Hopler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Hopler is keeping the position.
Hopler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hughes advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hughes lands a nice short elbow.
Hughes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hopler flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hopler is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him
Hughes working Hopler over with strikes.
Hopler wants to control but Hughes is keeping busy.
Hughes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hopler manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hopler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hopler controls Hughes momentarily but Hughes frees himself.
Hopler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Hopler working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hughes.
Hopler wants to get back to his feet but Hughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hopler is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hughes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Hopler looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hughes scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hopler wants to get back to his feet but Hughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hughes cracks Hopler with a solid left hand.
Hopler tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hughes distracts Hopler with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hopler wants to get back to his feet but Hughes is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hughes throwing strikes but missing.
Hopler working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hopler's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frej Hughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hughes has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

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