PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harvey Manx (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Manx
vs
Hughes

200 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Harvey Manx!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Donald Grub and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manx scores with a head kick.
Hughes throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Manx fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Manx looks to land a body kick but Hughes moved away.
Hughes pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Manx back to the cage. Hughes follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Hughes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Harvey Manx seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manx throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hughes's head.
Manx misses with a jab, cross combination.
Manx scores with a kick to the body.
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!
Hughes on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Manx misses the shot to the body.
Hughes tries to clinch but Manx is having none of it.

Hughes scores a takedown into full mount!
Hughes trying to control but Manx is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes wants to control the action but instead Manx gets a body lock and reverses into Hughes's guard! Nice work!
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Manx is one step ahead there.
Manx has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hughes is proving hard to escape from.
Hughes is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Hughes is working an open guard so Manx takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Manx manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Manx misses with a combination

and Hughes counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manx!
Manx is breathing heavily.
Hughes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
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!
Hughes thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hughes wants to control the pace but Manx is squirming around nicely.

Hughes swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Manx is now in Hughes's guard. A big mistake from Hughes there, giving up the dominant position!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manx stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.
Hughes wants to stand up but Manx is controlling him.

Manx gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hughes shoots for a takedown but Manx saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hughes throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Manx gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hughes to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Manx manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Manx bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hughes's head.
Harvey Manx is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Manx throws a head kick that misses.

Hughes scores with a takedown into Manx's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hughes controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Manx is looking to stand up but Hughes isn't so interested in that idea.
Hughes must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Manx is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hughes fails with a takedown attempt.
Manx throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.
Hughes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Manx is fending him off so far but Hughes persists. Nope, Manx circles away and we're back to standing.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Harvey Manx has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Hughes.

Hughes dives in and scores a takedown into Manx's guard.

Manx pushes Hughes off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt
and Manx counters with a nice body kick.
Hughes dodges the punch combination from Manx.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Manx staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manx connects with a high kick.
Hughes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hughes dodges the punch combination from Manx.
Manx tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick by Hughes misses
and Manx counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Manx really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Manx bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hughes's head backwards.
Manx chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Hughes gets tackled into the cage by Manx. Manx maintains the clinch.
Manx keeps control of Hughes as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Manx manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manx lands a glancing blow to the side of Hughes's head.
Manx swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hughes counters with a nice body shot.
Hughes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Manx swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hughes shoots in but Manx avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hughes lands with a kick to the temple. Manx shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Manx - that will leave a mark!

Hughes clinches.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes has Manx pressed against the cage, preventing Manx from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Manx working hard to break the clinch.
Hughes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Manx's efforts to push away.
Hughes is trying to pull guard but Manx turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A left and a right from Manx both land. Nice combination.

Hughes shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hughes is controlling the pace.
Manx is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control from half guard but Manx is working away.
Ben Hughes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manx is looking to escape.
Manx is refusing to be controlled, as Hughes sits in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ben Hughes.

Hughes manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Manx on his heels. He'll look to pass Manx's guard now, I'm sure.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Manx keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hughes stops Manx from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Hughes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hughes shoots in and bounces Manx off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Manx wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Manx is keeping the position.
Hughes throws a strike but Manx rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Manx gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hughes dodges the punch combination from Manx.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes gets the takedown into side control.
Manx regains half guard, as Hughes was trying to land strikes.
Manx is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him
Hughes seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Manx wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hughes thows a huge punch but Manx dodges it nicely.
Hughes trying to control from half guard but Manx is working away.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hughes prevents Manx from standing back up.
Manx is not content to let Hughes control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ben Hughes hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Hughes changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Manx looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Manx tries to escape but Hughes is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Manx keeps working.
Hughes is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Hughes tries to stand but Manx is controlling his head.
Manx takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control the position but Manx is working away.
Hughes looking to control but instead Manx has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Hughes trying to control the pace.
Manx is trying to stand back up but Hughes is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 27:30

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