PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ratt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vintage Vodka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hughes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Country boy can survive. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Hughes
vs
Vodka

181 cm
40
175 lbs
43 - 23 - 1

178 cm
34
186 lbs
18 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

LOPS 160q + 90% Laundry

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 43 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ratt Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vintage Vodka!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Lou da Vinci and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vodka throws the kick towards the body but Hughes avoids it.
Vodka connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hughes tries to clinch but Vodka moves out of range.
Hughes swings for the body but Vodka moves out of range.
Ratt Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vodka avoids the body shot from Hughes.

Hughes shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vodka manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hughes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Vodka wants to sweep but no luck.
Vodka pulls Hughes in close to prevent any damage.
Hughes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vodka keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Vodka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Vodka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vodka wants to stand up but Hughes is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Vodka uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Vodka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vodka as he avoids it easily.
Vodka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hughes throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Vintage Vodka is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vodka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hughes.
Vodka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hughes throws a body kick that misses

and Vodka holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Vodka lands with a short shot to the head.
Vodka throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hughes is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vodka pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vodka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ratt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vodka prevents the takedown attempt.
Hughes takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hughes is breathing heavily.
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 is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vodka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hughes has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vodka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Vodka lands a shoulder strike.
Hughes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vodka fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hughes throws a poor cross that misses
and Vodka counters with a left to the body.
Vodka lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hughes is looking to clinch but Vodka is avoiding it.
Hughes pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vodka keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vodka! But no joy.
Hughes throws a nice looking combination but Vodka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hughes tries to clinch up
and Vodka counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vodka is trying to counter with his kicks.
Nice sprawl there from Vodka as Hughes shoots in.
Vodka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hughes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Vodka counters with a straight right hand.
Hughes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hughes doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vodka counters with an outside leg kick.
Vodka lands a high kick!
A jab from Vodka finds it's way through Hughes's defenses.
Vodka lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vodka scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hughes moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Vodka scores with a leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughes walks into a straight right hand from Vodka.
Vodka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hughes tries to clinch up.
Hughes closes the distance looking to clinch
and Vodka counters with a straight right hand.
Hughes slips under a jab from Vodka.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vintage Vodka dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hughes throws an overhand right that lands on Vodka's shoulder, as Vodka tries to avoid the shot.
Hughes throws a jab when Vodka was well out of range.
Vodka has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt

and Vodka counters by moving into the clinch.
Hughes blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vodka lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vodka misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hughes.
Vodka misses with a punch on the inside.
Hughes is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Vodka is defending well.
Vodka lands a shot to the body.
Vodka misses with a punch to the body.
Vodka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vodka misses with a punch to the body.
A body shot lands from Vodka.
Vodka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A body shot lands from Vodka.
Vodka lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A right hand to the body from Vodka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vodka misses with a body punch.
Hughes takes an elbow to the temple.
Vodka lands a nice elbow.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hughes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A shot to the body from Hughes misses
and Vodka counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A nice inside leg kick there by Hughes. That's going to slow Vodka down.
Vodka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hughes.
Vodka looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A big right from Vodka misses.
Hughes tries to clinch but Vodka moves out of range.
Ratt Hughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hughes with a nice cross.
Hughes throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vodka connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vodka digs a good body shot into Hughes's ribs.
Vodka pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vodka fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hughes falls off balance throwing a combination
and Vodka counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hughes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Vodka.
A big left from Hughes misses.
Vodka misses with a looping left.
A cross from Vodka lands.
Hughes fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Vodka checks it well.
Hughes walks into a stiff left hand from Vodka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Vodka.
Hughes looks to land a right hand but Vodka moved out of range.
Vodka wants to counter with a clinch but Hughes pushes him away.
Vodka lunges at Hughes with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hughes's hand.
A punch lands to the side of Hughes 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Hughes is rocked!
Vodka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Hughes wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Oh Hughes is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Vodka misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hughes.
Hughes seems to have got his legs back now.
Vodka moves in looking to clinch but Hughes pushes him off.
Hughes is looking for a counter combo.
Jab, jab by Hughes - just one landing.
Hughes is looking to land body kicks.
Vodka jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Hughes closes the distance and pushes Vodka back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes blocks the elbow strike.
Hughes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vodka misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vodka misses with an elbow strike.
Hughes tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ratt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vodka throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Vodka struggles to land a body shot inside as Hughes controls his hands.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vodka.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vodka throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Vodka.
Vodka misses with a knee strike.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Hughes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vodka connects with the punch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vintage Vodka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Vodka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hughes.
Hughes looks to land a right hand but Vodka moved out of range.
Decent striking displayed by Hughes there.
Vodka takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hughes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vodka.

Hughes looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Vodka is pulling down on Hughes's head to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes stops Vodka from standing up.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes being controlled here momentarily.
Hughes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vodka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vodka holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hughes slips a jab from Vodka.
Vintage Vodka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vodka lands a really nice looking cross but Hughes seems unphased.
Hughes throws a shot to the body.
Hughes tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vodka sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hughes somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Vodka counters with a stiff right hand.
Hughes looks to throw the jab but Vodka is out of range.
Hughes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vodka leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hughes misses with the body kick
and Vodka counters with a low kick, right behind Hughes 's knee.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vodka throws a quick inside leg kick.
Vodka cracks a nice hook into Hughes's ribs.
Ratt Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vodka misses the shot to the body.
Vodka blocks a jab.
Vodka throws a sloppy head kick and Hughes moves out of range easily.
Hughes misses with a straight left.
A countering left hand to the body from Vodka misses.
Hughes misses with a jab to the body

and Vodka counters by moving into the clinch.
Vodka scores with a nice hook to the head.
Vodka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hughes drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ratt Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vodka tries to work over Hughes's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vodka tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vodka.
A short left from Vodka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vodka throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vodka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hughes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vodka just stands there and leans against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vodka.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vodka connects with an inside leg kick.
Vodka paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hughes on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Nice cross by Vodka.
Hughes shoots in for a takedown but Vodka shows good takedown defense.
Hughes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Vodka in his tracks.
Vodka lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Vodka connects with a single shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vintage Vodka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vodka 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vintage Vodka!
Vintage Vodka made sure to mention his sponsor, Museum of Monsters & Madmen in his post fight interview.