PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Bryan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nigel McHughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bryan's entrance music is Flight of the Valkyries. A fine choice. McHughes has chosen Welcome To My Hood as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Bryan
vs
McHughes

179 cm
29
203 lbs
16 - 15 - 0

187 cm
32
191 lbs
18 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Modern Wear Apparel & Laundry Services 80% LAUNDRY
SP Ultimate Nutrition

GREEN!160
Walhalla Clothing + 10 % LAUNDRY

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Bryan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nigel McHughes!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Donald Grub and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McHughes moves out of range of the body kick from Bryan.
Bryan gets off balance looking for a body kick
enabling McHughes to counter with a crisp jab.
Bryan throws a leg kick
and McHughes counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Daniel Bryan has been cut.
Bryan takes a swing at McHughes's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like McHughes was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bryan closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling McHughes to counter with a crisp jab.
Bryan takes a swing at McHughes's ribcage but misses.
McHughes doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Bryan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McHughes thuds a left hand into Bryan's body.
Bryan throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling McHughes to counter with a crisp jab.
Bryan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
McHughes has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bryan is landing a low percentage of strikes.
McHughes scoring well with a low kick there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
McHughes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Bryan.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryan throws a leg kick
and McHughes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bryan thinking.

McHughes shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. McHughes showed some decent athleticism there.
McHughes not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

McHughes is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bryan defends it well.
Bryan wants to improve his position but McHughes is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHughes wants to free his trapped foot but Bryan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
McHughes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
McHughes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bryan defending well though.
Bryan trying to hold on to McHughes's head to control him but McHughes postures up.
McHughes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bryan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
McHughes sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bryan defending well though.
Bryan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McHughes.
Bryan moves into full guard.
McHughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes wants to pass the guard but Bryan is keeping the position.
McHughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bryan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McHughes tries to get to full guard but Bryan has control of the leg.
Bryan throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHughes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
McHughes managing to control the position.
McHughes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McHughes wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Bryan is now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McHughes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
McHughes is trying to maintain the position but Bryan is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel McHughes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Daniel Bryan's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McHughes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bryan.
Daniel Bryan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bryan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McHughes defends well and Bryan ends up having to push McHughes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bryan motions for McHughes to come forward. Bryan throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bryan, right into the meat.
Bryan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
McHughes waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bryan.

McHughes closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bryan did well to prevent McHughes getting side control.
Bryan is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McHughes's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McHughes's back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bryan is hanging on to McHughes's back as he tries to escape.
McHughes trying to control the action but Bryan just sinks the hooks in.
McHughes is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bryan is trying to stick to McHughes's back but McHughes is turning into Bryan. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bryan's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by McHughes.
Bryan is trying to keep McHughes in close.
McHughes trying to control but Bryan is working from the bottom.
McHughes wants to pass the guard but Bryan is keeping the position.

Bryan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McHughes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
McHughes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McHughes wants to pass the guard but Bryan is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHughes is working Bryan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
McHughes wants to control from the top but Bryan keeps moving.
McHughes pushing down on Bryan's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McHughes is looking to advance position but Bryan won't allow it.
Bryan wants to get back to full guard.
McHughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bryan keeps working.
McHughes tries to pass to full mount but Bryan defends it.
McHughes wants to stand up but Bryan has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes trying to mount his opponent but Bryan defends it.
Bryan is trying to maintain the position but McHughes is very close to passing his half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
McHughes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Bryan regains full guard. Nicely done.
McHughes wants to control from the top but Bryan keeps moving.
McHughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McHughes in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bryan feints and then cracks McHughes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow McHughes down.
Bryan jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHughes throws a body shot but no joy.
Bryan misses with a hook to the body
and McHughes connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bryan throws out a leg kick but McHughes moves out of range and Bryan only half commits.
Bryan throws a leg kick but McHughes moved away.
Bryan lands a nice looking body kick.
Bryan shoots and misses
and McHughes counters with a nice uppercut.
Bryan scores with a leg kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McHughes, as that shot connected.
Nigel McHughes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bryan throws a body punch but McHughes moves out of range.
McHughes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McHughes throws a big shot that misses.
Bryan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Bryan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Daniel Bryan's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bryan connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Bryan throws a body shot but no joy.
McHughes is looking for the big counter here.
McHughes takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bryan tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McHughes defends well and Bryan ends up having to push McHughes into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McHughes looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bryan throws a leg kick that is checked
and McHughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bryan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McHughes moves away.
Bryan fails with the takedown
and McHughes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bryan thinking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bryan tries for a takedown but McHughes circles away easily
letting McHughes counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Bryan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bryan looks to throw a body kick
letting McHughes counter with a right hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes catches Bryan with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A jab lands there for McHughes.
Good leg kick by Bryan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McHughes defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bryan.
McHughes moves out of range of the body kick.
McHughes keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McHughes throws a counter combo.
McHughes lands the left hand.

Bryan is rocked!
McHughes scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bryan doesn't seem bothered though.
McHughes misses with an uppercut.
Bryan feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Bryan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bryan tries to land a front kick but McHughes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McHughes uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

McHughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McHughes wants to pass to mount but Bryan is defending the position.
McHughes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bryan is refusing to be controlled, as McHughes sits in half guard.
McHughes looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
McHughes is trying to control the action in half guard but Bryan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McHughes tries to pass to full mount but Bryan defends it.
McHughes wants to control but Bryan is keeping him busy.
Bryan trying to hold on to McHughes's head to control him but McHughes postures up.
Bryan is looking for a sweep. McHughes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
McHughes wants to take a breather but Bryan is having none of it.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
McHughes wants to pass to mount but Bryan is defending the position.
Bryan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McHughes.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bryan throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and McHughes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bryan has his takedown stuffed
and McHughes counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bryan attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bryan throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bryan throws a sloppy body shot
letting McHughes counter with a right hand.
Bryan fails with the takedown
and McHughes counters with a nice body shot.
McHughes lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bryan is defended easily by McHughes.
McHughes ducks under a wild hook from Bryan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nigel McHughes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McHughes 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nigel McHughes!
Nigel McHughes managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Walhalla Clothing + 10 % LAUNDRY, into his post fight interview.
Daniel Bryan spoke after the fight, saying 'NO! NO! NO! NO!'.