PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tanner Pond (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ratt Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pond's entrance music is Stick To Your Guns - Agianst Them All. A fine choice. Hughes has chosen Country boy can survive as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Ratt Hughes was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Pond
vs
Hughes

189 cm
25
176 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

181 cm
41
175 lbs
44 - 25 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Conviction
Conquer

Museum of Monsters & Madmen

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tanner Pond!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 44 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Ratt Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes looks to land a right hand but Pond moved out of range.
Hughes lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Tanner Pond has been cut.
Hughes throws a hook but Pond avoids it easily.
Hughes tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Pond blocks a jab.
A slapping leg kick lands for Pond.
Hughes throws a combination that misses
and Pond cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hughes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Pond sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Hughes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Pond tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hughes is in Pond's guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hughes working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pond keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.

Hughes is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pond working a defensive guard here.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Pond looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pond keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
Pond pulls Hughes in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Pond throws the left hand but Hughes avoids the punch easily.
Pond takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Hughes drops his hands momentarily and Pond takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hughes takes a head kick and keeps coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a predictable looking body shot
and Pond cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hughes misses with a combination
and Pond connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pond throws an overhand right that lands on Hughes's shoulder, as Hughes tries to avoid the shot.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pond fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pond misses with a lunging right hand
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pond loads up on a big right hand but Hughes slips the punch.
Pond darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Pond leaves Hughes with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Pond lands a leg kick that knocks Hughes off balance momentarily.
Hughes shoots for a takedown but Pond saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tanner Pond has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ratt Hughes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pond throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hughes tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pond is able to avoid easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Hughes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Pond displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Hughes.
Pond checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hughes takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hughes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Pond avoids them all with ease.
Hughes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pond can pounce on him.
Hughes looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hughes shoots in looking for a takedown. Pond tries to sprawl out of it but Hughes keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pond manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes loads up on a big right hand but Pond slips the punch.
A punch combination from Hughes misses.
Pond connects with a good right hand that stumbles Hughes. Hughes circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
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!
Pond displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hughes throws out the jab.
Hughes throws a lazy uppercut
and Hughes takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Hughes is rocked!
Pond misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hughes.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hughes checks a low kick from Pond.
Hughes catches Pond with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
It looks like Pond has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Pond thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pond tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hughes is able to avoid easily.
Pond is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Pond throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hughes on the side of the head.
Pond jabs at Hughes's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanner Pond dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tanner Pond's cut.
That's time! Pond's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hughes takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Pond throws an overhand right that lands on Hughes's shoulder, as Hughes tries to avoid the shot.
A good leg kick by Hughes.
Hughes ducks right into an uppercut from Pond.
Hughes connects with a crisp jab.
Pond is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hughes can do to turn this around?
Hughes loads up on a big right hand but Pond slips the punch.
Hughes steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pond.
Pond misses with an uppercut. Hughes saw that one coming.
Hughes lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Hughes gets a clinch.
Hughes can't get the takedown.
A short right from Pond on the inside.
Pond lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pond tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hughes wants a takedown but no success here.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hughes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Pond in his tracks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice defenses there by Pond.
Pond misses with a body kick.
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hughes ducks under a wild hook from Pond.

Oooooh!!! Pond has knocked Hughes down with a huge combo! Pond steps away and waves a wobbly Hughes back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Hughes is still on wobbly legs! Can Pond finish him?
Pond circles and sees the opportunity to plant his feet and throw a really nice straight left hand that drops Hughes to the canvas! Hughes doesn't know where he is but he's trying to survive - Pond keeps piling on the pressure and forces the referee to step in! This one is aaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tanner Pond!
A very excited looking Tanner Pond made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.