PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tom Huddlestone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Vega (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Huddlestone
vs
Vega

190 cm
39
166 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

178 cm
37
169 lbs
13 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Tom Huddlestone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Vega!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Huddlestone getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Huddlestone is looking to clinch but Vega is avoiding it.
Vega follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Huddlestone connects with the punch.
Huddlestone throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Huddlestone tries to clinch but Vega is having none of it.

Huddlestone clinches up against the cage.
Vega avoids a wild elbow strike from Huddlestone.
Vega tries a knee to the head but Huddlestone blocks it.
Vega lands a damaging elbow.
Huddlestone creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Vega pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Vega.

It looks like Tom Huddlestone has been cut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Huddlestone throws an elbow but misses.
Vega throws an elbow but it misses.
Vega tries for a takedown but Huddlestone manages to get underhooks.
Huddlestone throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Vega looks to throw an elbow but misses.
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!
Nice elbow from Vega.
Huddlestone throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega blocks the elbow strike.
Vega avoids the elbow strike from Huddlestone, against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Vega.
Huddlestone misses with an elbow over the top.
Vega goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vega cracks Huddlestone with a nice body shot.
Vega lands with a short shot to the head.
Huddlestone throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
With the fighters up against the cage, Huddlestone throws an elbow but misses.
Vega tries to throw a body punch but Huddlestone avoids it by throwing Vega back against the cage.
Huddlestone misses with an elbow over the top.
Vega looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Huddlestone pushes off an throws an elbow but Vega leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Huddlestone creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Vega's defenses.
A knee to the head by Vega.
Huddlestone avoids a wild elbow strike from Vega.
Vega dodges an elbow strike from Huddlestone.
Huddlestone throws an elbow but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone misses with an elbow strike.
Huddlestone misses with an elbow strike.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vega blocks an elbow strike.

Huddlestone has clasped his hands together around Vega's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Huddlestone will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vega is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Huddlestone is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Vega bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Huddlestone wants to sweep but no luck.
Vega looking to pass the guard.
Vega won't allow Huddlestone to sweep him here.

Huddlestone escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vega gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Vega is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Huddlestone is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Huddlestone has escaped and now he's on top!

Vega manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Huddlestone manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vega landing some decent shots from guard.
Vega wants to pass the guard but Huddlestone is keeping the position.
Huddlestone looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Huddlestone has his foot on Vega's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vega works his way back into a safe position though.
Huddlestone knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vega on the ground.
Huddlestone is trying to keep Vega in close.
Huddlestone keeping full guard, as Vega tries to pass.
Vega controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Vega advances position into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Vega trying to control the action but Huddlestone is working from the bottom.
Huddlestone is pushing Vega's head away, looking to escape. Vega manages to hold on to the position though.

Vega thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Vega is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Huddlestone will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Vega tries for a kimura but Huddlestone is defending well.
Vega has knee on belly and moves into mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Vega will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Huddlestone's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Huddlestone has taken the fight to the clinch.
Huddlestone blocks an elbow strike from Vega.
Vega avoids the elbow strike from Huddlestone, against the cage.

Vega has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Huddlestone regains guard immediately.
Vega pushes down on Huddlestone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Huddlestone really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vega tries to pass to full mount but Huddlestone defends it.

Vega is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Huddlestone has managed to free his arm - good work.
Huddlestone is trying to stand up here but Vega is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huddlestone is looking for a sweep. Vega is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vega is trying to control. Huddlestone wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Vega wants to pass the guard but Huddlestone is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huddlestone is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Huddlestone is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Vega's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Vega's back!
Vega rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Vega gets full guard.
Vega controlling Huddlestone's posture.
Huddlestone content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Huddlestone throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vega looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Huddlestone in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Vega is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vega is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone is looking to stand up but Vega won't let him.
Huddlestone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vega is keeping the position for now.
Vega keeping moving, preventing Huddlestone from controlling successfully.
Huddlestone looking to pass the guard.
Huddlestone trying to control the position from guard on top but Vega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Huddlestone stopping the sweep attempt from Vega.
Vega is controlling Huddlestone's posture.
Vega bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Huddlestone's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vega works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Vega wants to work for an arm triangle but Huddlestone is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vega trying to mount his opponent but Huddlestone defends it.
Huddlestone is refusing to be controlled, as Vega sits in half guard.

Vega is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Huddlestone doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vega.
Vega passes to side control.
Huddlestone can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Vega is trying to get an arm triangle but Huddlestone is defending well.

Huddlestone throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Huddlestone tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Huddlestone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Vega's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vega is working an open guard so Huddlestone takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Huddlestone tries a head kick but it misses.
Huddlestone looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Vega throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Huddlestone.
Huddlestone fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick by Huddlestone misses
and Vega connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Steve Vega will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tom Huddlestone's cut.
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. And we move into the final round!

Vega closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Huddlestone quickly recovers to half guard.
Vega trying to advance position but Huddlestone counters by regaining guard.
Huddlestone tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Huddlestone manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Huddlestone tries to clinch up but Vega circles away and keeps his distance.
Vega throws out a counter right but Huddlestone avoids it with no problem.
Huddlestone tries to clinch up.
Vega fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Huddlestone pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vega appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Huddlestone instigates a clinch.
Huddlestone takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
With the fighters up against the cage, Vega throws an elbow but misses.

Huddlestone has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Vega clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Vega tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vega is still trying to improve position.
Vega tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Vega slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Tom Huddlestone overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vega makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vega.
Huddlestone works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vega trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Huddlestone manages to pass to mount!
Vega is trying desperately to improve position.
Vega tries to hold on but Huddlestone postures up.
Huddlestone scoring with strikes but Vega is staying in there.
Vega sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vega moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Vega 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.
Huddlestone tries to free his leg and advance position but Vega is retaining full guard.
Vega working a defensive guard here.
Huddlestone trying to control the position from guard on top but Vega is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vega bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Huddlestone's guard.

Vega pushes down on Huddlestone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Huddlestone won't allow Vega to pass to mount.
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!
Huddlestone has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Vega is working away from the top position though.
Vega passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Huddlestone!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vega raining down hammerfists from mount.
Vega tries to control but Huddlestone wriggling away.
Huddlestone wants to hold on but Vega pushes him away.
Steve Vega is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Huddlestone wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Vega content just to control the position here.
Huddlestone is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tom Huddlestone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Huddlestone wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Huddlestone wants to control but Vega is having none of it.
Vega takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Huddlestone is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vega controlling the pace for now.
Huddlestone squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Vega lands a heavy elbow.
Huddlestone is looking to get to half guard.
Vega sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Vega comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vega 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Vega!
After winning the bout, Steve Vega thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Tom Huddlestone spoke after the fight, saying 'gonna take some time of to decide if im gonna continue to keep fighting or not!'.