PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julian Hughes (ranked 5521 p4p, 0 weight class) and Disko Poppins (ranked 4321 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Hughes
vs
Poppins

196 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Julian Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Disko Poppins!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Franklyn Lucas and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes blocks a head kick by Poppins.

Hughes shoots in and gets a takedown into Poppins's guard.
Hughes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Poppins working for a triangle but Hughes defends it easily.
Hughes postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poppins can't keep his opponent in guard - Hughes advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Poppins trying to control from the bottom.
Hughes perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Hughes is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppins wants to get back to full guard.
Poppins trying to hold on to Hughes's head to control him but Hughes postures up.
Hughes performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Poppins is looking to improve his position.
Poppins is pressing down on Hughes's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hughes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Poppins working for submissions but it's allowed Hughes to get to half guard.
Poppins is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Poppins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Poppins looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hughes passes into side control.
Poppins tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hughes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hughes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hughes is putting a hurting on Poppins here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hughes controls the position.
Poppins tries to bench press Hughes off him but Hughes keeps the position.
Hughes controlling the position from side mount.

Hughes is trying to get an arm triangle but Poppins is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poppins tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hughes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hughes tries for a kimura but Poppins is defending well.
Poppins manages to get back to half guard.
Hughes is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hughes sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hughes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Poppins on the ground.

Poppins looking for submissions off his back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Poppins is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hughes pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Hughes 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 clinches.
Poppins tries to pull guard but Hughes holds him up against the cage and eventually Poppins drops back down to his feet.
Hughes lands a body punch in the clinch.
Poppins lands with a left to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Hughes.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Poppins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hughes uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Poppins.
Hughes chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Poppins can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hughes moves into range and clinches up with Poppins.
Poppins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hughes smiles and moves away.
Hughes drops his hands momentarily and Poppins takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A lull in the action here.
Poppins takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hughes tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hughes has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Poppins gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Poppins tries to lock up and control but Hughes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Poppins is trying desperately to improve position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes avoids the attempt from Poppins to control.
Hughes breaks from Poppins's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Poppins has given up his back here.
You can see the frustration on Poppins's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hughes scores with punches and elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hughes is landing with strikes. Poppins can't take much more of this.
Poppins tries to escape the position.
Julian Hughes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hughes is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Poppins is defending well though. Hughes let's go of the attempt for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poppins trying to control but not successfully.
Poppins is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Hughes is looking for the choke from the back position but Poppins is controlling his hands well.
Hughes keeps control of the position as Poppins tries to break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hughes is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Hughes has the hooks in. Poppins is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Poppins trying to control the hands but Hughes won't let him.
Hughes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Poppins can do to turn this around?
Poppins tries to roll but Hughes sticks to his back.
Hughes slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
You can see the frustration on Poppins's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hughes biding his time, controlling Poppins.
Hughes doesn't have the hooks in and Poppins manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Hughes dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hughes fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Poppins manages to avoid it.
Poppins lands a front kick.

Hughes gets a double leg takedown into Poppins's guard.
Hughes really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hughes stands and throws Poppins's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hughes controls the position.
Hughes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hughes's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Poppins manages to get back to half guard.
Hughes tries to pass to full mount but Poppins defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Poppins actively working from the bottom here.

Hughes stands up and beckons Poppins to join him on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Poppins.
Hughes lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Poppins looks for the body kick but Hughes saw that one coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Poppins.

Hughes bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Poppins wants to control but Hughes postures up.
Poppins is looking to regain half guard here but Hughes keeps moving and retains side control.
Poppins is still trying to improve position.
Poppins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hughes decides to stand up, so the ref orders Poppins to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Hughes.

Poppins gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poppins is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hughes is stalling in the full guard.
Hughes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hughes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poppins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Poppins isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hughes stacks Poppins on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hughes!
Disko Poppins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Poppins is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hughes off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poppins looking for the RNC.
Poppins gets his hands free as Hughes looks to control.
Hughes tries to escape the position.

Poppins looking for the RNC.

Hughes is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Poppins gets his way!
Hughes is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hughes is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Poppins is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Hughes turns into Poppins and is now in his guard.
Poppins can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hughes controls the pace.
Hughes has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Poppins has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Poppins has his foot on Hughes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hughes works his way back into a safe position though.
Hughes is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Julian Hughes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Poppins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hughes defends well.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Disko Poppins.
I think Hughes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Hughes!
In his post fight interview, Julian Hughes started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.