PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mauricio Hughes (ranked 24450 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otong Dong (ranked 5914 p4p, 0 weight class). Otong Dong acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Hughes
vs
Dong

185 cm
18
214 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mauricio Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Otong Dong!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Eddie Farnsworth and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hughes changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

Dong shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hughes's guard.
Hughes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hughes tries to strike from the bottom.

Hughes is working an open guard so Dong takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Dong shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dong really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hughes. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dong preventing the sweep.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Dong from controlling successfully.
Dong stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hughes striking off his back but it's not causing Dong any problems.
Hughes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hughes keeping moving, preventing Dong from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dong moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice side step and Dong releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Dong closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dong lands in his opponent's guard.
Hughes is trying to hold Dong in close to prevent damage but Dong has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries to roll over but Dong keeps him under control.
Hughes flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hughes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hughes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dong is one step ahead there.
Dong trying to control but Hughes is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dong is one step ahead there.
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.
Dong sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hughes throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hughes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
No joy there for Hughes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

Dong shoots in and bounces Hughes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hughes is working hard here to advance position.
Hughes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dong manages to get himself to full guard.

Hughes is working Dong over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hughes with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes won't allow Dong to sweep him here.
Hughes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dong wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otong Dong dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dong slaps away a takedown attempt from Hughes, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Hughes moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dong misses with a body punch.
Dong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hughes's elbow.
Hughes blocks a body shot from Dong.
Dong misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Dong throws an elbow but misses.

Dong manages to break the clinch.

Hughes shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hughes lands strikes from half guard.
Dong blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hughes.
Hughes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hughes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hughes throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hughes.

Dong kicks Hughes off and gets back to his feet.
Hughes fails with the takedown
and Dong counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dong wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mauricio Hughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hughes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dong is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hughes with a body shot.
Mauricio Hughes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dong throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hughes was covering up waiting for the punch and Dong finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Hughes throws his legs up looking for a submission but Dong uses it to pass to side control.
Dong trying to control the position but Hughes is working away.

Dong stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dong closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hughes quickly recovers to half guard.

Dong stands up from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hughes misses with a takedown attempt

and Dong counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hughes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dong is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otong Dong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dong is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hughes's half guard.

Hughes has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Dong is on him like a limpet, forcing Hughes back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hughes is trying to break free.

Hughes manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dong sitting in guard here, content to control.
Dong wants to stand but Hughes has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hughes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dong is aware though and is defending well.
Hughes wants to sweep but no luck.
Dong showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hughes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dong's guard.

Hughes postures up in Dong's guard and throws a big left but Dong blocks it.
Hughes content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dong wants to stand and escape but Hughes is having none of it.
Dong preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong keeping moving, preventing Hughes from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hughes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hughes working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hughes landing some decent shots from guard.
Hughes lands a couple of digs.
Hughes connects with a couple of short punches.
Hughes stops Dong from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes trying to control but Dong is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Hughes pushes Dong up against the cage in a clinch.
Dong missing with knees to the body.
Nice elbow from Hughes.
Dong prevents Hughes from breaking the clinch.

Dong works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Hughes manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Dong has Hughes pressed against the cage, preventing Hughes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hughes's efforts to push away.

Hughes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hughes with a hook.
Otong Dong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hughes changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dong tries to avoid it but Hughes manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dong to the ground. Dong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dong closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dong lands in his opponent's guard.
Mauricio Hughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dong stopping the sweep attempt from Hughes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mauricio Hughes showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dong has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Otong Dong!