PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Abel Hug (ranked 1214 p4p, 798 weight class) and Rocco Damato (ranked 99 p4p, 65 weight class). Damato is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Thunderstruck. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hug
vs
Damato

173 cm
28
158
8 - 7 - 0

170 cm
33
150
18 - 35 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Abel Hug!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 35 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocco Damato!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hug displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Damato.
It looked like Hug wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Damato misses with an uppercut.
Hug has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Ironbound MMA in the buildup to the fight.
Hug bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Damato fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hug lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hug throws a head kick that Damato semi-blocks.
Damato lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Damato shoots in for a double leg but Hug sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Abel Hug has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Damato.
Hug lands a head shot.
Nice body kick there by Hug.
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!
Damato lands with a right hand.
Hug lands a head kick. Damato smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Damato misses the jab.
Damato chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hug can pounce on him.
Damato shoots in looking for a takedown but Hug manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Damato's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hug misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Damato moves into range and clinches up with Hug.
Hug scores with a nice hook to the head.
Damato wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hug struggles to land a body shot inside as Damato controls his hands.
Damato changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hug fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hug throws a sloppy head kick and Damato moves out of range easily.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Damato crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hug - the referee stops the clock and Damato gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hug. Damato manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hug lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Damato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Damato tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hug sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Damato somewhat.
Damato shoots in looking for a takedown. Hug tries to sprawl out of it but Damato keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hug manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damato scores with a hook.
Abel Hug is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hug ducks under a wild hook from Damato.
A little feinted left hand from Hug on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hug ducks under a wild hook from Damato.
Hug keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Damato.
Damato on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Damato misses with an uppercut
and Hug counters with a slapping leg kick.
Damato swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hug counters with a nice uppercut.

Damato closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hug to the mat! Hug manages to get full guard.
Damato looking to sit in guard and control but Hug gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hug slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hug is controlling the pace.
Hug moves nicely into side control.
You can see the frustration on Damato's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Damato is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A lull in the action here.
Damato is looking for a sweep.
Damato is letting Hug control him for a moment.
Damato is looking to regain half guard here but Hug keeps moving and retains side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Hug dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Good leg kick by Hug.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hug.
Hug lands a head kick. Damato smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Damato lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Hug backs up against the cage.
Hug avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little feinted left hand from Hug on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hug connects with a leg kick.
Hug lands a nice leg kick that just misses Damato's sensitive parts.
Hug scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Good shot there by Hug.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Damato misses with a looping right.
Hug connects with a body shot.
Damato misses with a takedown attempt - Hug sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hug lands with a kick to the temple. Damato shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hug throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Hug lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Hug lands with a nice body punch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hug.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hug, as that shot connected.
Hug is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Damato can do to turn this around?
Hug paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Damato throws a poor cross that misses
and Hug connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hug paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Hug is looking to slow Damato down with leg kicks.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Damato on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Damato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice body kick from Hug.
Damato takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hug connects with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hug feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Damatos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hug connects with a leg kick.
A swing and a miss from Damato.
Hug moves away from the strike by Damato.
Hug appears to be looking for a big counter.
A lazy left from Damato finds it's target.
Hug scores with a kick to the midsection.
Damato's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hug.
Hug lands a body shot.
Hug throws a leg kick which misses Damato's front leg but catches the back leg as Damato tries to avoid it.
Abel Hug is winning the standup battle so far.
A left lands for Hug.
Hug throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hug connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Damato momentarily.
Damato goes for a double leg but Hug avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hug continues to drive forward.
Damato takes one to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hug slips a jab from Damato.
Hug has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Damato finds it's way round the side to connect with Hug's head.
Damato throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hug counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Hug.
Damato has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hug.
Hug plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hug.
Hug dips to his left and cracks Damato with an uppercut!
Hug moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hug throws a body shot but no joy.
Damato tries for a takedown but Hug circles away easily
and Hug counters with a nice low kick that buckles Damato's knee momentarily.
Abel Hug has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Damato.
Hug works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Damato throws a jab when Hug was well out of range.
Damato might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Damato throws a series of punches but Hug moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Damato on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hug ducks under a wild hook from Damato.
Hug is looking to counter punch.
Damato throws the left hand but Hug avoids the punch easily.
Hug cracks Damato with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hug slips a straight right by Damato.
Hug avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hug was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Damato tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hug defends well and Damato ends up having to push Hug into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Damato is breathing heavily.
Hug scores with a jab.
Hug lands a nice shot that snaps Damato's head back.
Hug throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Damato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hug checks a low kick from Damato.
Hug throws a head kick that Damato semi-blocks.
Hug with a nice cross.
Hug lands a leg kick that knocks Damato off balance momentarily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Abel Hug dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Hug.
Damato swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hug is looking to slow Damato down with leg kicks.
Damato shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hug as he jumps to the side.
Hug connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hug fakes the leg kick and cracks Damato in the body.
Hug blocks a jab.
Damato takes a swing at Hug's ribcage but misses.
And Hug counters with a quick kick to the body but Damato blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hug stuns Damato with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Damato shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hug as he avoids it easily.
Hug went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Damato misses with a double jab
and Hug counters with a body kick that stops Damato in his tracks momentarily.
Damato takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice leg kick from Hug, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato throws a poor cross that misses
and Hug counters with a straight right hand.
Damato chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hug can pounce on him.
Damato tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hug manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hug throws a right and a left that Damato avoids nicely.
Damato shoots in but no luck this time.
Abel Hug has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Damato.
Damato takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A good leg kick by Hug.
Damato closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Damato walks into a stiff left hand from Hug.
Damato shoots in but Hug avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Damato with a poor takedown
and Hug counters with a stiff right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Hug as he connects with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Damato looks to clinch
and Hug counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damato lands a lovely overhand right.
Hug ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hug throws out a powerful jab.
Hug keeps Damato at a distance using the push kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Damato.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Hug.
Damato on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Jab by Hug.

Damato is rocked!
Hug lets loose with a powerful body kick. Damato will feel that in the morning.
Damato is still on wobbly legs! Can Hug finish him?
A good leg kick by Hug.
Damato seems to have recovered his senses.
Damato drops his hands momentarily and Hug takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Damato fails with a takedown attempt.
Hug feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Abel Hug is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hug lands with a nice body kick.
A nice leg kick from Hug, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hug connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Damato on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Hug jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hug ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hug scores with the left hand. Damato knows he should have avoided that one.
Nice defenses there by Hug.
Hug lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Damato decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Damato sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hug defending well though.

Damato is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hug gets back to full guard.
Hug is controlling Damato's posture.
Damato postures up in Hug's guard and throws a big left but Hug blocks it.
Rocco Damato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Damato postures up in Hug's guard and throws a big left but Hug blocks it.
Hug wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hug is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abel Hug showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hug has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abel Hug!