PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mitch Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melving Menhoaf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Menhoaf has chosen Melvin Manhoef Entrance as his entrance music. Melving Menhoaf told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hughes
vs
Menhoaf

195 cm
18
188 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

174 cm
22
194 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mitch Hughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Melving Menhoaf!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Chad Campbell and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hughes moves into the clinch.
Menhoaf is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Menhoaf is trying to trip Hughes. He has hold of a leg but Hughes is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Menhoaf persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Menhoaf trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hughes's guard.
Menhoaf won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.
Hughes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hughes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Menhoaf must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hughes trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Menhoaf advances to half guard.
Hughes trying to control from the bottom.
Menhoaf is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hughes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Menhoaf is working away from the top position though.
Menhoaf controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hughes wants to get back to full guard.
Hughes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hughes is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Menhoaf wants to clinch

and Hughes counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hughes trying to control but Menhoaf is working from the bottom.
Menhoaf 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.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menhoaf looking for a sweep. Not yet Menhoaf, not yet.
Hughes wants to pass the guard but Menhoaf is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hughes wants to control from the top but Menhoaf keeps moving.
Hughes won't allow Menhoaf to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Menhoaf throws a shot to the body.
Melving Menhoaf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Menhoaf throws a sloppy head kick
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hughes tries for a takedown but Menhoaf sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hughes is breathing heavily.
Menhoaf throws a leg kick that misses.
Hughes throws a sloppy head kick and Menhoaf moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes throws a series of punches but Menhoaf avoids them all with ease.
Hughes misses with a series of wild punches.
Hughes misses with a double jab.
Hughes misses with a shot to the body

and Menhoaf counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hughes!
Menhoaf prevents Hughes from getting the reversal.
Menhoaf sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes is in all sorts of trouble here.
Menhoaf content just to control the position here.

Menhoaf goes for an armbar but Hughes turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hughes.
Hughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melving Menhoaf 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.

Menhoaf tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hughes.

Menhoaf looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hughes regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hughes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Menhoaf gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Menhoaf wants to stand and escape but instead Hughes has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Menhoaf wriggles free and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menhoaf tries to land a front kick but Hughes steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Menhoaf tries to land a leg kick but Hughes saw it coming and moves away.
Menhoaf misses the jab.
Hughes shoots in for a double leg but Menhoaf sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Menhoaf walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hughes checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Menhoaf throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Menhoaf won't be happy with that.
Hughes wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menhoaf keeps working.
Hughes misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menhoaf tries to bench press Hughes off him but Hughes keeps the position.

Hughes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Menhoaf gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Menhoaf is not content to let Hughes control the position.
Menhoaf is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Menhoaf 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Menhoaf tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Hughes counters with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menhoaf shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hughes wants to clinch.
Menhoaf throws a lazy head kick
and Hughes counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hughes throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Menhoaf's head.
Menhoaf throws a head kick that misses

and Hughes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hughes.
Hughes throws a punch but it's blocked by Menhoaf.

Menhoaf breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hughes tries to bum rush Menhoaf with a series of wild strikes but Menhoaf uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Menhoaf closes the distance but Hughes moves to the side
and Hughes counters with a three punch combo that has Menhoaf backing up. Menhoaf nods at Hughes to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes lands a high kick!
Menhoaf misses with a takedown
and Hughes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Menhoaf thinking.
Hughes connects with a high kick.
Menhoaf shoots in looking for a takedown. Hughes tries to sprawl out of it but Menhoaf keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hughes manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mitch Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melving Menhoaf.
Menhoaf falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hughes counters with a big head kick but Menhoaf shrugs it off.
Menhoaf throws a series of punches but Hughes avoids them all with ease.
Hughes avoids the head kick by Menhoaf.
Menhoaf throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hughes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Menhoaf with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Hughes to counter with a crisp jab.
Menhoaf scores with a jab to the head.
Menhoaf looks to throw a body kick

and Hughes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mitch Hughes dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Menhoaf fails with the takedown
and Hughes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Menhoaf thinking.
Hughes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hughes throws a nice looking combination but Menhoaf bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hughes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Hughes gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Menhoaf controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hughes 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.
Melving Menhoaf has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hughes has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Menhoaf has passed into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Hughes trying to remain calm as Menhoaf controls from the top position.
Hughes is trying to get back to half guard.
Hughes is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Menhoaf asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Menhoaf misses with a takedown attempt
and Menhoaf takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Menhoaf shoots in but no luck this time.
Mitch Hughes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Melving Menhoaf.
Nice takedown defense from Menhoaf. No joy for Hughes on that attempt.
Menhoaf tries to clinch but Hughes moves out of range.
Hughes avoids the head kick by Menhoaf.

Menhoaf gets caught flat footed, as Hughes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Menhoaf pushes Hughes off and gets back to his feet.

Menhoaf closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Menhoaf lands in his opponent's guard.
Menhoaf won't allow Hughes to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Menhoaf wants to control from the top but Hughes keeps moving.

Menhoaf decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A head kick by Menhoaf misses
and Hughes counters with a head kick.
Hughes shoots in but no luck this time.
Hughes throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Menhoaf.
Menhoaf looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Menhoaf throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Hughes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Menhoaf throws a leg kick
and Hughes counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hughes plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Menhoaf looks to clinch

and Hughes counters with a nice double leg into side control. Menhoaf won't be happy with that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes misses with the ground and pound.
Hughes tries to score with some ground and pound. Menhoaf controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Hughes thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Hughes will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Hughes tries for a kimura but Menhoaf is defending well.
Hughes working away.
Menhoaf defending against the ground and pound.
Menhoaf parries the strikes from Hughes easily there. Hughes is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Menhoaf to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Melving Menhoaf.
I think Menhoaf 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!