PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nigel McHughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Clayton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McHughes kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Welcome To My Hood. The crowd seem to be enjoying Clayton's choice of entrance music: Jungle War Drums!. John Clayton will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

McHughes
vs
Clayton

187 cm
24
191 lbs
8 - 7 - 1

200 cm
24
200 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « ONI ↑ 5x160Q

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 8 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Nigel McHughes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Clayton!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McHughes misses with a takedown attempt - Clayton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - McHughes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A low kick from Clayton is predictable there
and McHughes counters with a stiff right hand.

Clayton rushes McHughes and presses him up against the cage.
McHughes tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Clayton's elbow.

McHughes breaks the clinch.
Clayton tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McHughes was well out of range. Poor timing from Clayton.
Jab, jab by Clayton - just one landing.
McHughes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Clayton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McHughes is controlling Clayton's posture.
McHughes avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
McHughes keeping moving, preventing Clayton from controlling successfully.
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!
McHughes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clayton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Clayton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McHughes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Clayton lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

McHughes is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Clayton is aware though and is defending well.
Clayton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McHughes is keeping the position for now.
Clayton trying to control the position from guard on top but McHughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McHughes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Clayton connects with a couple of short punches.
McHughes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Clayton's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Clayton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McHughes 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.
Clayton postures up in McHughes's guard and throws a big left but McHughes blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Clayton throws a big elbow that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Clayton trying to control the position from guard on top but McHughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clayton with a flurry of punches that miss.
Clayton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McHughes is trying to keep Clayton in close.
Clayton stops McHughes from standing up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now McHughes is on top in guard.
Clayton keeping moving, preventing McHughes from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

McHughes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Clayton, up you get!
McHughes walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Clayton misses with a double jab

and McHughes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McHughes.
McHughes engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
McHughes is fighting to break Clayton's control of his arms but Clayton is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHughes throws an elbow that misses. Clayton uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McHughes's guard. Nice move by Clayton!
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!
McHughes working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Clayton.
Clayton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Clayton postures up.
McHughes 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.
Clayton throws a strike but McHughes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McHughes throws a strike but Clayton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but John Clayton will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

McHughes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Clayton avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McHughes throws a nice looking combination but Clayton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nigel McHughes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Clayton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McHughes moves away.
Clayton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McHughes circles away quickly and effectively.
Clayton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
The fight stays on the outside here - McHughes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McHughes shoots and misses
and Clayton counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A lazy left from Clayton finds it's target.
McHughes slips under a jab.
Clayton defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McHughes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nigel McHughes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Clayton misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Clayton is fending him off so far but McHughes persists. Nope, Clayton circles away and we're back to standing.
McHughes shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Clayton sprawls well. Clayton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. McHughes gets slowly back to his feet.
McHughes has his takedown stuffed
and Clayton counters with a big head kick but McHughes shrugs it off.
Clayton stuffs the takedown.
Clayton throws a body punch but McHughes moves out of range.
A punch combination from McHughes misses.
Clayton misses with a low kick.
McHughes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Clayton tried to score with a low kick but McHughes checks it.
Nice defenses there by McHughes.

McHughes darts in and clinches Clayton up against the cage.
Clayton tries to break the clinch but McHughes is controlling the position.
McHughes tries to break the clinch but Clayton is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayton has had enough of the clinch but McHughes keeps him there for the moment.
Nice body punch from Clayton.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Clayton can't find room to land a body shot as McHughes controls the action.
Clayton stalls.

Clayton manages to break the clinch.
Clayton keeps the fight on the outside.
McHughes fails with an attempt to clinch.
McHughes fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Clayton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A right-left combo lands from Clayton.
Clayton throws a head kick that misses.
Clayton scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Clayton has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Nice jab there from Clayton.
Clayton missing with a left hand there. McHughes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Clayton.
McHughes is looking to clinch but Clayton is avoiding it.
McHughes scores with a punch to the head.
Clayton fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
McHughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A punch combination from McHughes misses.

Clayton shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
McHughes preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Clayton is nestled in close to McHughes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Clayton misses with a head shot. McHughes uses the momentum to regain guard.
Clayton postures up.
Clayton wants to control from the top but McHughes keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Clayton sitting in guard, not really doing much.
McHughes has Clayton pulled in close to control his posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McHughes keeping moving, preventing Clayton from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Clayton was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Clayton moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Clayton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

McHughes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Clayton throws a sloppy head kick

and McHughes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Clayton pulls McHughes into guard.
McHughes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McHughes is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McHughes trying to control the position from guard on top but Clayton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Clayton has his feet on McHughes's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Clayton is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Clayton looking to land some kicks to the body here.
McHughes walks into a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McHughes shoots for a double leg takedown but Clayton sprawls well. He's pushed McHughes's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

McHughes closes the distance and pushes Clayton back into the cage.
Clayton tries to circle away but McHughes has him pinned against the cage.
McHughes is trying to break the clinch but Clayton has him pressed against the cage.
Clayton throws a punch but it's blocked by McHughes.
Clayton wants to break free but McHughes has control.

Clayton is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. McHughes can't fight it off and eventually Clayton manages to take the fight to the floor. McHughes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Clayton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Clayton trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Clayton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Clayton won't allow McHughes to sweep him here.
Clayton wants to stand but McHughes is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Clayton throwing strikes but missing.
Clayton trying to control the position from guard on top but McHughes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Clayton cracks McHughes with a solid left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Clayton throwing strikes but missing.
Clayton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clayton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Clayton won't allow McHughes to sweep him here.
Clayton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clayton is working McHughes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Clayton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
McHughes keeping moving, preventing Clayton from controlling successfully.
McHughes throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Nigel McHughes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clayton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McHughes works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McHughes throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Clayton preventing the sweep.
Clayton wants to control from the top but McHughes keeps moving.
John Clayton is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
McHughes 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.
McHughes keeping moving, preventing Clayton from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McHughes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Clayton was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Clayton clinches.
Clayton lands a right hand.
McHughes changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Clayton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
McHughes misses with a head kick.
McHughes on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Clayton throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A head kick misses from Clayton.
A telegraphed right hand from McHughes misses the target.
Clayton throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent McHughes stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Clayton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Clayton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Clayton!