PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yahweh Falwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Hughes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Falwell kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Don't Stop Believing. Ray Hughes will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Falwell
vs
Hughes

171 cm
26
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

186 cm
24
139 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yahweh Falwell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ray Hughes!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Josh West and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Falwell throws a right hand that Hughes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hughes also avoids with ease.

Falwell moves into range and clinches up with Hughes.
Hughes with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hughes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hughes pressing his opponent against the cage.
Hughes is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Falwell tries to break free but Hughes pushes him back against the cage.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Falwell throws a combination that misses
and Hughes counters with a flying knee. Nice.

Falwell moves into the clinch successfully.
Hughes utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Falwell wants to get back to striking at distance but Hughes won't allow it.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Falwell misses with a few strikes there.
Yahweh Falwell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Falwell misses with a double jab.
Falwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hughes circles away quickly and effectively.
Falwell works over Hughes's head and body with a nice combination.

Falwell clinches with his opponent.
Hughes lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Falwell managing to block the knees to the body from Hughes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hughes.
Falwell is trying to force a seperation but Hughes has the dominant position.
Nice body punch from Hughes - that landed with a thud.
Hughes connects with a nasty looking knee right to Falwell's face.

It looks like Yahweh Falwell has been cut.
Falwell is looking to break free of the clinch but Hughes has double underhooks.
Falwell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hughes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Falwells head.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes tries to clinch up but Falwell circles away and keeps his distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've been informed that Hughes has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Falwell will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hughes misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Falwell misses with a double jab
and Hughes counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Falwell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Falwell misses with a double jab.

Hughes pushes Falwell up against the cage in a clinch.
Falwell looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Hughes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Falwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hughes circles away quickly and effectively.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Falwell misses.
Hughes misses with a double jab.
Falwell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hughes counters with a left and a right that stings Falwell.
Falwell throws a right hand that Hughes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hughes also avoids with ease.
Falwell misses with the combination.

Falwell has closed the distance and engaged Hughes in a clinch.
Hughes has Falwell pressed against the cage, preventing Falwell from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hughes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Falwell.
Falwell looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hughes lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Falwell is breathing heavily.
Hughes working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hughes scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hughes lands a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hughes working Falwell over with knees to the body.
Falwell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hughes tries to land knees in the clinch but Falwell avoids the damage to the body.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Falwell has Hughes up against the cage in a clinch.
Hughes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Hughes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Falwell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hughes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hughes.
Hughes misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Falwell.
A frustrated look appears on Falwell's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hughes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Yahweh Falwell's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sloppy strikes from Falwell. Those never looked like landing.
Hughes tries to clinch there but Falwell circles away.
Falwell throws a combination that misses
and Hughes counters with a series of strikes. Falwell will be more careful next time no doubt.

Hughes clinches with his opponent.
Hughes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Falwell's efforts to push away.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughes slips a jab and a cross from Falwell.
Hughes slips a jab and a cross from Falwell.
Falwell looks to land a combination but Hughes avoids it well.
Falwell looks to land a combination. Hughes sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Falwell misses with a wild combination.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Hughes. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Falwell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ray Hughes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Falwell fails to land with a series of punches.
Yahweh Falwell is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Falwell takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Falwell.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hughes pushes Falwell up against the cage in a clinch.
Falwell can't break the clinch.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hughes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Falwell misses with a wild combination.

Falwell closes the distance and clinches.
Falwell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Hughes in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Hughes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Falwell is defending well for now.
Falwell takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hughes misses with a knee strike.
Hughes misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hughes softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Falwell wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hughes lands a nice uppercut.
Hughes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Falwell is defending well for now.
Hughes pushes Falwell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hughes lands a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hughes crunches a lovely knee into Falwell's ribcage.
Hughes pushes Falwell back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hughes lands with a short shot to the head.
Hughes landing knees to the head.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughes tries to clinch but Falwell is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Falwell.
Falwell misses with a series of wild punches.
Falwell falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hughes counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Falwell thinking.

Falwell gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Hughes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hughes tries to clinch there but Falwell circles away.
Falwell throws a right hand that Hughes ducks under and follows up with a left that Hughes also avoids with ease.
Falwell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hughes finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Falwell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hughes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Falwell chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hughes can pounce on him.

Hughes pushes Falwell up against the cage in a clinch.
Falwell's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hughes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hughes landing knees to the head.
Hughes stalling in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hughes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Falwell misses with a jab, cross combination.
No joy there for Falwell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Falwell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hughes counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hughes moves in looking to clinch but Falwell pushes him off.

Hughes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hughes lands with a left to the head.
Hughes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Falwells head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hughes unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Hughes manages to break the clinch.
Falwell throws a one two combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Hughes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Yahweh Falwell's cut.
That's time! Falwell's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Falwell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hughes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Falwell swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hughes counters with a leg kick.

Hughes rushes Falwell and presses him up against the cage.
A short uppercut from Hughes.
Hughes lands a right hand.
Hughes trying to land knees to the body.
Falwell tries to circle away but Hughes has him pinned against the cage.
Falwell has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Ray Hughes seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Hughes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Falwell throws a right and a left that Hughes avoids nicely.

Falwell gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hughes stalling against the cage.
Falwell blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hughes is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hughes tries to land knees in the clinch but Falwell avoids the damage to the body.
Hughes crunches a lovely knee into Falwell's ribcage.
Falwell being controlled against the cage.
Hughes scores with a shot to the side of Falwell's head.
Hughes pushes Falwell back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Hughes breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Falwell throws a series of punches but Hughes avoids them all with ease.
Falwell tries to bum rush Hughes with a series of wild strikes but Hughes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Falwell throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hughes counters with a head kick. That will keep Falwell thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Falwell is rocked!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice defenses there by Falwell.
Oh Falwell is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Hughes breaks the clinch.
Hughes lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Falwell seems to have got his legs back now.
Falwell scores with a one two! Hughes had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Falwell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hughes circles away quickly and effectively.

Falwell gets tackled into the cage by Hughes. Hughes maintains the clinch.
Hughes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hughes lands with a right to the head.
A short uppercut from Hughes.
Hughes keeps control of Falwell as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hughes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Falwell has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Falwell avoiding damage as Hughes throws knees to the body.
Hughes throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Falwells head.
Hughes lands a left hand.
Hughes lands a nice uppercut.
Hughes creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Falwell with a big uppercut! Falwell tries to clinch up but Hughes pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Falwell to the mat! Falwell covers up and Hughes unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ray Hughes!
Yahweh Falwell was interviewed post fight and said 'Hasa diga eebowai. I guess I didn't pray hard enough, or maybe prayed too much. I bet if I rolled more instead of praying, I might have learned to defend submissions. I guess it's God's will. But to quote George Carlin: "If it's God's will and he's going to do what he wants to anyway, why'.