PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Raphael Arias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aman Hugankiss (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arias comes to the cage accompanied by we will find a way. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Arias
vs
Hugankiss

189 cm
23
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Raphael Arias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Aman Hugankiss!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Micheangelo Fripello and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hugankiss shoots in looking for a takedown but Arias manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hugankiss's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Arias was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Arias fails with a takedown attempt.

Arias moves into range and clinches up with Hugankiss.
Arias lands a body shot in the clinch.

Hugankiss breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Arias shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hugankiss defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hugankiss throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Arias.
Arias goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Arias circles away from the clinch attempt.
Arias tries to counter by clinching up but Hugankiss breaks away and moves out of range.
Arias swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hugankiss misses with a shot to the body
and Arias counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hugankiss drives through with a takedown into Arias's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Arias 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.
Arias avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hugankiss wants to control from the top but Arias keeps moving.

Arias throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Hugankiss escapes and throws Arias's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Hugankiss trying to control the action but Arias is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hugankiss decides to stand back up. Hugankiss steps back and let's Arias get back to his feet.
Hugankiss swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hugankiss tries to land a front kick but Arias steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Arias shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little jabbing left from Hugankiss on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Arias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hugankiss shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Arias but Arias pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Arias fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hugankiss, pushing him back against the cage.
Arias wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hugankiss has him pressed against the cage.
Hugankiss tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arias stops a takedown attempt from Hugankiss.
Arias goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hugankiss prevents it.

Arias successfully pulls guard.
Arias tries to strike from the bottom.
Hugankiss is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Arias wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hugankiss with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hugankiss wants to stand but Arias has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Arias wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hugankiss decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Arias, up you get!
Arias shoots in but Hugankiss avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hugankiss is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Hugankiss dives in and grabs Arias's left leg, looking for a takedown. Arias pushes down on Hugankiss's head and hops out.
Arias is looking for a counter combo.

Arias gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hugankiss to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hugankiss has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hugankiss throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Arias is looking to sweep but instead, Hugankiss has passed into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hugankiss wants to clinch up but Arias keeps it at a distance.
Hugankiss checks the leg kick nicely there.
A head kick from Hugankiss lands but Arias takes it in his stride.
Arias shoots in but no luck this time.
Hugankiss shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Arias sprawls well. Arias wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hugankiss gets slowly back to his feet.

Arias has taken the fight to the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right handed body shot lands from Arias.
A frustrated look appears on Arias's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hugankiss wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arias is trying to break free.
Hugankiss trying to land knees to the body.
Arias tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hugankiss just stands there and leans against the cage.
Arias tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Raphael Arias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Arias drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hugankiss pulls his leg out and moves away.
Arias shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hugankiss sprawls well. Hugankiss wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Arias gets slowly back to his feet.
Hugankiss shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Arias closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hugankiss circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hugankiss moves into the clinch.
Arias is pressed up against the cage. Hugankiss has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Arias down to the mat. Arias avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Nice takedown defense from Arias. No joy for Hugankiss on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hugankiss looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A punch combination from Hugankiss misses.
No luck for Hugankiss with that takedown attempt.

Arias clinches up with Hugankiss and pushes him back against the cage.
Hugankiss has Arias pressed against the cage, preventing Arias from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Arias is pressed up against the cage. Hugankiss has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Arias down to the mat. Arias avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hugankiss misses with a double jab.
Arias changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hugankiss checks the leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugankiss changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Arias tries to avoid it but Hugankiss manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Arias to the ground. Arias escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Arias misses with an attempted mid kick.

Arias clinches up against the cage.
Arias managing to block the knees to the body from Hugankiss.
Arias manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Arias tries to circle away but Hugankiss has him pinned against the cage.

Hugankiss pulls guard effortlessly.
Hugankiss wants to get back to his feet but Arias is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Arias trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arias stays in close to Hugankiss's body and controls the position.
Hugankiss trying to control the position.
Arias throws a big elbow that misses.
Arias postures up in Hugankiss's guard and throws a big left but Hugankiss blocks it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Arias engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hugankiss throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Arias's waist but Arias gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hugankiss off to one side.
Raphael Arias is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hugankiss shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Arias is trying to defend but Hugankiss finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Arias pushes Hugankiss off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Raphael Arias will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Arias changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hugankiss looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hugankiss is trying to improve his position.

Arias stands up.
Arias jabs Hugankiss right on the nose. Hugankiss blinks but takes it well.

Hugankiss gets tackled into the cage by Arias. Arias maintains the clinch.

Hugankiss ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hugankiss no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hugankiss avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Arias is looking to work some ground and pound but Hugankiss has wrist control.
Arias has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arias controls from within his opponent's guard.

Arias stands up and waves to Hugankiss to follow him.

Arias closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hugankiss looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Arias avoiding damage.
Hugankiss tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Arias smiles and moves away.
Hugankiss has a takedown stuffed.
Arias dives in for a single leg takedown but Hugankiss sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Arias misses with a kick to the body

and Hugankiss counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hugankiss.
Arias looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hugankiss is one step ahead there.
Hugankiss trying to control but Arias is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hugankiss is fighting to break Arias's control of his arms but Arias is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hugankiss not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Arias knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hugankiss on the ground.
Arias wants to sweep but no luck.
Hugankiss wants to stand but Arias has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Arias pulls Hugankiss in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hugankiss avoids the body shot from Arias.
Arias fails with a takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hugankiss throws a head kick that Arias semi-blocks.
Hugankiss misses with a body shot

and Arias counters by moving into the clinch.

Arias jumps into guard, dragging Hugankiss to the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hugankiss engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Hugankiss decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raphael Arias showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Arias has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight for Raphael Arias!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Raphael Arias!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Raphael Arias!

Raphael Arias wins by unanimous decision!