PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Hignett (ranked 6853 p4p, 25255 weight class) and Dabi Cut (ranked 472 p4p, 511 weight class). Hignett 's entrance music is Right Above It. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hignett
vs
Cut

183 cm
20
145
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
150
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ralph Hignett !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dabi Cut!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Bart Greer and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cut dives in for a single leg takedown but Hignett sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Cut tries to sprawl but Hignett drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hignett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hignett takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Cut regains full guard. Nicely done.

Cut has his foot on Hignett 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hignett works his way back into a safe position though.
Hignett has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hignett wants to stand but Cut is controlling his posture from full guard.

Hignett has gone for a leg lock! Cut slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hignett 's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hignett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cut is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hignett manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Cut manages to get himself to full guard.

Hignett has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cut is proving hard to escape from.
Hignett controls from within his opponent's guard.

Cut looking for a guillotine here but Hignett defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hignett won't allow Cut to sweep him here.
Hignett seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hignett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hignett pushing down on Cut's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hignett perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hignett looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cut with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Hignett seems to be working for a kimura but Cut defends the submission attempt.
We've been informed that Cut has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hignett passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Cut!
Hignett with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hignett lands a big shot there that rocks Cut but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hignett lands a nice shot to the head.
Hignett unloading with bombs!
Hignett trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cut tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Cut is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cut is trying desperately to improve position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Hignett dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A big left from Hignett misses.

Hignett moves into the clinch successfully.
Cut tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hignett lands a body punch.
Cut stops a takedown attempt from Hignett .

Hignett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cut shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hignett as he avoids it easily.
Hignett appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cut tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hignett was well out of range. Poor timing from Cut.

Hignett has managed to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hignett controlling the action here for a moment.

Hignett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Hignett clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cut breaks the clinch.
Hignett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Hignett . No joy for Cut on that attempt.

Cut closes the distance and pushes Hignett back into the cage.

Hignett turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hignett manages to end up in side control.
You can see the frustration on Cut's face as Hignett controls the position.
Hignett in side control lands a decent elbow.
Cut struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hignett wants to stand but Cut has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hignett slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hignett tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hignett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cut can do to turn this around?
Hignett wants to control but Cut is keeping him busy.
The referee asks Hignett politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hignett prefers to stall for the moment though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hignett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cut knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hignett tries to stand but Cut controls the position and pulls Hignett into his guard.

Cut looking for a guillotine here but Hignett defends easily.
Hignett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cut's guard.

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.
Cut looking for a sweep. Not yet Cut, not yet.
Cut is trying to control the position but Hignett postures up.

Cut is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hignett is aware though and is defending well.
Hignett passes into half guard.
Ralph Hignett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hignett passes to full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee warns Cut that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hignett with a couple of short strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Hignett dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hignett darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hignett frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hignett looking to control and managing it successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cut is looking to get to half guard.
Cut tries to lock up and control but Hignett gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hignett looking to control and managing it successfully.
Cut wants to control but Hignett is having none of it.
Hignett takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cut is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hignett takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hignett lands with some strikes.
Hignett working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Cut wants to control but Hignett is having none of it.
Cut is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hignett wants to control the pace but Cut is squirming around nicely.

Hignett is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Cut has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cut is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hignett putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hignett fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Hignett moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Cut has worked his arm free - good work by Cut!
Hignett tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cut can't do much from the bottom here.
Hignett cracks Cut with a big right hand but Cut just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hignett controls the position.
Hignett has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dabi Cut has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ralph Hignett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Cut throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph Hignett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hignett 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralph Hignett !
The defeated Dabi Cut had this to say: 'Losing is part of learning, I lose today but I will come back stronger next time.'.