PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Blake Phoenix (ranked 514 p4p, 253 weight class) and Lou Higgins (ranked 76 p4p, 38 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Phoenix
vs
Higgins

189 cm
28
210
14 - 6 - 0

193 cm
28
207
13 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Urban Fighter
Brooklyn Apothecary

SynCity Fightwear
Carnage Clothing

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 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Blake Phoenix!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lou Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Anthony Taglia and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phoenix gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Higgins.
Higgins lands with a hook. Phoenix tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Phoenix misses with a hook
and Higgins counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A big left from Higgins misses.
We've been told by Phoenix's head coaches at Ryōzanpaku Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Blake Phoenix seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higgins throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Higgins throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Phoenix counter with a right hand.
Higgins throws a poor cross that misses
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Higgins scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A swing and a miss from Phoenix.
Phoenix keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Phoenix throws a shot from downtown. Higgins moves away and avoids it.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut.
Higgins throws a nice outside leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phoenix moves away from the strike by Higgins.
Phoenix lands with a cross.
Phoenix looks to land a combination but Higgins avoids it well.
Higgins misses the body punch
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Higgins connects with a single shot there.
Higgins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Higgins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Phoenix's hands.
Higgins scores with the left hand. Phoenix knows he should have avoided that one.
Higgins throws a poor cross that misses
and Phoenix counters with a nice uppercut.
Phoenix scores with a sloppy right hand. Higgins should have avoided that one.
Phoenix keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Higgins uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with an uppercut
and Higgins counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Higgins throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
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!
Phoenix scores with the left hand. Higgins knows he should have avoided that one.
Higgins closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A looping hook to the body misses from Higgins. Phoenix does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phoenix fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Higgins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Phoenix sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Higgins misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Higgins takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Phoenix ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Phoenix throws an off balance right hand
and Higgins counters with a nice body shot.
Higgins lands a jab.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Higgins misses the jab.
Phoenix comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Phoenix throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Higgins stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
The fighters circling - Higgins throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Higgins lands a nice looking body shot.
Higgins misses with a hook.
Higgins with the inside leg kick.
Higgins swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Phoenix.
Higgins misses with a looping right.
Phoenix looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phoenix checks a low kick from Higgins.
Higgins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Phoenix lands a jab to Higgins's midsection.
Phoenix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Higgins manages to avoid it.
Higgins throws a body punch but Phoenix moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Higgins.
Phoenix will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A jab from Phoenix does it's job there.
Higgins looks to throw the jab but Phoenix is out of range.
Phoenix fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Phoenix swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Phoenix slips a straight right by Higgins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Higgins.
Higgins ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
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!
Higgins lands with a nice body punch.
Higgins just misses with a punch to the body.
Phoenix was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Higgins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phoenix was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Higgins staying out of range there.
Higgins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Higgins ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Good standup being displayed there by Higgins as he connects with a hook.
Higgins throws a hook but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Higgins throws a leg kick but Phoenix sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Phoenix misses with a left hand
and Higgins counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The crowd cheers as Phoenix lands an impressive looking overhand right. Higgins doesn't seem phased though.
Phoenix rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Higgins cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higgins throws a leg kick that is checked
and Phoenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix looks to land a combination but Higgins avoids it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Blake Phoenix will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Higgins looks to land a left hand but Phoenix moved out of range nicely.
Higgins blocks a jab.
Higgins throws a body punch but Phoenix moves out of range.
Higgins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Phoenix defending well as Higgins loads up on a big left hand.
An attempted straight right counter from Phoenix misses the target.
Phoenix slips under a jab from Higgins.
Higgins misses with a low kick.
Lou Higgins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Phoenix looks to score with a jab to the body but Higgins is just out of range.
A slow jab from Higgins misses its intended target.
An attempted straight right counter from Phoenix misses the target.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
Higgins misses with a left hand
and Phoenix counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phoenix throws out the jab.
Higgins scores with a hook.
Phoenix ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Phoenix was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Phoenix lands with an overhand left.
Higgins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a right hand that misses
and Higgins counters with a straight right hand.
Higgins lands with a right hand.
Phoenix missing with a left hand there. Higgins was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice side step and Higgins releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Phoenix takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Higgins misses with a looping left.
Phoenix takes a swing at Higgins's ribcage but misses.
Nice body punch from Higgins.
A telegraphed right hand from Higgins misses the target.
Higgins throws the left hand but Phoenix avoids the punch easily.
Higgins throws out a loose jab but Phoenix uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix misses with a two punch combination.
Higgins keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Phoenix.
Higgins throws a hook but Phoenix avoids it easily.
Higgins looks to score with a jab to the body but Phoenix is just out of range.
Phoenix throws a shot from downtown. Higgins moves away and avoids it.
Phoenix keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins cracks Phoenix with a right hand to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Phoenix throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A little jabbing left from Higgins on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Phoenix misses with a straight left.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Phoenix misses.
Phoenix cracks Higgins with an open hand slap.
Nice body punch from Phoenix.
Phoenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Phoenix thows a left - swing and a miss!
Phoenix misses with a hook.
It seemed like Higgins was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Higgins throws a looping overhand right but Phoenix ducks down to avoid it.
Higgins looks to throw the jab but Phoenix is out of range.
Higgins lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Phoenix throws a big shot that misses.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Higgins swings for the body but Phoenix moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Higgins does it's job there.
A telegraphed right hand from Higgins misses the target.
Phoenix misses with a wild body shot.
Higgins doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nice defenses there by Higgins.
Phoenix misses with a right hand
and Higgins counters with an outside leg kick.
Phoenix throws a shot from downtown. Higgins moves away and avoids it.
Phoenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Higgins.
Phoenix throwing a counter right hand but Higgins manages to avoid it.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Phoenix tests Higgins's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Phoenix throws a series of strikes that have Higgins backpedaling.
Phoenix just misses with a punch to the body.
A nice side step and Higgins releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Higgins defending well as Phoenix loads up on a big left hand.
Phoenix just misses with a punch to the body.
Higgins throws a jab but it's blocked by Phoenix.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Phoenix.
A lazy left from Phoenix finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Higgins connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Phoenix momentarily.
Higgins throws the left hand but Phoenix avoids the punch easily.
A counter left hand to the body from Phoenix misses its target.
Higgins moves out of range of the strikes.
Phoenix throws a predictable looking body shot
and Phoenix takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phoenix misses with a few strikes there.
Higgins is looking to slow Phoenix down with leg kicks.
Phoenix throws the left hand but Higgins avoids the punch easily.
Phoenix fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Higgins manages to avoid it.
Higgins throws a hook to the side of Phoenix's head but Phoenix sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Phoenix throws an off balance right hand
and Phoenix takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Phoenix tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Higgins was well out of range. Poor timing from Phoenix.
Higgins is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Phoenix with a body shot.
Phoenix avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Higgins dodges the punch combination from Phoenix.
Higgins bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Nice uppercut there from Higgins.
Phoenix throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Higgins throws a jab but it's blocked by Phoenix.
Phoenix takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Phoenix takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Higgins walks into a straight right hand from Phoenix.
Higgins throws an overhand right that lands on Phoenix's shoulder, as Phoenix tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Phoenix looks to land a right hand but Higgins moved out of range.
Phoenix looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A looping hook to the body misses from Higgins. Phoenix does a little dance to reset his feet.
Phoenix uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Higgins.
Phoenix misses with a hook
and Higgins counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phoenix throws a hook to the side of Higgins's head but Higgins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Phoenix swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Phoenix lands a jab to Higgins's midsection.
Higgins slips under a jab from Phoenix.
Phoenix avoids the body shot from Higgins.
A punch lands to the side of Phoenix 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Higgins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Phoenix counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Phoenix pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Higgins back to the cage. Phoenix follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Higgins throws an overhand right that lands on Phoenix's shoulder, as Phoenix tries to avoid the shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Phoenix misses the target.
Phoenix looks to throw the jab but Higgins is out of range.
Phoenix feints a jab promting Higgins to slip. Phoenix then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Higgins slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Phoenix uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Higgins.
This has been an exciting period of action!
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Higgins.
Phoenix takes a swing at Higgins's ribcage but misses.
Phoenix takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Lou Higgins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix throws the left hand but Higgins avoids the punch easily.
A big right from Higgins misses.
Phoenix misses the jab.
A lazy left from Phoenix finds it's target.
Higgins throws an overhand right that lands on Phoenix's shoulder, as Phoenix tries to avoid the shot.
Higgins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Phoenix throws out the jab.
Higgins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Phoenix.
Phoenix works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Higgins misses with a wild body shot.
Phoenix swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phoenix moves out of range as Higgins strikes.
Higgins throws a lazy right hand but Phoenix sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Higgins ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Phoenix moves away.
Higgins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Phoenix.
Phoenix misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Phoenix lands a right hook to the body.
Higgins ducks under a wild hook from Phoenix.
Higgins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Phoenix.
Higgins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Phoenix throws out a loose jab but Higgins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Phoenix misses with a lunging right hand
and Higgins connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Good standup being displayed there by Phoenix as he connects with a hook.
A shot to the body from Phoenix misses
and Higgins counters with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Blake Phoenix has been cut.
Higgins misses with a body shot.
Phoenix steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Higgins.
Higgins lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Higgins looks to score with a jab to the body but Phoenix is just out of range.
Phoenix tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Higgins was well out of range. Poor timing from Phoenix.
Phoenix digs a good body shot into Higgins's ribs.
Blake Phoenix is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Higgins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Phoenix.
Phoenix ducks under a wild hook from Higgins.
Phoenix displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Phoenix moves out of range of the strikes.
Higgins misses with an uppercut.
Higgins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Phoenix throws a body shot but no joy.
Higgins misses with a shot to the body
enabling Phoenix to counter with a crisp jab.
Higgins misses with a leg kick.
Higgins takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Phoenix uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Higgins.
It looked like Phoenix was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A lazy left from Phoenix finds it's target.
Phoenix takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Higgins cracks Phoenix with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Blake Phoenix.
Well Phoenix 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Phoenix!
Blake Phoenix thanked the fans post fight for their support.