PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lou Higgins (ranked 578 p4p, 854 weight class) and ZaDarius Haden (ranked 94 p4p, 132 weight class). Haden has chosen Mot�rhead - Orgasmatron as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Higgins
vs
Haden

193 cm
35
210
24 - 16 - 0

198 cm
34
222
26 - 17 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Red Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

30th Century Beer Store
Sakura Style

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 24 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lou Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, ZaDarius Haden!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haden dives in for a single leg takedown but Higgins sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Lou Higgins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higgins slips a straight right by Haden.
Higgins moves into range and connects with a jab.
Higgins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Haden sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Haden has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Haden throws a body shot but no joy.

Haden closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Higgins's guard.
Haden's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Higgins pushes Haden off and gets back to his feet.
Higgins misses with a body kick.
Higgins looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Haden dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Haden connects with a good right hand that stumbles Higgins. Higgins circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higgins throws a low kick but it's checked well by Haden.
Haden avoids the head kick by Higgins.
Haden lands a right hook to the body.
Higgins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Higgins fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Haden has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden misses with a body shot.
Haden misses with a series of wild punches.
Higgins appears to be looking for a big counter.
Higgins looks to throw the jab but Haden is out of range.
Higgins with the inside leg kick.
Higgins displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Haden.
Jab from Higgins.
Haden lands a nice looking body shot.
Haden is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Higgins rather than just go for the knockout.
Haden keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Haden smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Higgins misses the jab.
A nice side step and Haden releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Haden walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
A swing and a miss from Higgins.
Higgins buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higgins takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Higgins throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Higgins tests Haden's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Haden misses its intended target.
Higgins feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Higgins looks to throw the jab but Haden is out of range.
Haden tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Higgins connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Haden's hands.
Haden takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Higgins lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
A punch lands to the side of Haden 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A jab from Haden misses.
Haden needs to keep his hands up - Higgins had a free shot at his head there.
A telegraphed right hand from Higgins misses the target.
Higgins misses with a hook.

Haden closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Haden.
Haden advances nicely into full mount.
Haden trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Haden pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Higgins is trying to stand.
Haden thowing shots but they're missing.
Higgins holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Haden tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Haden lands a heavy elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Higgins wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Haden.
Haden trying to control but Higgins is having none of it.
Haden is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Higgins can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Higgins is trying to stand up.
Haden tries to control but Higgins wriggling away.
Haden misses with a head shot.
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 Lou Higgins will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Higgins misses with a head kick.

Haden feints and as Higgins raises his hands in defense, Haden changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haden accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet but Haden passes into half guard.
Haden wants to take a breather but Higgins is having none of it.
Haden sitting and controlling from the half guard.
ZaDarius Haden has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Higgins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden tries to pass to full mount but Higgins defends it.
Haden is looking to take a break and control but Higgins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Haden content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lou Higgins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Haden scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Higgins doesn't seem bothered though.

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.
A jab from Higgins misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Haden! But no joy.
Haden throws a hook to the side of Higgins's head but Higgins sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Higgins connects with a jab.
Haden takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Haden throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Higgins pivots, looking for a leg kick but Haden is out of range and Higgins settles back down.
Higgins misses with a leg kick

and Haden counters with a single leg into guard. Higgins didn't expect that.
Haden slips nicely into half guard.
Haden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Higgins keeps working.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.
Haden has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Haden content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haden is trying to control the action in half guard but Higgins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haden looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Higgins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Higgins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Haden is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Haden lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Haden sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Haden is continuing to stall.
Higgins is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haden lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

ZaDarius Haden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Higgins waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Haden.
Haden getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Higgins needs to keep his hands up - Haden had a free shot at his head there.
Haden takes a swing at Higgins's ribcage but misses.
Haden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Nice body punch from Haden.
Higgins throws a big shot that misses.
Higgins throws a looping overhand right but Haden ducks down to avoid it.
Higgins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Haden's sensitive parts.
A low kick lands for Higgins.
Higgins throws the left hand but Haden avoids the punch easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No joy there for Haden, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Haden takes one to the chin there.

Haden closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Haden performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haden wants to pass the guard but Higgins is defending well.
Higgins pushes Haden off looking to stand but Haden dives back in and keeps control.
Nice strikes from Haden there.
Haden is trying to control the action in half guard but Higgins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Haden slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two 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.
Haden seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Higgins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A left lands for Higgins.
Haden swings for the body but Higgins moves out of range.
Higgins staying out of range there.
Higgins misses with a hook.

Haden shoots in and gets a takedown into Higgins's guard.

Higgins is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Higgins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Haden working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Haden has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Higgins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Haden blocking some punches.
Higgins misses with a punch to the body.
Higgins throws a head punch that misses.
Higgins misses with some punches.
Higgins misses with some punches.
Higgins throws a punch but it's blocked by Haden.
Higgins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Higgins working aggressively here.
Higgins throws a punch but it's blocked by Haden.
Higgins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Haden lands with a light punch inside.
Haden prevents a body shot from Higgins.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haden lands a left hand.
Higgins throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Higgins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Higgins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Higgins misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Higgins.
Haden tries for a takedown but Higgins manages to get underhooks.
Higgins throws a punch but it's blocked by Haden.
Higgins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Higgins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Haden has Higgins pressed against the cage, preventing Higgins from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Higgins misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Higgins.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lou Higgins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Higgins 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lou Higgins!
An out of breath Lou Higgins thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.