PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Serra (ranked 4278 p4p, 4428 weight class) and Jackson Highlander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Serra
vs
Highlander

185 cm
18
185
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Thiago Serra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jackson Highlander!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Serra finds it's way through Highlander's defenses.

Highlander looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Highlander wants to control from the top but Serra keeps moving.
Highlander makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Serra is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Serra working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Highlander.
Highlander trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Highlander working some strikes from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highlander trying to control the position from guard on top but Serra is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Highlander works over Serra with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highlander working some strikes from top position.
Highlander postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Highlander loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Serra utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Serra keeping moving, preventing Highlander from controlling successfully.
Highlander is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Serra wants to stand but Highlander is controlling the position.
Highlander trying to control but Serra is working from the bottom.
Highlander won't allow Serra to get back to his feet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Highlander tries to free his leg and advance position but Serra is retaining full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Highlander closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Serra is staying active underneath Highlander, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Highlander looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Serra with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Serra is looking to escape.
Highlander looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Serra is trying to escape back to his feet but Highlander uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Highlander wants to lay and pray for a moment but Serra keeps working.

Highlander wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Serra, who protects the arm well.
Serra is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highlander works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Serra is pushing Highlander's head away, looking to escape. Highlander manages to hold on to the position though.
Highlander lands some shots froms side control.
Highlander wants to control but Serra is keeping him busy.
Serra is trying to buck Highlander off.
Highlander connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Serra some visible discomfort.
Serra wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highlander grinds an elbow into Serra's temple.
Highlander lands a decent elbow from side control.
Highlander throws a strike aimed at the side of Serra's head but Serra avoids it well.
Serra is trying to get back to his feet.
Highlander trying to control the position but Serra is working away.
Serra is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Highlander is controlling him well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Highlander throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jackson Highlander dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Highlander avoids a punch combination nicely.

Highlander shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Serra manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Serra wants to stand and escape but Highlander is having none of it.
Highlander trying to control but Serra is working from the bottom.
Highlander is looking to work some ground and pound but Serra has wrist control.
Highlander missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highlander is looking to work some ground and pound but Serra has wrist control.
Highlander wants to control from the top but Serra keeps moving.

Serra pushes Highlander off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Highlander looking to score a takedown here. Serra is defending well but Highlander drives through and ends up in Serra's guard.
Highlander advances position into side control!
Highlander is looking to take a break and control but Serra is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Serra is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Highlander has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Highlander postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Highlander sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Serra is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Highlander is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Serra knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Serra wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highlander working the ground and pound.

Serra explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Serra scores with a nice head shot.
Highlander is breathing heavily.
Serra lands with an uppercut that bounces Highlander off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serra cracks Highlander with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Highlander looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Serra finish him?

Highlander is rocked!

It looks like Jackson Highlander has been cut.
Serra drops Highlander with a huge uppercut! Highlander drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes. Serra is raining down punches and the ref stops the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:13 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thiago Serra!