PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Higgins has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Kenny Smith's chin.

Smith
vs
Higgins

180 cm
19
220 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

172 cm
23
280 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kenny Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Higgins!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Higgins scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Higgins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Higgins tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.
Higgins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Higgins is working away from the top position though.
Smith blocking the ground and pound attempt from Higgins.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Higgins shoots in and bounces Smith off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Higgins won't allow Smith to sweep him here.
Higgins with a nice head shot there.
Smith is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Higgins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Higgins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith trying to control the position here.
Higgins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Higgins's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smith controls Higgins momentarily but Higgins frees himself.
Higgins pushes down on Smith's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Higgins preventing the sweep.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Higgins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smith trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Higgins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Higgins working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Higgins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith wants to sweep but no luck.
Higgins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith looking to control.
Higgins with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Higgins is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smith is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smith has escaped and now he's on top!
Higgins pulls Smith in to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith won't allow Higgins to sweep him here.
Higgins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Smith working to try and regain half guard.
Smith is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Higgins lands a nice shot to the head.
Higgins putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Higgins lands a nice shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith tries to hold on but Higgins postures up.
Higgins looking to finish with strikes here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Higgins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smith is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Higgins dominating with strikes here.
Higgins sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
A nice elbow there by Higgins.
Higgins looks gassed!
Higgins unloading with bombs!
Smith is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Higgins avoids the attempt from Smith to control.
Higgins throwing strikes but Smith bucks up and reverses the position. He's now in guard on top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smith controlling the position.

Smith has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Higgins can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Higgins dominated that round.
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.

Higgins scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Higgins lands some shots froms side control.
Smith tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Higgins wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Higgins is working Smith over with some ground and pound from side control.
Smith wants to control but Higgins postures up.
Higgins working the ground and pound but Smith is defending the strikes.
Higgins is working Smith over with some ground and pound from side control.
Higgins is chipping away with strikes.
Smith gets back to half guard.
Smith tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Smith trying to control from the bottom.
Higgins working over Smith with some ground and pound. Smith looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Higgins working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Higgins.
Higgins is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Higgins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Smith controlling Higgins's posture.
John Higgins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Higgins with a nice head shot there.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Higgins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Higgins tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
Higginsis looking to pass into half guard but Smith pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Smith is in guard.
Higgins working a defensive guard here.
Smith trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
Higgins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Higgins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smith sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Higgins keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Higgins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Higgins tries to close the distance and clinch but Smith swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Higgins feints and as Smith raises his hands in defense, Higgins changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Smith trying to keep a closed guard but Higgins is proving a slippery customer.
Smith throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Higgins's guard.
Smith working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Higgins seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Higgins trying to control the position.
Smith pushes down on Higgins's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Higgins avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smith.
Higgins is looking to improve his position.
Higgins tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Smith has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Higgins is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith with a couple of short strikes.

Smith jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Higgins is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Higgins and Smith has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sloppy strikes there by Smith.
Higgins regains half guard.

Smith is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Higgins is just riding it out for now. Smith eventually gives up the hold.
Higgins holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Smith is trying to control. Higgins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Higgins showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Higgins fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Smith sprawls well initially but Higgins persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Higgins is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Higgins scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Higgins throws a strike but Smith avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Smith looking to control.
Higgins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith looking to control.
Higgins wants to control from the top but Smith keeps moving.
Higgins throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Higgins is working Smith over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Smith is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Higgins shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Smith is trying to defend but Higgins finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Higgins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Higgins throws a big right hand that misses.
Higgins looking to pass the guard.
Smith has momentary wrist control but Higgins slips an elbow through the middle.
Higgins trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Higgins preventing the sweep.

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.
Smith working a defensive guard here.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Higgins scores with a takedown into Smith's guard.
Smith bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Higgins's guard.
Higgins is trying to keep Smith in close.
Smith won't allow Higgins to sweep him here.

Smith drops back looking for a leg! Higgins is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Higgins manages to kick Smith off! Smith jumps back into Higgins's guard.
Higgins 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.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith throws and elbow that misses. Higgins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smith's guard. Nice move by Higgins!
Higgins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smith looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Smith shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Higgins counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smith keeping full guard, as Higgins tries to pass.
Higgins thows a big elbow that misses.
Higgins postures up.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Higgins preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smith pulls Higgins in close to prevent any damage.
Smith preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Higgins has his takedown stuffed

so Smith counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Smith thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Higgins pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.
Smith stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Higgins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kenny Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Higgins pulls Smith in close to his closed guard and prevents Smith from doing any damage or advancing position.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Higgins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Higgins winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Higgins!