PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Long (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Long
vs
Higgins

190 cm
28
220 lbs
15 - 12 - 0

172 cm
27
280 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
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 15 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alex Long!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, John Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Long misses the target.

Higgins shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Long manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Higgins trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Long avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Long has his hands on Higgins's head, controlling the position.
Higgins won't allow Long to sweep him here.
Higgins working some strikes from top position.

It looks like Alex Long has been cut.
Higgins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Long tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Long working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Higgins.
Higgins lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Higgins is looking to work some ground and pound but Long has wrist control.
Higgins with a flurry of punches that miss.
Higgins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Higgins throws a strike but Long rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Higgins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Higgins looking for a sweep. Not yet Higgins, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Long drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Long jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Long stopping the sweep attempt from Higgins.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Higgins lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Long!
Higgins scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Long is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Higgins thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Long wants to control but Higgins is having none of it.
Long is working to get back to half guard.
Long blocking the ground and pound.
Higgins looking to finish with strikes here!
Higgins throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Long wants to control but Higgins is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Higgins moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Long has worked his arm free - good work by Long!
Higgins throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Higgins sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Long is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Long is trying to get back to half guard.
Higgins has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Higgins is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Long is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Higgins has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Long tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Higgins tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Higgins jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Long is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Long and Higgins has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Long is looking for a sweep.
You can see the frustration on Long's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Higgins landing a few strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Higgins is trying to ground and pound but Long uses the momentary lack of control by Higgins to regain half guard.
Long trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Higgins dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alex Long's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Higgins misses with a takedown attempt
and Long counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Higgins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Long to counter with a crisp jab.
Long moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like John Higgins has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higgins fails with the takedown
and Long counters with a right hand to the body.
Alex Long has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Higgins.
A lazy left from Long finds it's target.
Long tries to bum rush Higgins with a series of wild strikes but Higgins uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Higgins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Long counters with a series of strikes. Higgins will be more careful next time no doubt.
Long moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Long chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Higgins tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Long counters with a nice uppercut.
Higgins is breathing heavily.
Long cracks a nice hook into Higgins's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Long lands a nice hook to Higgins's body. Higgins takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Long lands with a cross.
Long fails to land with a series of punches.
Alex Long is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Higgins misses with a takedown attempt
and Long cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higgins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Long changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Long lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Higgins backs up against the cage.
Long moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Long throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Long chopping away at his opponent's legs.
John Higgins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Long jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Long drops Higgins with a beautiful combination! Higgins stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Long is looking for the KO!
Long connects with a nice looking jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Long misses with the combination.

Long moves into the clinch successfully.

Long manages to break the clinch.
Higgins misses with a takedown
and Long counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Long throws a nice looking combination but Higgins bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Long pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Higgins back to the cage. Long follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Long drives through and clinches with Higgins against the cage.
Long is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Higgins can do to turn this around?
Higgins's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Long softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Long lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Higgins takes a shot to the head.
Long lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Higgins as Long tries to tie him up.
Long lands a left hand that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Long content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Higgins drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Long lands an uppercut.
Long scores with a shot to the side of Higgins's head.
A bit of stalling here from Long.
Long is trying to stall.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Alex Long.
Some wild striking there from Long.
Higgins is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Long.
Long throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Long bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Higgins's head backwards.
Long is working the combinations to good effect here.
Higgins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Long connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Long closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Long throws a right and a left that Higgins avoids nicely.
No joy there for Long, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Long lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Some wild striking there from Long.
Higgins with a poor takedown
and Long counters with a one-two to the body.
Long feints and then cracks Higgins's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Higgins down.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Long lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Higgins backs up against the cage.
Long scores with a hook.
Higgins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Long counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Long closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Long jabs Higgins to the body, keeping him at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Long dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Long scoring well with a low kick there.

Higgins looking to score a takedown here. Long is defending well but Higgins drives through and ends up in Long's guard.
Higgins won't allow Long to sweep him here.
Long controls Higgins momentarily but Higgins frees himself.
Long is adopting a defensive guard.
John Higgins has got the better of the ground game so far.
Higgins in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Long is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Higgins is looking to work some ground and pound but Long has wrist control.
Higgins is looking to work some ground and pound but Long has wrist control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Higgins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Long works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Long preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Long is trying to control the position but Higgins postures up.
Higgins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Higgins is looking to work some ground and pound but Long has wrist control.
Higgins throws a strike but Long rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Long throws a big right hand that misses.
Higgins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Long got a little sloppy there for a moment and Higgins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Long has managed to get both his arms back between Higgins's legs - danger averted.
Long chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Long wants to control from the top but Higgins keeps moving.
Long with a flurry of punches that miss.
Long is stalling in the full guard.
Long trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.

Higgins looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Higgins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Long wants to control from the top but Higgins keeps moving.
Higgins wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing Long from controlling successfully.

We're going to have a standup here because Alex Long wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Higgins closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Long quickly recovers to half guard.
Long trying to control from the bottom.
Long gets back to full guard.
Higgins throws a strike but Long rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Long trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
Higgins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Long is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Higgins throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Long escapes and throws Higgins's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Long lands some shots froms side control.
Long cracks Higgins with an elbow. That is naaassty.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Long here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Long working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Long scores with a couple of short elbows.
Higgins tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Long is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Higgins has escaped the position, nice work there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Long showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Long 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alex Long!