PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Elvis Higuita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niku Taku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Higuita's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Man with a harmonica. Niku Taku has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Higuita
vs
Taku

188 cm
25
184 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

183 cm
25
179 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Meet the Future

Affordable Quality

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elvis Higuita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niku Taku!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Higuita circles away.
Higuita slaps away a takedown attempt from Taku, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Higuita tries to clinch but Taku moves out of range.
Taku has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Higuita is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Taku lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Higuita circles away quickly and effectively.
Taku fails to land the takedown.
Elvis Higuita has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niku Taku.
Taku tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Higuita paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Higuita clinches.
Higuita creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Higuita looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taku avoids the elbow strike from Higuita, against the cage.
Higuita lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Niku Taku has been cut.
Taku wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Taku is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Taku manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Higuita wants to stand but Taku is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higuita sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taku looking to hit a scissor sweep but Higuita is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Higuita is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Elvis Higuita.
Higuita thumps Taku with a low kick.
Higuita throws a sloppy body shot
and Taku counters with a low kick, right behind Higuita 's knee.
Higuita misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Taku stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Higuita.
Higuita avoids a punch combination nicely.
Higuita avoids the head kick by Taku.
Taku avoids the head kick by Higuita.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Higuita gets tackled into the cage by Taku. Taku maintains the clinch.
Taku letting Higuita take a breather here.

Taku escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Higuita. No joy for Taku on that attempt.
Higuita throws an overhand right that lands on Taku's shoulder, as Taku tries to avoid the shot.

Taku gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taku misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Higuita.
Taku jumps guard but Higuita turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Higuita throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Higuita lands a damaging elbow.
Higuita takes a shot to the head.
Higuita creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Taku's defenses.
Taku will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Higuita up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taku tries to pull guard but Higuita won't allow it.
Taku has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Higuita prevents the takedown attempt.
Taku has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Higuita after a bit of a struggle.
Taku is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Higuita pulls him back up using the underhooks.
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!
Higuita lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Higuita leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taku tries to throw a body punch but Higuita avoids it by throwing Taku back against the cage.
Higuita stalling the fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Elvis Higuita will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Niku Taku's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Taku has closed the distance and engaged Higuita in a clinch.

Taku gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Higuita wants to sweep here but Taku controlling him for the moment.

Taku has gone for a leg lock! Higuita slips out almost immediately though and dives into Taku's guard.
Taku looking for a sweep. Not yet Taku, not yet.
Taku not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Higuita wants to stand but Taku has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Taku trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Higuita controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Taku wants to stand but Higuita is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Elvis Higuita.
Taku fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Higuita forces Taku back against the cage and clinches.
Higuita pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Higuita throws an elbow but misses.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taku pulls Higuita into guard.
Higuita preventing the sweep.
Taku is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Taku is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Taku wants to take a breather but Higuita is having none of it.
Taku moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taku looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Taku with the ground and pound but Higuita regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Taku wants to pass to mount but Higuita is defending the position.
Taku misses with a head shot. Higuita uses the momentum to regain guard.
Taku throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taku controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taku pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higuita is keeping the position for now.
Taku trying to control but Higuita is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Higuita looking for a sweep. Not yet Higuita, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niku Taku showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Niku Taku's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Taku misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Higuita.
A head kick from Higuita lands but Taku takes it in his stride.
Higuita wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Taku dives in and grabs Higuita's left leg, looking for a takedown. Higuita pushes down on Taku's head and hops out.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Higuita!
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!
Higuita throws a head kick that Taku semi-blocks.

That has opened up Niku Taku's cut even more.
Higuita connects with a body shot that sends Taku's belly button to the back.
Higuita pushes Taku away with a front kick.
Higuita moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

Taku is rocked!
Taku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Higuita.
Jab, jab by Higuita - just one landing.
Ohhhhh! A huge head kick from Higuita! Taku is out on his feet! Higuita rushes in and throws more strikes. The ref is looking closely - Taku is covering up but the punishment is just too much and the ref steps in to stop the fight! Taku is staring into space, just thankful that the beatdown has ended. Brutal finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Elvis Higuita!
After winning the bout, Elvis Higuita thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.