PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alex Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Ponting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Higgins kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is ACDC - TNT . Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Higgins
vs
Ponting

169 cm
26
165 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

170 cm
32
160 lbs
20 - 19 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Alex Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 19 - 0, fighting out of London, Ricky Ponting!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins wants to clinch.
Ponting lands a right hook to the body.
Ponting will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Higgins shoots in for a double leg but Ponting sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ponting keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ponting scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Higgins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ponting tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Higgins takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Higgins tries to close the distance and clinch but Ponting swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ponting tries to land a front kick but Higgins steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Higgins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ponting but Ponting pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Higgins shoots in and drives through. Ponting sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins shoots in for a takedown but Ponting shows good takedown defense.

Ponting gets a double leg takedown into Higgins's guard.
Ponting makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ponting lands a couple of digs.
Ponting postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ponting controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Higgins wants to stand up but Ponting is controlling him.
Ponting controlling from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ponting is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponting passes into half guard.
Ponting prevents Higgins from standing back up.
Ponting lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
My spies in McGarrys plant works inform me that Ponting has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Ponting takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.
Ponting is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ponting 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.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ponting uses his free foot to push down on Higgins's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Higgins.
Ponting is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ponting controlling the position easily from mount.
You get the feeling that Higgins really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Higgins is breathing heavily.
Ponting raining down shots from the mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting scoring with strikes but Higgins is staying in there.
Higgins trying desperately to get to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Ponting.
Higgins squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Ponting unloads with some vicious shots from mount and Higgins wants out - he looks towards the referee who steps in to save him! Ponting celebrates on the cage and the crowd goes wild!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ricky Ponting!
A victorious Ricky Ponting thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
Alex Higgins was interviewed post fight and said 'great fight , he was the better fighter , i'll get back into gym and work on more of my weaknesses'.