PBP Commentary

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

Waller
vs
Higgins

188 cm
24
162 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bart Waller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Olunga Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Leandro Rodrigues and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins looks for a takedown but Waller sprawls well.
No luck for Higgins with that takedown attempt.

Higgins gets a double leg takedown into Waller's guard.
Waller wants to get back to his feet but Higgins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Waller manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Higgins content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Higgins goes for a takedown attempt but Waller pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bart Waller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olunga Higgins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins shoots in and drives through. Waller sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins misses with a body shot.

Waller gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Higgins to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Higgins trying to control the position from guard on top but Waller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higgins wants to pass the guard but Waller is keeping the position.
Waller controlling the position.
Higgins postures up.
Waller wants to get back to his feet but Higgins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Waller really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Higgins trying to control the position from guard on top but Waller is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Waller has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Higgins has passed into side control.
Waller gets back to half guard.
Waller is trying to stand.

Higgins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Waller might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Waller is looking for a sweep. Higgins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Waller trying to control but Higgins postures up.
Waller is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Higgins is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Higgins is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Higgins connects with a body shot.
Waller tries for a takedown but Higgins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Higgins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waller as he jumps to the side.
Higgins looks for a takedown but Waller sprawls well.
Higgins looks winded!
Higgins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Waller counters with a good, hard body kick but Higgins shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waller misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Higgins dodges the punch combination from Waller.
Higgins misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Waller enables Higgins to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Waller manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waller is looking to stand up but Higgins isn't so interested in that idea.
Higgins postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olunga Higgins dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Waller manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Higgins on his heels. He'll look to pass Higgins's guard now, I'm sure.
Waller would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higgins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Waller is controlling him.

Higgins throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Waller escapes and throws Higgins's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Higgins is trying to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller trying to control the position but Higgins is working away.

Waller decides to stand back up.
Waller shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Higgins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Higgins is breathing heavily.
Higgins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Waller closes the distance and clinches.
Higgins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Waller manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Waller. No joy for Higgins on that attempt.
Bart Waller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olunga Higgins.
Higgins with a poor takedown
and Waller counters with a two punch combo.
A low kick from Higgins is predictable there
and Waller counters with a series of strikes. Higgins will be more careful next time no doubt.
Waller looks to land a body kick but Higgins moved away.
Waller shoots in and drives through. Higgins sprawls well.
Higgins doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Waller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Waller stalling against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Higgins has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Waller avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Waller breaks the clinch.
Higgins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Waller is fending him off so far but Higgins persists. Nope, Waller circles away and we're back to standing.
Waller throws a sloppy head kick and Higgins moves out of range easily.
Waller is looking to clinch.
Higgins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Waller counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Waller is looking to break free of the clinch but Higgins has double underhooks.
Higgins is trying to force a seperation but Waller has the dominant position.

Waller's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Higgins darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Higgins trying to control from half guard but Waller is working away.
Waller is looking to improve his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Waller trying to control but Higgins postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bart Waller dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Waller looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Waller throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Higgins shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Waller as he jumps to the side.
Higgins shoots in looking for a takedown. Waller tries to sprawl out of it but Higgins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Waller manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Olunga Higgins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higgins shoots in but no luck this time.
Bart Waller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olunga Higgins.
Higgins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Higgins shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Higgins was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Waller is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Waller is looking to reverse the position.
Waller wants to get back to his feet but Higgins drags him back down.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Waller struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Waller manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Waller wants to get back to his feet.
Well, if Higgins is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Higgins shoots in looking for a takedown. Waller tries to sprawl out of it but Higgins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Waller manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Higgins fails with the takedown

and Waller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Waller is pushing Higgins up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Waller lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Waller breaks from the clinch.
Bart Waller is winning the standup battle so far.
Higgins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Higgins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Waller but Waller pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Higgins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Waller's waist but Waller gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Higgins off to one side.
Waller shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Higgins as he avoids it easily.
Waller shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Higgins defends it nicely.
Higgins fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Waller avoids it really well and circles away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Higgins shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Waller counters with a left and a right that stings Higgins.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bart Waller showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Waller 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 Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bart Waller!