PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Duke Hightower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Vinicius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marcus Vinicius is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hightower
vs
Vinicius

178 cm
18
182 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duke Hightower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marcus Vinicius!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Roberts and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vinicius gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Vinicius blocks a body shot from Hightower.
Vinicius with a knee to the head.
Hightower blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hightower connects with a knee to the head.

It looks like Marcus Vinicius has been cut.
Vinicius doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Vinicius takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vinicius looks winded!
A knee to the head by Hightower.
Hightower misses with a knee strike.
Hightower goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hightower swings wildly with an uppercut but Vinicius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hightower on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hightower working Vinicius over with knees to the body.
Hightower scores with a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hightower throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vinicius has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hightower throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vinicius blocks it with crossed arms.
Vinicius tries to stall but Hightower uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hightower throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Vinicius looking to throw knees to the head but Hightower is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hightower swings wildly with an uppercut but Vinicius uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vinicius blocks a body shot from Hightower.
Hightower connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vinicius's face.
Hightower with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vinicius.
Hightower avoiding damage as Vinicius throws knees to the body.
Hightower tries to throw a body punch but Vinicius avoids it by throwing Hightower back against the cage.
Hightower digs a right hand into Vinicius's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Vinicius's gas tank.
Vinicius blocking some punches.
Hightower landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hightower presses Vinicius against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hightower lands a good knee to the midsection. Vinicius won't want to take too many of those.
Hightower misses with the head strike.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks with his arms.
Vinicius throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hightower blocks it with crossed arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hightower lands a knee to the head.
Hightower unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hightower misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hightower lands with a left to the head.
A knee to the head by Vinicius.
Hightower lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vinicius blocks an uppercut.
Hightower with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hightower landing knees to the head.
Hightower scores a nice knee to the body.
Hightower misses with a knee strike.
Vinicius can't find room to land a body shot as Hightower controls the action.
Hightower lands a nice knee to the body.
Hightower misses with a knee strike.
Vinicius is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hightower throws a punch but it's blocked by Vinicius.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinicius stalling in the clinch but Hightower improves position.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower lands a nice knee to the body.
Hightower fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vinicius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hightower's elbow.
Vinicius takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hightower working Vinicius over with knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Hightower fails to land.
Hightower misses with a punch on the inside.
Vinicius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hightower managing to block the knees to the body from Vinicius.
Hightower misses with a knee to the head.
Vinicius misses with a punch to the body.
Hightower landing knees to the head.
Vinicius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hightower using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vinicius has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hightower throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vinicius blocks it with crossed arms.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hightower misses with the head strike.
Hightower misses with some punches.
Hightower throws a head punch that misses.
Hightower misses with a punch to the body.
Vinicius tries a knee to the head but Hightower blocks it.
Hightower tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hightower softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hightower looking to throw knees to the head but Vinicius is blocking nicely.
Hightower lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A nice right hand lands inside from Hightower.
Hightower goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vinicius is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hightower.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks with his arms.
Vinicius tries a body shot but Hightower blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Hightower dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Vinicius's cut.
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.

A bone on bone clash there as Vinicius blocks the leg kick.

Hightower moves into the clinch successfully.
Vinicius takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hightower using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vinicius has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vinicius.
Hightower working aggressively here.
Hightower misses with a knee to the head.
Hightower misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hightower is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Vinicius can do to turn this around?
Vinicius takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vinicius misses with a hook to the ribs.
Vinicius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vinicius is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A knee to the head by Hightower.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hightower misses with the head strike.
Vinicius throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower lands a knee to the head.
Hightower scores with a knee to the head.
Vinicius is trying to stall.
Hightower looking to throw knees to the head but Vinicius is blocking nicely.
Vinicius tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Duke Hightower has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Vinicius lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Vinicius lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Hightower with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vinicius lands a good knee to the midsection. Hightower won't want to take too many of those.
Vinicius on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hightower misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vinicius.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vinicius prevents a body shot from Hightower.
Vinicius takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hightower.
Hightower misses with a knee strike.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A right handed body shot lands from Vinicius.
Vinicius avoiding damage as Hightower throws knees to the body.
Vinicius is stalling here.
Hightower tries to work over Vinicius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vinicius misses with a body punch.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hightower lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Vinicius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hightower's elbow.
Vinicius prevents a body shot from Hightower.
Hightower misses with a knee to the head.
Vinicius lands a nice knee to the body.
Hightower connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vinicius's face.
Hightower lands a knee to the head.
Vinicius is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hightower throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vinicius wants to stall.
Vinicius blocks an uppercut.
Hightower with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hightower throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vinicius blocks it with crossed arms.
Vinicius connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hightower's face.
Hightower throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hightower obliges.
Vinicius tries a body shot but Hightower blocks it.
Vinicius misses with a body punch.
Hightower misses with a knee strike.
Hightower blocks a body shot from Vinicius.
Vinicius scores a nice knee to the body.
Hightower tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hightower landing knees to the head.
Hightower misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower with a knee to the head.
Vinicius tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Vinicius lands a good knee to the midsection. Hightower won't want to take too many of those.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hightower lands a knee to the head.
Vinicius tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks with his arms.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Vinicius tries to stall but Hightower uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hightower has a couple of punches blocked by Vinicius.
Hightower using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Vinicius has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vinicius works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Vinicius takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vinicius obliges.
Vinicius goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hightower connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vinicius's face.
Vinicius crunches a lovely knee into Hightower's ribcage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duke Hightower dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Vinicius's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hightower avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Vinicius thuds a left hand into Hightower's body.

Vinicius clinches up with Hightower and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hightower.
Hightower lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hightower prevents a body shot from Vinicius.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Hightower doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hightower works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks with his arms.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vinicius is working Hightower over against the cage.
Hightower tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
A right hook to the body lands for Vinicius.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Vinicius creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hightower throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower can't find room to land a body shot as Vinicius controls the action.
Vinicius takes a knee right on the jaw!
Vinicius leaning against his opponent.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hightower lands a nice knee to the body.
Vinicius creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Hightower misses with the head strike.
Hightower throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vinicius blocks it with crossed arms.
Hightower throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower misses with a knee to the head.
Vinicius looking to stall.
Hightower blocks a body shot from Vinicius.
Hightower working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hightower lands a right hand.
Hightower throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower throws a head punch that misses.
Nice body punch from Vinicius.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower blocks a body shot from Vinicius.
Hightower tries a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks it.
Hightower swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vinicius scores with a hook to the body.
Hightower swings away with an uppercut that misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hightower connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vinicius's face.
Hightower crunches a lovely knee into Vinicius's ribcage.
Vinicius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Vinicius.
Vinicius tries to land a knee to the head but Hightower blocks with his arms.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hightower with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vinicius using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hightower has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vinicius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hightower landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vinicius blocks a body shot from Hightower.
Vinicius tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hightower landing knees to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Hightower.
Vinicius lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hightower with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hightower misses with a knee to the head.
Vinicius lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hightower backwards.
Vinicius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hightower's elbow.
Hightower throws a punch but it's blocked by Vinicius.
Hightower connects with a nasty looking knee right to Vinicius's face.
Vinicius using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hightower utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Vinicius creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hightower's defenses.
Hightower misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hightower utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
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!
Hightower tries to land a knee to the head but Vinicius blocks with his arms.
Hightower with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Vinicius lands with a light punch inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower throws a head punch that misses.
Vinicius tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hightower avoids it.
A knee to the head by Hightower.
Hightower with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vinicius.
Vinicius with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hightower.
Hightower lands a knee to the head.
Vinicius lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Vinicius takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hightower with a knee to the head.
Hightower throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Vinicius blocks it with crossed arms.
Vinicius tries a body shot but Hightower blocks it.
Duke Hightower is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hightower using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hightower has a couple of punches blocked by Vinicius.
Marcus Vinicius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vinicius has a couple of punches blocked by Hightower.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hightower has a couple of punches blocked by Vinicius.

And that's the end of the fight!
Duke Hightower showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hightower, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Duke Hightower!