PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rei Higuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Greg Mac (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Greg Mac has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Higuchi
vs
Mac

163 cm
25
139 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
26
153 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rei Higuchi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Greg Mac!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higuchi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Mac tries to avoid it but Higuchi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Mac to the ground. Mac escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Mac scores with a body shot.
Mac misses with a wild combination.
Higuchi misses with a body shot
and Mac counters with a stiff right hand.
Higuchi has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Island Top Team in the buildup to the fight.
Higuchi shoots in for a double leg but Mac sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mac swings widly with a right hand

and Higuchi counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Mac really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Higuchi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Higuchi tries to free his leg and advance position but Mac is retaining full guard.

Higuchi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Higuchi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Mac wants to stand and escape but Higuchi is having none of it.
Higuchi wants to pass the guard but Mac is keeping the position.
Mac looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higuchi postures up.
Higuchi landing with the ground and pound.
Higuchi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Higuchi chips away with some ground and pound.
Higuchi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mac is trying to keep Higuchi in close.

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.
Higuchi throwing strikes but missing.
Higuchi wants to control from the top but Mac keeps moving.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Higuchi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Higuchi throwing strikes but missing.
Higuchi missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higuchi working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mac is trying to control the position but Higuchi postures up.
Higuchi advances position into side control!

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

Higuchi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mac, who protects the arm well.

Higuchi is trying to get an arm triangle but Mac is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Higuchi goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Mac has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Higuchi but great work by Mac.
Higuchi gets back to half guard.

Mac is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Higuchi is positioning himself well to prevent Mac advancing to mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mac is looking for a kimura here.
Higuchi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mac's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mac's back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rei Higuchi dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Higuchi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Mac lands with an overhand left.
Mac's coach down at Cozad The Island was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Mac's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Mac clinches with his opponent.
Higuchi wants to get back to striking at distance but Mac won't allow it.
Mac stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Mac lands a takedown into guard.

Higuchi scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Rei Higuchi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Mac tries to close the distance and clinch up but Higuchi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Higuchi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mac circles away quickly and effectively.
Higuchi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mac sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Higuchi somewhat.
That kick from Higuchi tenderised Mac's leg. Mac is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac throws a body punch but Higuchi moves out of range.
A shot to the liver by Mac. Beautiful body shot.
Higuchi shoots for a double leg takedown but Mac sprawls well. He's pushed Higuchi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Higuchi misses with a hook. Mac ducked under it nicely.
Mac scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A shot to the body from Higuchi misses
letting Mac counter with a right hand.
Mac throws a hook but Higuchi avoids it easily.
Higuchi missing with a left hand there. Mac was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Higuchi is looking to chop away at Mac's legs.
Mac darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Higuchi misses with a takedown
and Mac counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rei Higuchi. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higuchi keeps the fight on the outside.
Higuchi tries for a takedown but Mac circles away easily
and Mac counters with a stiff right hand.
Higuchi misses with a low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Higuchi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mac pinned against the cage. Mac gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mac doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Mac moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Higuchi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mac as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higuchi dodges the punch combination from Mac.
Higuchi shoots and misses
and Mac counters with a nice uppercut.

Higuchi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Higuchi trying to control the action but Mac is working from the bottom.
Mac wants to control but Higuchi postures up.

Higuchi is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Mac is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Mac tries to bench press Higuchi off him but Higuchi keeps the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Mac can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Higuchi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Mac tries to buck Higuchi off but Higuchi is having none of it.
An elbow from Higuchi crashes against the mat.
An elbow from Higuchi crashes against the mat.
Higuchi scores with a couple of short elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Higuchi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Greg Mac showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Higuchi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mac's half guard.
Higuchi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mac knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Higuchi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mac is just riding it out for now. Higuchi eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higuchi prevents Mac from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mac is trying to maintain the position but Higuchi is very close to passing his half guard.

Higuchi is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mac doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Higuchi.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higuchi trying to mount his opponent but Mac defends it.
Higuchi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mac keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Higuchi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mac is just riding it out for now. Higuchi eventually gives up the hold.
Higuchi trying to control the pace.

Higuchi is working for a submission of some sort.
Mac is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Higuchi is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mac sees it coming and defends easily.

Higuchi seems to be working for a kimura but Mac defends the submission attempt.
Mac is staying active underneath Higuchi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Higuchi is looking to advance position but Mac won't allow it.

Higuchi maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Mac could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Higuchi has cracked it and Mac is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Higuchi!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Rei Higuchi!
Rei Higuchi retains his featherweight title!
After the fight, Rei Higuchi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.