PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Hanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Barristan Hightower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Barristan Hightower will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hanson
vs
Hightower

188 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

200 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Hanson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Barristan Hightower!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hightower throws a right and a left that Hanson avoids nicely.
No joy there for Hightower, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hightower lands a jab to Hanson's midsection.
Hightower falls off balance throwing a combination

and Hanson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hanson is trying to drag Hightower to the mat but Hightower just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Hanson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hightower uses from the top position.
Hanson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hightower is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower trying to control the position from guard on top but Hanson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hanson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hanson wants to sweep here but Hightower controlling him for the moment.
Hightower trying to control but Hanson is working from the bottom.
Hanson has Hightower pulled in close to control his posture.
Hightower preventing the sweep.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hanson is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hightower fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hightower misses with a wild combination.
Hightower misses with a combination
and Hanson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hightower misses with the combination.
Hanson is looking for a counter combo.
Hightower looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hanson is looking for a counter combo.
Hightower looks winded!
Hightower swings for the body but Hanson moves out of range.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hightower.
Nice shot by Hightower.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower misses with a combination

and Hanson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hanson.
Hanson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hightower gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Hanson turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hanson manages to end up in side control.
Hightower wants to get back to his feet but Hanson is dominant here and he's now got Hightower's back!
Hightower tries to escape but Hanson has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Hanson controls the action.

Hanson looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower wants to escape the position.
Hanson controls the action.
Hanson is not going to allow Hightower to sit and survive in this position.

Hanson looking for the RNC.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hanson keeps control of the position as Hightower tries to break free.

Hanson working for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Barristan Hightower will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hanson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A swing and a miss from Hightower.
Hightower misses with a two punch combination.
A little feinted left hand from Hanson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hightower misses with a series of wild punches.
Hanson throws a big counter combination but Hightower scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Hightower feints a jab promting Hanson to slip. Hightower then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hanson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Frankie Hanson has been cut.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Hightower. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Hightower swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Hanson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hanson tries to score a body lock takedown but Hightower shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hightower stops a takedown attempt from Hanson.

Hanson lands a takedown into guard.
Hightower working a defensive guard but Hanson manages to pass into side control anyway.
Hightower is breathing heavily.
Hightower is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower can't do much from the bottom here.
Hanson prevents Hightower from escaping the position.
Hightower tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hanson presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Hanson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hightower working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hightower tries to hold on but Hanson postures up.
Hightower keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hanson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Hightower tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by Hanson.
Hanson avoids the attempt from Hightower to control.
Hanson working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hightower squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hanson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hightower hang on?
Hanson lands a couple of good shots and Hightower has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Hanson is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Hightower is trying to get back to his feet but Hanson has full control of the position and if anything, Hightower has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Hightower preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hanson.
Hanson has good solid back control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hanson tightening his grip on Hightower, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Hanson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frankie Hanson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hightower swinging wildly here.
Hanson seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Frankie Hanson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hightower misses with a double jab

and Hanson counters with a crisp one two that drops Hightower! Hanson thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Hightower to his feet! Hightower is in big trouble!
Hightower throws a series of punches but Hanson moves out of range.
Hightower connects with a right hand. Hanson shakes it off.
Hightower throws a right and a left that both miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hanson closes the distance and clinches.
Hightower takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hanson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hightower prevents it.

Hanson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Hightower is trying to keep an underhook but Hanson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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!
Hanson working over Hightower with some ground and pound. Hightower looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower missing with punches from the bottom.
Hanson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hightower trying to get back to full guard but Hanson takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Hanson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

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.
Hanson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hightower is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hightower tries to lock up and control but Hanson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hanson working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hightower is working to get back to half guard.
Hanson is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hightower can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower taking shots to the head.

Hanson has hold of Hightower's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hightower manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hightower is looking to get to half guard.

Hanson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hightower is surviving well by controlling Hanson's body position as best he can.
Hightower is in a horrible position here. Hanson smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower is trying to escape the mount.
Hanson won't let Hightower get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

Hanson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Hightower to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Hightower shrugs it off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hanson controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Hanson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hanson 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Hanson!