PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reed Hightower (ranked 1031 p4p, 144 weight class) and Marek Koltun (ranked 1445 p4p, 186 weight class). Reed Hightower could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Marek Koltun's chin.

Hightower
vs
Koltun

179 cm
32
171 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

182 cm
42
177 lbs
32 - 19 - 4

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reed Hightower!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 4, fighting out of Helsinki, Marek Koltun!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koltun scores with a shot to the body.
Hightower missing with a left hand there. Koltun was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Koltun throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hightower counters with a thumping low kick.
Koltun scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hightower in his tracks.
Koltun displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hightower throws out the jab.
Koltun misses the shot to the body.
Koltun connects with a solid leg kick.
Hightower lands with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koltun misses with a body shot.
Hightower misses with a hook
and Koltun counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Koltun shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hightower as he avoids it easily.
Hightower is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hightower throws the left hand but Koltun avoids the punch easily.
Koltun tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Koltun takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Koltun throws a big shot that misses.
Hightower thinks about countering with a body kick.
Hightower works Koltun's body with a nice hook.

Koltun shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Koltun was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Hightower is looking for a sweep.
Koltun prevents Hightower from escaping the position.
Koltun working the ground and pound but Hightower is defending the strikes.

Koltun tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hightower tries to buck Koltun off but Koltun is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun working the strikes but Hightower uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hightower moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hightower looking for a sweep. Not yet Hightower, not yet.

Koltun got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hightower has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Koltun has managed to get both his arms back between Hightower's legs - danger averted.
Koltun throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koltun has gone for a leg lock! Hightower slips out almost immediately though and dives into Koltun's guard.

Koltun lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hightower keeping moving, preventing Koltun from controlling successfully.
Hightower has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Hightower is trying to control the position but Koltun postures up.

Hightower had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Koltun defends it easily.
Hightower is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower controls Koltun momentarily but Koltun frees himself.
Koltun throws a big elbow that misses.

Koltun gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Nice body kick from Hightower.
Koltun misses the shot to the body.
Koltun lands a jab to the head.
Hightower scores with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marek Koltun will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Koltun shoots for a double leg takedown but Hightower sprawls well. He's pushed Koltun's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hightower lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Marek Koltun has been cut.
Koltun gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hightower counters with a straight right hand.
Hightower misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koltun.
Koltun looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hightower uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koltun.
Hightower is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hightower throws a chopping leg kick but Koltun manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koltun throws a poor cross that misses
and Hightower counters with a nice leg kick.
Koltun wants to land a leg kick but Hightower is out of range.
Hightower explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower looks to score with a jab to the body but Koltun is just out of range.
Hightower tries to move into range but Koltun moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koltun throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Koltun throws a nice outside leg kick.
Koltun throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hightower sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Koltun looking to score a takedown here. Hightower is defending well but Koltun drives through and ends up in Hightower's guard.
Hightower looking to hit a scissor sweep but Koltun is one step ahead there.
Koltun trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Koltun throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Koltun tries to free his leg and advance position but Hightower is retaining full guard.

Hightower looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Koltun passes into half guard.
Hightower tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Koltun has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Koltun scoring with strikes but Hightower is staying in there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koltun avoids the attempt from Hightower to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hightower hang on?
Hightower is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Hightower squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Hightower is wriggling around trying to escape.
Koltun raining down shots from the mount!
Koltun has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Koltun punishing his opponent with strikes.
Koltun cracks Hightower with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hightower wants to hold on but Koltun pushes him away.
Hightower is looking to get to half guard.
Hightower is in a horrible position here. Koltun smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Koltun with the ground and pound from mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Koltun swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hightower is now in Koltun's guard. A big mistake from Koltun there, giving up the dominant position!
Hightower trying to control the position from guard on top but Koltun is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Koltun is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Koltun showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marek Koltun's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hightower connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Koltun lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Nice defenses there by Koltun.
Hightower misses with a looping right.
Koltun let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Koltun swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Hightower to counter with a crisp jab.
Hightower checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hightower appears to be looking for a big counter.
Nice straight punches there by Hightower. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hightower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koltun drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hightower defends it well.
Koltun stuns Hightower with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hightower misses with an uppercut
and Hightower takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hightower checks a leg kick nicely.

Koltun bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Koltun tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Koltun scoring with punches and elbows.
Reed Hightower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Hightower is not content to let Koltun control the position.
Hightower tries to improve position but can't.
Koltun throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hightower wants to control but Koltun postures up.
Koltun advances to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koltun has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Hightower's face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun lands a big shot there that rocks Hightower but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Hightower regains half guard.
Koltun 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.
Koltun lands strikes from half guard.
Marek Koltun is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Koltun controlling the action here.
Hightower wants to get back to full guard but Koltun has passed into side control.
Hightower is trying to get back to half guard.
Koltun has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hightower tries to buck Koltun off but Koltun is having none of it.
A lull in the action here as Koltun stalls from top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hightower striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marek Koltun comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Koltun winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marek Koltun!
A very excited looking Marek Koltun made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.