PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reed Hightower (ranked 1424 p4p, 185 weight class) and Darren Burns (ranked 1744 p4p, 213 weight class). Darren Burns has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hightower
vs
Burns

179 cm
33
171 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

185 cm
27
180 lbs
14 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
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 18 - 12 - 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 14 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Darren Burns!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hightower uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Burns.
Burns feints and then cracks Hightower's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hightower down.
Burns throws a right hand that misses
and Hightower counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Burns throws a right hand that Hightower ducks under and follows up with a left that Hightower also avoids with ease.
Hightower avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burns throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hightower counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Burns's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hightower connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Burns scrambles back to his feet.
Good exchange - Burns coming out on top.

Hightower lands a big shot that drops Burns! Can he finish him?

Burns is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hightower controlling from the top position.
Burns is still in real trouble! Can Hightower finish him?
Burns is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Burns seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Burns keeping full guard, as Hightower tries to pass.
Hightower controls from within his opponent's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hightower ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burns rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hightower counters with an outside leg kick.
Hightower misses with an attempted mid kick.
Burns swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Burns misses with a lunging right hand
and Hightower counters with a stiff right hand.
Burns throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hightower throws a quick inside leg kick.
Burns looks to land a left hand but Hightower moved out of range nicely.
Burns swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Burns takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burns connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hightower momentarily.
Burns wants to stay close but Hightower steps back to make room for something. Burns seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Hightower and Burns drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:12 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Reed Hightower!
Reed Hightower decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.