PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nuro Higati (ranked 4810 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bob Bashington (ranked 4829 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Higati
vs
Bashington

184 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
18
216 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nuro Higati!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bob Bashington!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bashington looks to land a right hand but Higati moved out of range.
Higati misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bashington counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Higati closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Higati lands with a straight right. Bashington didn't see that one coming.
Higati throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Bashington to counter with a crisp jab.
Higati throws an off balance right hand
and Bashington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Higati looks to land a right hand but Bashington moved out of range.
Higati falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bashington counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bashington dodges the punch combination from Higati.
A little jabbing left from Bashington on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Higati tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Higati swings widly with a right hand
and Bashington counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higati throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bashington counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Higati misses with a hook to the body
letting Bashington counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Bashington.
Bashington throws the left hand but Higati avoids the punch easily.
Bashington might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Higati throws a lazy head kick
and Bashington connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bashington throws a jab when Higati was well out of range.
Bashington is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bashington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A big left from Higati misses.
Bashington doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Nuro Higati seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fighters circling - Higati throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bashington pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Higati back to the cage. Bashington follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Higati lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bashington's sensitive parts.
Bashington scores with a body shot.
A nice combination there by Bashington.
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!
Higati throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Bashington to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashington swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Higati throws a big shot that misses.
Higati throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Good standup being displayed there by Bashington as he connects with a hook.
Higati scores with the left hand. Bashington knows he should have avoided that one.
Bashington lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Higati misses with a shot to the body
and Bashington counters with a stiff right hand.
Bashington misses with a looping right.
Bashington lands with a nice combination. Higati backs away looking to recover.
Higati misses with a looping left.
Higati misses with a leg kick
and Bashington counters with a nice uppercut.
Higati looks to land a left hand but Bashington moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati throws a chopping leg kick but Bashington manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Higati bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bashington misses with a straight right.
Bashington lands a glancing blow to the side of Higati's head.
Higati is looking to land body kicks.
Bashington cracks a nice hook into Higati's ribs.
Higati tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bashington looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Higati throws a predictable looking body shot
and Higati takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Higati has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Higati there as he acknowledges the shot.
Bashington jabs at Higati's body.
Higati lands a jab to the head.
Bashington lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashington throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bashington displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Higati throws out the jab.
Higati wants to land a leg kick but Bashington is out of range.
Bashington throws out a counter right but Higati avoids it with no problem.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bashington scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Higati doesn't seem bothered though.
Bashington missing with a left hand there. Higati was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Higati swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bashington counters with a stiff right hand.
Bashington misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bashington is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Higati had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
A clash of legs there as Bashington blocks the low kick.
Bashington only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Bashington looks to throw the jab but Higati is out of range.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bashington.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bashington lands with a nice body punch.
Bashington keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bashington! But no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Bashington dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Higati swings widly with a right hand
letting Bashington counter with a right hand.
Higati swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bashington lands with a straight right. Higati didn't see that one coming.
Higati throws a low kick but Bashington moves out of range easily.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Higati might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Bashington keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Higati throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bashington is looking for the big counter here.
Higati throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bashington cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higati throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bashington counters with a stiff right hand.
Higati throws a sloppy body shot
and Bashington counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higati tries to score with a low kick but Bashington moves his leg out of the way.
Higati looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bashington stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
A low kick from Higati is predictable there
and Bashington connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Higati misses with a lunging right hand
and Bashington counters with a stiff right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higati uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bashington.
Nice defenses there by Bashington.
Higati misses with a wild body shot.
Higati swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Higati misses with a leg kick
and Bashington makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Higati misses with a right hand
and Bashington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A low kick from Higati is predictable there
and Bashington counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A head kick misses from Higati.
Higati throws a poor cross that misses
and Bashington counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bashington connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A clash of legs there as Bashington blocks the low kick.
Bashington throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashington lands a glancing blow to the side of Higati's head.

Higati is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Higati throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bashington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Oh Higati is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Higati slips under a jab.
Higati seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Bashington connects with a looping right hand.
Higati throws a head kick that misses
letting Bashington counter with a right hand.
Bashington bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bashington slips under a jab.
Bashington throws out a counter right but Higati avoids it with no problem.
Bashington throws a hook to the side of Higati's head but Higati sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Sloppy strikes from Bashington. Those never looked like landing.
Higati throws a big shot that misses.
Higati seems to have got his legs back now.
Higati tries a head kick but it misses.
Bashington lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bashington, as that shot connected.
Bashington has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bashington scores with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati avoids the head kick by Bashington.
Bashington misses with the combination.
Higati swings away with a leg kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Bashington on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Higati throws a lazy uppercut
letting Bashington counter with a right hand.
Higati on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Bashington loads up on a big right hand but Higati slips the punch.
Higati misses with a looping right.
Higati tries to work over Bashington's front leg with a kick but Bashington checks it.
Bob Bashington seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Higati ducks right into an uppercut from Bashington.
Higati throws a series of punches but Bashington avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Bashington.
Bashington is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Higati.
As Bashington looks to move away, Higati throws a big counter combo but Bashington just gets out of the way.
Bashington misses with a hook. Higati ducked under it nicely.
Bashington cracks Higati with an open hand slap.
Higati looks to score with a jab to the body but Bashington is just out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bashington! But no joy.
Higati thows a leg kick but Bashington checks it
and Bashington cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Higati throws a jab when Bashington was well out of range.
No joy there for Higati, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Higati will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Higati throws a leg kick that misses.
Bashington misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bob Bashington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Higati with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bashington to score with a decent uppercut.
Higati throws a push kick but Bashington slaps the foot to one side.
It seemed like Bashington was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bashington works the jab nicely.
Higati throws a lazy uppercut
and Bashington counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Higati throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Bashington to counter with a crisp jab.
The fighters circling - Bashington throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Higati misses with a straight right.
Higati avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A good leg kick by Higati.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bashington takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Higati throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bashington counters with a straight right hand.
A big left from Higati misses.
Bashington getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Higati misses
and Bashington counters with a straight right hand.
Bashington lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Higati takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Higati tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bashington was well out of range. Poor timing from Higati.
Bashington misses with a looping right.
A slow jab from Bashington misses its intended target.
Higati misses with a hook to the body
and Bashington cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higati checks a low kick from Bashington.
The fighters circling - Bashington throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Higati misses with a body shot
and Bashington counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Higati takes a swing at Bashington's ribcage but misses.
Bashington looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Bashington does it's job there.
Bashington throws the left hand but Higati avoids the punch easily.
Higati misses with a double jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bashington throws a jab but it's blocked by Higati.
Bashington throws a lazy right hand but Higati sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Higati misses the body punch
and Bashington counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Bashington misses.
Bashington takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bashington throws a looping overhand right but Higati ducks down to avoid it.
Higati misses the jab.
Bashington lands with a right hand.
Higati tried to score with a low kick but Bashington checks it.
Higati lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bashington circles away quickly and effectively.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bashington! But no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bashington scores with a jab to the head.
Bashington throws a shot from downtown. Higati moves away and avoids it.
Higati rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bashington moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Higati throws a right hand that misses
and Bashington counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bashington takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Higati misses with an uppercut.
Bashington connects with a good right hand that stumbles Higati. Higati circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Bashington throws a series of punches but Higati avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Higati.
Bashington checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higati takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bashington will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Higati misses with a low kick.
A little jabbing left from Bashington on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bashington lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Higati circles away quickly and effectively.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Higati throws a body punch but Bashington moves out of range.
Bashington throws the left hand but Higati avoids the punch easily.
Higati throws a lazy uppercut
and Higati takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Some bone on bone action there as Bashington checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bashington ducks under a wild hook from Higati.
Nuro Higati has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bob Bashington is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bashington scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Bashington comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bashington has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Bob Bashington!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Bob Bashington!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Bob Bashington!

Bob Bashington wins by unanimous decision!