PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Slim Thug (ranked 3010 p4p, 3711 weight class) and Don Higgins (ranked 417 p4p, 495 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Thug
vs
Higgins

190 cm
25
216
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
210
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Silverguard Outfitters
Furnace Performance Products

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Slim Thug!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Don Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Nard Betker and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Thug sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Thug closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Thug lands with a right to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Thug.
Thug throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Higginss head.
Thug throws a punch but it's blocked by Higgins.
Higgins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Higgins is trying to pull guard but Thug has him pressed against the cage.
Thug tries to work over Higgins's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Thug swings wildly with an uppercut but Higgins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Higgins tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Thug just stands there and leans against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thug misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch on the inside from Thug fails to land.
Higgins is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Thug gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Slim Thug has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Don Higgins.
Higgins is trying to push Thug away but Thug has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Thug is working Higgins over against the cage.
Thug lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Thug leaning against his opponent.
Thug pushes Higgins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Thug lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Higgins stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Higgins tries to pull guard but Thug won't allow it.
Thug softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Thug swings wildly with an uppercut but Higgins uses good head movement to avoid it.
Thug lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Thug looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Thug lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thug tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Higgins's elbow.
Thug lands a right hand that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Thug.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Higgins lands a hook to the side of the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Thug.
Thug misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Higgins manages to pull guard.
Thug wants to control from the top but Higgins keeps moving.
Thug would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Thug won't allow Higgins to sweep him here.
Thug wants to get up but he can't break Higgins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thug won't allow Higgins to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higgins wants to improve his position but instead Thug has moved into half guard.
Thug slows the pace down in half guard.
Thug is just content to waste time from the top position. Higgins takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Higgins looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Thug has picked Higgins up and slammed him! Higgins can't keep hold of the triangle and Thug manages to pass to side control!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Higgins can do anything to dispel that myth.
Thug tries to get to his feet but Higgins is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Thug in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Thug's guard.

Higgins controls from within his opponent's guard.
Higgins trying to control the position from guard on top but Thug is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Higgins pushes down on Thug's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Higgins is trying for a kimura here. Thug looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Higgins wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Don Higgins!