PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jason Hightower (ranked 125 p4p, 249 weight class) and Deividas Vilkas (ranked 21 p4p, 40 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Hightower might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Power. Vilkas has chosen Fortunate Son as his entrance music. Jason Hightower has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hightower
vs
Vilkas

207 cm
30
242
28 - 5 - 0

193 cm
29
253
12 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jason Hightower!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Deividas Vilkas!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Vilkas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hightower has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Vilkas fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vilkas connects with a body shot that sends Hightower's belly button to the back.
Vilkas lands with a cross.
Deividas Vilkas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vilkas misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hightower appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Vilkas throws an off balance right hand
and Hightower counters with a stiff right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower takes a kick to the side of the head.

Vilkas lands a big right hand that sends Hightower crashing to the mat! Vilkas stays standing though and waves Hightower back to his feet!

Hightower is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vilkas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hightower swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Vilkas lands a big right hand that sends Hightower crashing to the mat! Vilkas stays standing though and waves Hightower back to his feet!
Hightower slips under a jab.
Hightower throwing a counter right hand but Vilkas manages to avoid it.
Hightower on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vilkas. Vilkas obviously looking to wear him down.
A big left from Vilkas misses.
Hightower blocks a head kick by Vilkas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hightower checks the leg kick.
Vilkas lands a body shot.

Oooooh!!! Vilkas has knocked Hightower down with a huge combo! Vilkas steps away and waves a wobbly Hightower back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!
Oh Hightower is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

It looks like Jason Hightower has been cut.
Vilkas throws a looping overhand right but Hightower ducks down to avoid it.
Hightower was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Hightower seems to have got his legs back now.
Vilkas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Vilkas misses with a shot to the body
and Hightower counters with a straight right hand.
Hightower staying out of range there.
Vilkas misses with a looping left.
Hightower takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vilkas throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hightower counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower blocks a jab.
That kick from Vilkas tenderised Hightower's leg. Hightower is trying to keep his angry face on.
Vilkas throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And Hightower counters with a quick kick to the body but Vilkas blocks it.
Vilkas scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Vilkas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Hightower counters with a quick kick to the body but Vilkas blocks it.
A slow jab from Vilkas misses its intended target.
Hightower appears to be looking for a big counter.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Deividas Vilkas dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jason Hightower's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vilkas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hightower is looking to counter punch.
Vilkas misses with a leg kick
and Hightower counters with a nice body kick.
Vilkas throws the kick towards the body but Hightower avoids it.
Hightower appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Vilkas swings widly with a right hand
and Hightower counters with a nice body shot.
Hightower uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vilkas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vilkas swings widly with a right hand
enabling Hightower to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Deividas Vilkas has been cut.
Vilkas misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vilkas throws a right hand that misses

and Hightower counters with a crisp right hand that drops Vilkas! Hightower lets Vilkas back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
Vilkas throws a jab but it's blocked by Hightower.
Vilkas throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
It looked like Hightower wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vilkas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vilkas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hightower throwing a counter right hand but Vilkas manages to avoid it.
Vilkas misses with a lunging right hand
and Hightower counters with a right hand to the body.
Vilkas throws a head kick that misses.
It looked like Hightower wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas tries to land a leg kick but Hightower saw it coming and moves away.
A counter left hand to the body from Hightower misses its target.
Jab by Vilkas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vilkas misses with a combination
and Vilkas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vilkas misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Hightower misses the target.
Vilkas throws a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vilkas moves into the clinch.

Hightower breaks the clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Vilkas as he connects with a hook.
Hightower doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vilkas throws a head kick that misses
letting Hightower counter with a right hand.
Vilkas fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas works Hightower's body with a nice hook.
Good leg kick by Vilkas.
Vilkas misses with a looping left.
A little feinted left hand from Hightower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vilkas misses with a head kick.
A little feinted left hand from Hightower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hightower staying out of range there.
Hightower takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Deividas Vilkas will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vilkas stuns Hightower with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Vilkas throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hightower counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A head kick misses from Vilkas.
A quick step to the side and Hightower tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed right hand from Vilkas misses the target.
Hightower lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vilkas throws a lazy body kick
and Hightower counters with a nice uppercut.
Hightower uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vilkas.
Deividas Vilkas seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower moves out of range of the body kick.
A little feinted left hand from Hightower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A big left from Vilkas misses.
Hightower throwing a counter right hand but Vilkas manages to avoid it.
Vilkas throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vilkas scores with a punch to the head.
Vilkas misses with a wild body shot.
Hightower appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Vilkas throws a leg kick that misses.
Hightower is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower avoids the body shot from Vilkas.
It looked like Hightower was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Vilkas.
A swing and a miss from Vilkas.
Hightower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vilkas misses with a low kick.
Vilkas uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hightower has time to react.
A head kick misses from Vilkas.
Hightower is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hightower slips under a jab from Vilkas.
Hightower appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Vilkas looks to land a left hand but Hightower moved out of range nicely.
Vilkas looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hightower went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Vilkas throws a head kick but Hightower moves out of range.
Vilkas misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas punishes Hightower's body with a nice straight punch.
Hightower with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vilkas to score with a decent uppercut.
Vilkas throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Hightower counter with a right hand.
Vilkas cracks Hightower with a right hand to the side of the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vilkas misses with a body shot
and Hightower counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Deividas Vilkas really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Vilkas lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hightower slips a jab from Vilkas.
Hightower swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Vilkas misses with an uppercut
and Hightower counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hightower moves forwards but Vilkas connects with a nice, crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vilkas throws a leg kick but Hightower checks it.

Hightower gets tackled into the cage by Vilkas. Vilkas maintains the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vilkas goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vilkas throws a punch but it's blocked by Hightower.
Vilkas misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hightower.
Vilkas makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vilkas tries a body shot but Hightower blocks it.

Hightower breaks the clinch.
Vilkas throws the left hand but Hightower avoids the punch easily.
A little feinted left hand from Hightower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Hightower avoids the body shot from Vilkas.
Vilkas throws a poor cross that misses
and Hightower counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Vilkas misses with a combination

and Hightower counters with a nice right hand that sends Vilkas toppling to the canvas! Vilkas scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Hightower finish him?!

Vilkas is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vilkas fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hightower is out of range.
Vilkas misses with an uppercut.
A little feinted left hand from Hightower on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vilkas looks to score with a jab to the body but Hightower is just out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Hightower misses its target.
Vilkas misses with a jab to the body
and Hightower counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Vilkas is still on wobbly legs! Can Hightower finish him?
Vilkas tries to clinch there but Hightower circles away.
It looked like Hightower wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vilkas seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas loads up on a big right hand but Hightower slips the punch.
Vilkas misses with a shot to the body
and Hightower connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vilkas pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Hightower wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Vilkas throws a jab but it's blocked by Hightower.

Vilkas clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hightower's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vilkas throws a predictable looking body shot
and Vilkas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vilkas lands a nice looking body shot.
A leg kick checked by Hightower.
Hightower is looking to counter punch.
Vilkas ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hightower moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vilkas swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hightower appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hightower avoids a kick to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Jason Hightower will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Vilkas thows a leg kick but Hightower checks it
enabling Hightower to counter with a crisp jab.
Jason Hightower has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vilkas throws a right hand that misses

and Hightower counters with a nice right hand that sends Vilkas toppling to the canvas! Vilkas scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Hightower finish him?!
Hightower moves out of range of the body kick from Vilkas.
Hightower throws a quick counter head kick but Vilkas was just out of range.
Vilkas misses with a looping right.
Hightower throws a counter high kick but Vilkas was just alert enough to avoid it.
Vilkas rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Hightower counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Vilkas waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hightower.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vilkas looks to land a left hand but Hightower moved out of range nicely.
Vilkas misses with a hook.
Vilkas throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hightower defending well as Vilkas loads up on a big left hand.
Hightower appears to be looking for a big counter.
Vilkas throws a body shot but no joy.
Vilkas just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vilkas throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hightower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hightower blocks a low kick nicely.
Hightower swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Vilkas throws a lazy uppercut

and Hightower counters with a nice right hand that sends Vilkas toppling to the canvas! Vilkas scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Hightower finish him?!
Vilkas scores with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas throws a sloppy head kick and Hightower moves out of range easily.
Vilkas with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vilkas misses the shot to the body.
Deividas Vilkas is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vilkas swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hightower checks a low kick from Vilkas.
As Vilkas looks to move away, Hightower throws a big counter combo but Vilkas just gets out of the way.
Vilkas fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vilkas tries a low kick but Hightower avoids it.
Vilkas lands a two punch combo.
Vilkas scores with a hook to the body. Hightower takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hightower is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Some bone on bone action there as Hightower checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Vilkas misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hightower.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jason Hightower.
Well Vilkas 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 48:48
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 47:48
Judge James Glass scores the fight 48:48

The fight is ruled a majority draw!
Jason Hightower retains his title. It's always disappointing when a championship fight ends as a draw but that's what happens when you leave the fight in the judges hands!