PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Bass (ranked 1458 p4p, 1120 weight class) and Liam Higgins (ranked 168 p4p, 129 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Bass
vs
Higgins

200 cm
23
275
6 - 4 - 0

194 cm
23
265
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Phoenix

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sam Bass!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Liam Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bass throws a jab when Higgins was well out of range.
Higgins feints and then cracks Bass's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bass down.
Higgins thuds his shin into the meat of Bass's side.
Higgins connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bass momentarily.
We've been told by Bass's head coaches at Punch Fit that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bass misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Higgins.
Higgins swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Higgins misses with a straight left.
Bass with a jab.
Higgins throws a hook but Bass blocks it.
Higgins throws the kick towards the body but Bass avoids it.
Sam Bass seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins takes a swing at Bass's ribcage but misses.
Bass smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Higgins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bass throws a jab but it's blocked by Higgins.
Bass throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Higgins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bass has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bass and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Higgins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bass swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bass moves in looking to clinch but Higgins pushes him off.
Bass misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed right hand from Bass misses the target.
Bass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Higgins.
Higgins looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Higgins is looking to land body kicks.
Higgins explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Higgins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bass.
A leg kick checked by Bass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bass throws a big shot that misses.
Higgins on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Higgins throws an overhand right that lands on Bass's shoulder, as Bass tries to avoid the shot.
Higgins looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Higgins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bass lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bass throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Higgins sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Higgins misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Bass does it's job there.

It looks like Liam Higgins has been cut.
Bass throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Higgins sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Higgins feints a counter leg kick.
Higgins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Higgins misses with a low kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Higgins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bass jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bass misses with a lunging right hand
and Higgins makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Bass really felt that one!
Higgins looks to score with a jab to the body but Bass is just out of range.
Bass jabs Higgins to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The crowd cheers as Bass lands an impressive looking overhand right. Higgins doesn't seem phased though.
Bass misses with an uppercut. Higgins saw that one coming.
Bass scores with a body shot.
Nice uppercut lands for Bass. That snapped Higgins's head back.
Higgins connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bass momentarily.
Higgins throws a leg kick but Bass sees it coming and checks it nicely.
It looked like Bass wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bass misses the jab.
Higgins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bass cracks Higgins with a good jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A punch combination from Higgins misses.
Higgins just misses with a punch to the body.
Bass swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Higgins misses with a hook.
Bass throwing a counter right hand but Higgins manages to avoid it.
Higgins ducks under a wild hook from Bass.
Higgins gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bass misses with a looping right.
Higgins let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Decent striking displayed by Bass there.
Higgins moves away from the strike by Bass.
Higgins appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Bass on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A big right from Bass misses.
Bass moves out of range as Higgins throws a body kick.
Bass fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Higgins looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Bass dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Liam Higgins's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Higgins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bass manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Higgins lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bass's sensitive parts.
Bass connects with a looping right hand.
Higgins gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Bass counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bass fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Higgins tries a head kick but it misses.

Bass closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Bass fails to land.
Higgins stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bass lands a right hand that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.

Higgins manages to break the clinch.
Higgins avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Higgins throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bass lands a big uppercut and Higgins crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Higgins looks OK. Bass waves Higgins back to his feet!

Higgins is rocked!

That has opened up Liam Higgins's cut even more.
A telegraphed right hand from Bass misses the target.
Higgins is still on wobbly legs! Can Bass finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bass.
Higgins seems to have recovered his senses.
Bass throws a shot from downtown. Higgins moves away and avoids it.

Bass sends Higgins crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Bass is motioning to the referee to let Higgins up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Higgins misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bass ducks right into an uppercut from Higgins.
Higgins misses the body punch

and Bass counters with a crisp right hand that drops Higgins! Bass lets Higgins back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bass throws an off balance right hand
and Higgins counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A jab from Bass misses.
Higgins lands a nice shot to the body.
Higgins throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bass takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bass waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Higgins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Higgins. That snapped Bass's head back.
Higgins throws a body kick that misses
and Bass cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higgins scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bass defending well as Higgins loads up on a big left hand.
Sam Bass is winning the standup battle so far.
A big left from Bass misses.
Bass takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Higgins thuds his right hand into Bass's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Higgins lands with a good body shot.
Higgins tries to land a body kick
and Bass connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

The cut above Liam Higgins's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Higgins swings for the body but Bass moves out of range.
Bass uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Higgins.
Higgins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bass has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bass takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Crunch! Higgins slams his shin into Bass's torso.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some bone on bone action there as Bass checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bass is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Bass misses with a looping left.
Higgins throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Bass connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Higgins momentarily.
Bass misses with a looping left.
Nice body kick there by Higgins.
Higgins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bass takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Higgins lunges at Bass with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bass's hand.
Bass will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Higgins scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bass walks into a left hand.
Bass swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Higgins let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Higgins lands with a nice body kick.
Higgins lands a slapping body shot.
Higgins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bass manages to avoid it.
Bass rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Higgins counter with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Higgins fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Higgins throws a body shot but no joy.
Higgins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sam Bass will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Liam Higgins's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bass misses with a body punch
and Higgins counters with a stiff right hand.
Liam Higgins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bass moves out of range of the body kick.
Bass misses with a looping right.
A nice side step and Higgins releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Higgins tries to land a front kick but Bass steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Higgins ducks under a wild hook from Bass.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A countering left hand to the body from Higgins misses.
Bass keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bass throws the left hand but Higgins avoids the punch easily.
Higgins tries a quick counter leg kick but Bass is wise to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins throws a sloppy head kick and Bass moves out of range easily.
Higgins looks to score with a jab to the body but Bass is just out of range.
Higgins throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Higgins fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bass on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Higgins.
Higgins lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Higgins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bass.
Bass circles away from the clinch attempt.
Higgins misses with a low kick as Bass jumps back.
Higgins takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bass connects with a jab.
Bass throws an off balance right hand
and Higgins counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bass takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bass misses with a looping right.
Higgins ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bass checks the leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bass throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Higgins on the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Higgins tries to land a front kick but Bass steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Higgins tries to bum rush Bass with a series of wild strikes but Bass uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Higgins staying out of range there.
Higgins keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Higgins flicks out a counter leg kick but Bass steps away.
Higgins throws a big shot that misses.
Higgins's jab looks to have found its range, popping Bass under the eye.
Higgins blocks a jab.
Higgins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bass manages to avoid it.
Bass bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bass bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Higgins's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bass misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Higgins.

Bass instigates a clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Bass.
Higgins tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bass lands a shoulder strike.
Sam Bass is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A head punch on the inside from Higgins fails to land.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Higgins.
Bass blocking some punches.
Higgins tries to throw a body punch but Bass avoids it by throwing Higgins back against the cage.
Higgins misses with some punches.
Bass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bass lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bass blocks an uppercut.
Higgins struggles to land a body shot inside as Bass controls his hands.
Higgins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Higgins misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Higgins fails to land.
Higgins tries to work over Bass's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bass blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Higgins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bass's elbow.
Bass blocks an uppercut.
Higgins throws a head punch that misses.
Higgins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bass's elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Higgins doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liam Higgins comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bass has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!