PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mike Haggar (ranked 10 p4p, 140 weight class) and Jason Hightower (ranked 2 p4p, 9 weight class). Hightower is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Power. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Haggar
vs
Hightower

202 cm
39
266
45 - 26 - 0

207 cm
33
258
38 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Threads
Furnace Performance 🔥

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 45 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Haggar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jason Hightower!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haggar misses with a left hand
and Hightower counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Haggar thinking.
Haggar is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mike Haggar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Haggar goes for a double leg but Hightower avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hightower continues to drive forward.
Haggar works on Hightower's body with a couple of short punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Haggar.

Haggar manages to pull guard.
Haggar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hightower has momentary wrist control but Haggar slips an elbow through the middle.
Haggar trying to control the position from guard on top but Hightower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hightower is controlling Haggar's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Haggar accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hightower keeping moving, preventing Haggar from controlling successfully.
Hightower tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Haggar stands up over Hightower, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Haggar makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hightower swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hightower working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Haggar.
Haggar postures up and lands a big shot to Hightower's brow.
Haggar works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hightower is not content to let Haggar control the position.
Hightower avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Haggar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower gets back to full guard.
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hightower swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haggar postures up in Hightower's guard and throws a big left but Hightower blocks it.
Haggar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hightower works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haggar lands a couple of digs.
Hightower is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Haggar lands a couple of digs.
Haggar trying to control the position from guard on top but Hightower is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hightower avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've been hearing that Haggar has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Hightower is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hightower is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Haggar wants to sweep here but Hightower controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Haggar wants to hit a sweep here but Hightower passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Haggar there!
Haggar tries to reverse the position but Hightower maintains control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Haggar sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hightower prevents Haggar from improving his position.
Haggar misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Hightower slows the pace down in half guard.
Haggar has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hightower prevents Haggar from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hightower keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Haggar is looking to improve his position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fighters circling - Hightower throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Haggar misses the body punch
and Hightower counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Haggar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hightower pinned against the cage. Hightower gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Haggar digs a good body shot into Hightower's ribs.
Haggar slips a jab from Hightower.
Haggar is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hightower can do to turn this around?
Hightower misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower jabs Haggar to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Hightower gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Haggar to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Haggar throws a strike but Hightower rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hightower is one step ahead there.
Hightower passes into half guard.
Hightower is pressing down on Haggar's thigh, looking to free his foot. Haggar is holding on for now.
Hightower prevents Haggar from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Haggar tries to get to full guard but Hightower has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haggar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Haggar.
Haggar wants to sweep but no luck.
Haggar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hightower got a little sloppy there for a moment and Haggar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hightower has managed to get both his arms back between Haggar's legs - danger averted.
Haggar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Haggar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hightower really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Haggar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower keeping moving, preventing Haggar from controlling successfully.
Haggar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hightower swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Haggar wants to control from the top but Hightower keeps moving.
Haggar scoring with some ground and pound.
Haggar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hightower keeping full guard, as Haggar tries to pass.
Haggar scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Haggar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hightower is adopting a defensive guard.
Haggar lands a couple of elbows.
Haggar trying to control but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Haggar working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hightower's head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Haggar missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Haggar connects with a couple of short punches.
Haggar lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hightower working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Haggar dominated that second round.
That's time! Haggar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Haggar fails with a takedown attempt.
Hightower takes a jab right on the kisser.
Haggar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Hightower pinned against the cage. Hightower gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hightower looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A nice combination there by Haggar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Haggar misses with a straight left.
Hightower takes one to the side of the head.
Haggar scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Haggar looks to throw the jab but Hightower is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Haggar dodges the punch combination from Hightower.
Haggar lands a lovely overhand right.
Hightower bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Hightower keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hightower uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Haggar.
A decent looking cross lands there for Haggar.
Hightower connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Haggar sizes up Hightower with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Haggar shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hightower sprawls well. Hightower wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Haggar gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Haggar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Haggar lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Jason Hightower is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab, jab by Haggar - just one landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Haggar.
Haggar just misses with a punch to the body.
Hightower looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Mike Haggar is winning the standup battle so far.
Haggar scores with a nice right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Haggar.
Haggar fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A slow jab from Hightower misses its intended target.
Haggar lands with an uppercut that bounces Hightower off the cage and back into range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower throws the kick towards the body but Haggar avoids it.
Haggar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hightower swivels and escapes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hightower! But no joy.
Hightower misses with a body kick.

Haggar scores with a takedown into Hightower's guard.
Haggar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mike Haggar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Haggar wants to control from the top but Hightower keeps moving.
Hightower looking to control.
Haggar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Haggar trying to control but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Haggar throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Haggar chips away with some ground and pound.
Hightower utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Haggar with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Haggar throws a big right hand that misses.
Haggar is looking to pass into half guard but Hightower pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Hightower is in guard.

Hightower preventing the sweep.

Haggar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hightower can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Haggar lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mike Haggar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Haggar 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mike Haggar!