PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry O Leary (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). O Leary is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by one day like this. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Higgins
vs
O Leary

172 cm
25
280 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
265 lbs
13 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Powerful

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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Higgins!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Larry O Leary!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Higgins looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Higgins lands with a punch from half guard.
Higgins sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. O Leary defending well though.
Higgins thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed O Leary's head.
Higgins throws a strike but O Leary avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Higgins scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
O Leary looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higgins tries to free his leg and advance position but O Leary is retaining full guard.
O Leary seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Higgins connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higgins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Leary works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
O Leary managing to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins trying to control the position from guard on top but O Leary is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Higgins postures up in O Leary's guard and throws a big left but O Leary blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Higgins accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
O Leary wants to sweep but no luck.
Higgins throws a big right hand that misses.
Higgins looking to sit in guard and control but O Leary gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Higgins loads up on a big right hand but O Leary slips the punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Higgins.
John Higgins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higgins looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? O Leary is fending him off so far but Higgins persists. Nope, O Leary circles away and we're back to standing.
O Leary lands a body shot.

O Leary feints and as Higgins raises his hands in defense, O Leary changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Higgins is breathing heavily.
Higgins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
O Leary gets back to full guard.
Higgins is looking to work some ground and pound but O Leary has wrist control.
Higgins thows a big elbow that misses.
O Leary keeping moving, preventing Higgins from controlling successfully.
O Leary looking to hit a scissor sweep but Higgins is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Higgins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Higgins stopping the sweep attempt from O Leary.
O Leary is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Higgins gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and O Leary counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Higgins's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
O Leary in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higgins controls O Leary momentarily but O Leary frees himself.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
O Leary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higgins is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Leary in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Higgins is trying to keep O Leary in close.
Higgins manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. O Leary manages to get himself to full guard.
Higgins looking to pass the guard.
Higgins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Higgins stopping the sweep attempt from O Leary.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Larry O Leary will probably get the nod.
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 works O Leary's body with a nice hook.
Higgins misses with a takedown

and O Leary moves into the clinch.
Higgins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Higgins prevents the takedown attempt.
O Leary is pressed up against the cage. Higgins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag O Leary down to the mat. O Leary avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
O Leary connects with a body shot.
Higgins moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Higgins on the wrong end of a nice jab.
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!
Left hook, right uppercut from O Leary.
O Leary throws a series of strikes that have Higgins backpedaling.
O Leary scores with a nice right hand.

O Leary closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
O Leary moves into full mount!
O Leary landing strikes, looking to finish!
O Leary is in the full mount, landing strikes.
O Leary unloading with bombs!

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Leary with the ground and pound from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Higgins is working to get back to half guard.
BOOM! O Leary connects with a massive shot to the dome!
O Leary landing shots from mount.
O Leary prevents Higgins from getting the reversal.
O Leary landing strikes, looking to finish!
O Leary cracks Higgins with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O Leary dominating with strikes here.
O Leary is in the full mount, landing strikes.
O Leary with good strikes from the mount here!
O Leary working the ground and pound effectively.
O Leary scoring with strikes but Higgins is staying in there.
Higgins keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
O Leary punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Leary lands a heavy elbow.

O Leary is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Higgins can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
O Leary looking to control but Higgins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Higgins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
O Leary connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Higgins tries to hold on but O Leary pushes him away.
O Leary lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
O Leary fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Higgins is looking to get to half guard.
O Leary has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Higgins's face.
O Leary lands a big shot there that rocks Higgins but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Leary trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Higgins tries to hold on but O Leary pushes him away.
O Leary wants to control the pace but Higgins is squirming around nicely.
Higgins is looking to improve his position but O Leary isn't that keen on the idea.
O Leary controlling from the full mount.
Higgins really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
O Leary punishing his opponent with strikes.
Larry O Leary has got the better of the ground game so far.
Higgins is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Higgins takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Leary is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Higgins can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
O Leary trying to control but he's not successful this time.
O Leary has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
O Leary landing strikes from the mount and Higgins is in trouble!
BOOM! O Leary connects with a massive shot to the dome!
O Leary landing shots from mount.
O Leary landing punches.
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!
O Leary working Higgins over with strikes here.
Higgins is in a horrible position here. O Leary smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Higgins tries to hold on but O Leary pushes him away.
O Leary lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
O Leary looking to control but Higgins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Higgins wants to control but O Leary is having none of it.
O Leary tries to control but Higgins wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry O Leary showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

O Leary shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Higgins is trying to defend but O Leary finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Higgins gets back to full guard.
O Leary passes Higgins's left leg - he's now in half guard.
O Leary has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
O Leary is thwarting Higgins's attempts to control the position.
O Leary looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Higgins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Higgins is pressing down on O Leary's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
O Leary trying to control the position from guard on top but Higgins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
O Leary stopping the sweep attempt from Higgins.
O Leary passes Higgins's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Leary is trying to control the action in half guard but Higgins is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Higgins trying to control but O Leary postures up.
Higgins tries to get to full guard but O Leary has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Higgins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
Higgins looking for a sweep. Not yet Higgins, not yet.
O Leary in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
O Leary chips away with some ground and pound.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing O Leary from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
O Leary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higgins is keeping the position for now.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
Higgins controlling the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
O Leary tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Higgins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Higgins with a lazy takedown attempt

and O Leary counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing O Leary from controlling successfully.
O Leary controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
O Leary trying to control the position from guard on top but Higgins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
O Leary being controlled here momentarily.
O Leary tries to free his leg and advance position but Higgins is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing O Leary from controlling successfully.
O Leary pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higgins is keeping the position for now.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Higgins scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
O Leary slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Higgins lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Higgins postures up in O Leary's guard and throws a big left but O Leary blocks it.
Higgins controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Higgins drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but O Leary manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Higgins has O Leary in his guard.
O Leary trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Higgins wants to sweep but no luck.
Higgins keeping full guard, as O Leary tries to pass.
O Leary thows a big elbow that misses.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing O Leary from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry O Leary really dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

O Leary fails in his attempt to clinch.
Higgins fails with the takedown
and O Leary counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Higgins misses with an uppercut. O Leary saw that one coming.
Higgins shoots and misses

and O Leary counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by O Leary.
Higgins trying to keep a closed guard but O Leary is proving a slippery customer.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
Higgins keeping full guard, as O Leary tries to pass.
Higgins 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.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
O Leary throwing strikes from guard but Higgins blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
O Leary is trying desperately to improve position.
O Leary slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Higgins not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
O Leary moves into full guard.
Higgins is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins advances to half guard.
Higgins looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
O Leary wants to improve his position but Higgins is controlling well.
O Leary keeping control of the position.
Higgins throwing shots but O Leary is blocking nicely.
Higgins wants to pass the guard but O Leary is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins trying to control the action but O Leary is working from the bottom.
Higgins throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
O Leary moves into full guard.
O Leary working a defensive guard here.
Higgins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. O Leary swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Higgins looking to sit in guard and control but O Leary gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Higgins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
O Leary bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Higgins wants to sweep here but O Leary controlling him for the moment.
O Leary postures up.
O Leary trying to control but Higgins is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry O Leary dominated that fourth round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

O Leary pushes Higgins up against the cage in a clinch.
Higgins misses with a hook to the ribs.
O Leary taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

O Leary lands a takedown into guard.
Higgins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
O Leary is looking to get to half guard.
O Leary wants to control but Higgins is having none of it.
O Leary is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Higgins looking to ground and pound but O Leary is blocking nicely.

Higgins moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, O Leary has worked his arm free - good work by O Leary!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins working away.
O Leary manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Higgins throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Higgins thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Higgins looks to land a strike but O Leary avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
O Leary wants to sweep here but Higgins controlling him for the moment.
Higgins throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as O Leary works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Larry O Leary is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
O Leary is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Higgins postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Higgins pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. O Leary is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
O Leary connects with a body shot.
Higgins on the wrong end of a nice hook.
O Leary tries to clinch there but Higgins circles away.
Higgins misses with a takedown attempt
and O Leary cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higgins tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

O Leary drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
O Leary content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Leary looking to pass the guard.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing O Leary from controlling successfully.
Higgins controls O Leary momentarily but O Leary frees himself.
Higgins looking to hit a scissor sweep but O Leary is one step ahead there.
O Leary tries to free his leg and advance position but Higgins is retaining full guard.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing O Leary from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Higgins tries for a takedown but O Leary circles away easily

and O Leary counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Higgins misses with a short punch on the inside.
Higgins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Higgins swings wildly with an uppercut but O Leary uses good head movement to avoid it.
Higgins tries to work over O Leary's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by O Leary as Higgins tries to tie him up.
Higgins working aggressively here.
Higgins is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but O Leary is keeping busy.
Higgins swings wildly with an uppercut but O Leary uses good head movement to avoid it.
O Leary gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Higgins.
John Higgins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higgins can't find room to land a body shot as O Leary controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry O Leary comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well O Leary 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 44:50
Judge George Francis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry O Leary!
Larry O Leary is the new heavyweight champion!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
100%

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