PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ichi The Killer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Higashi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ichi The Killer had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

The Killer
vs
Higashi

176 cm
18
183 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ichi The Killer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Higashi!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higashi avoids the head kick by The Killer.
The Killer throws a head kick but Higashi moves out of range.
The Killer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
No luck for Higashi with that takedown attempt.

Higashi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The Killer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Higashi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The Killer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Higashi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Higashi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from The Killer.
Higashi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Higashi trying to control but The Killer is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The Killer gets back to half guard.
The Killer is trying to get back to full guard.
Higashi passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The Killer trying to control but Higashi flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Higashi looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
The Killer trying to control the hands but Higashi breaks the grip.
The Killer tries to escape the position.
The Killer trying to control the hands but Higashi breaks the grip.
What can The Killer do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

Higashi is looking for a rear naked choke here but The Killer reverses the position brilliantly into Higashi's guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The Killer throws a strike but Higashi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Higashi won't allow The Killer to sweep him here.
Higashi wants to control from the top but The Killer keeps moving.
The Killer 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.
The Killer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Higashi on the ground.

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.
Higashi trying to control but The Killer is working from the bottom.
Higashi postures up.
The Killer keeping moving, preventing Higashi from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

The Killer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Higashi looks gassed!
The Killer with a nice head shot there.
Higashi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Higashi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi The Killer dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Higashi with a poor takedown

and The Killer counters with a shoot takedown. Higashi fights it but they end up in guard.
The Killer trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The Killer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The Killer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Killer throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Higashi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Higashi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The Killer stands up over Higashi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The Killer with a flurry of punches that miss.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The Killer takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The Killer avoids the head kick by Higashi.
A head kick from Higashi lands but The Killer takes it in his stride.
Ichi The Killer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Higashi tries to clinch there but The Killer circles away.
The Killer throws a head kick but Higashi moves out of range.
The Killer throws a sloppy head kick
and Higashi counters with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Killer throws a head kick but Higashi moves out of range.
Higashi with a poor takedown

and The Killer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The Killer looking to sit in guard and control but Higashi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Higashi postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Higashi postures up.
Higashi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ichi The Killer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Higashi wanted to stand there but The Killer had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Killer looking to control.
The Killer wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The Killer working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Higashi misses with a takedown attempt - The Killer sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ichi The Killer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Higashi.
A head kick misses from The Killer.
The fight stays on the outside here - Higashi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Higashi tries to clinch up but The Killer circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Higashi.
Higashi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. The Killer defends it nicely.
Ichi The Killer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Killer pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four 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.
The Killer throws a sloppy head kick and Higashi moves out of range easily.
The Killer stuffs the takedown attempt from Higashi. Higashi gets slowly back to his feet.
The Killer tries to clinch there but Higashi circles away.
The Killer throws a body kick, spinning off balance

so Higashi counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Higashi trying to control the position from guard on top but The Killer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The Killer working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Higashi stands and throws The Killer's legs to the side, diving into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ichi The Killer dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Higashi moves out of range as The Killer throws a body kick.
The Killer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Higashi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The Killer throws a head kick that misses

and Higashi moves into the clinch.
The Killer looking for a takedown.
Higashi prevents a takedown attempt there.
The Killer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Higashi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ichi The Killer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Higashi manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Higashi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Killer manages to get himself to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higashi wants to stand but The Killer is controlling his posture from full guard.
Higashi slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Killer tries to roll over but Higashi keeps him under control.
Higashi looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks The Killer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Higashi wants to stand up but The Killer has a hold of him and won't allow it.
The Killer wants to control but Higashi is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Higashi is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for The Killer!
The Killer really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The Killer wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

The Killer is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The Killer is trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higashi gets his hands free as The Killer looks to control.
The Killer is keeping busy.
Higashi throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting The Killer!

That's four 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.
The Killer tries to escape the position.
The Killer is keeping busy.

The Killer won't enjoy being in this position. Higashi looking for the choke. Oh... he's slipped the arm under the neck - The Killer is tapping - it's over boys! Higashi picks up the submission victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Joe Higashi!