PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Queen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Katsu Higashikuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Katsu Higashikuni enters the cage!

Queen
vs
Higashikuni

166 cm
22
141 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

162 cm
20
146 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Queen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Katsu Higashikuni!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Queen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Higashikuni is trying hard to land a takedown here. Queen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Higashikuni takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Queen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Higashikuni looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Higashikuni fails to land the takedown.
Higashikuni misses with a left hand
and Queen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Higashikuni misses with a lunging right hand
and Queen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Higashikuni misses with a shot to the body
enabling Queen to counter with a crisp jab.
Queen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Higashikuni has his takedown stuffed
and Queen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
John Queen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Katsu Higashikuni.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashikuni pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Queen back to the cage. Higashikuni follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Higashikuni shoots in looking for a takedown but Queen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Higashikuni's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Higashikuni swings widly with a right hand
and Queen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Queen scores with a punch to the head.
Higashikuni misses with a right hand
and Queen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Higashikuni thinking.
Higashikuni shoots in for a takedown but Queen shows good takedown defense.
Higashikuni is trying hard to land a takedown here. Queen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni avoids a kick to the body.
Queen scores with a body shot.
Queen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Higashikuni on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Higashikuni misses with a takedown
and Queen counters with a nice body shot.
Higashikuni blocks the body kick.
Queen just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Queen throws a shot from downtown. Higashikuni moves away and avoids it.
Higashikuni will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Higashikuni shoots in looking for a takedown but Queen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Higashikuni's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Higashikuni avoids the head kick by Queen.
Higashikuni throws a nice looking combination but Queen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Higashikuni takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Higashikuni throws a jab when Queen was well out of range.
Higashikuni misses with a takedown
and Queen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Higashikuni thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Higashikuni moves out of range as Queen throws a body kick.
Queen lands a right hook to the body.
Higashikuni misses with a hook
and Queen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Queen, as that shot connected.
Katsu Higashikuni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Queen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Queen throws a solid leg kick but Higashikuni takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Queen.
Nice shot by Queen.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni has his takedown stuffed
and Queen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Higashikuni gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Queen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Queen wants to land a leg kick but Higashikuni is out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Queen. No joy for Higashikuni on that attempt.
Queen is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Queen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Higashikuni stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Queen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Higashikuni tries for a takedown but Queen circles away easily
and Queen counters with a series of strikes. Higashikuni will be more careful next time no doubt.
Higashikuni moves out of range of the body kick.
Queen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Higashikuni shoots in looking for a takedown but Queen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Higashikuni's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Higashikuni throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Queen counters with a nice uppercut.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Higashikuni misses with an uppercut
and Queen finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Queen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Higashikuni on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Horrible takedown by Higashikuni or perhaps it was just good defense by Queen which made him look bad.
Queen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Queen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Queen throws a nice looking combination but Higashikuni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
John Queen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Higashikuni uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Queen.
Queen throws a body punch but Higashikuni moves out of range.
Higashikuni changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Queen tries to avoid it but Higashikuni manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Queen to the ground. Queen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Higashikuni wants to clinch.
Queen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Higashikuni was well out of range. Poor timing from Queen.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni misses with a body shot
and Queen counters with a nice body kick.
Higashikuni misses with a double jab
and Queen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Higashikuni takes a swing at Queen's ribcage but misses.
Queen throws a jab but it's blocked by Higashikuni.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Higashikuni takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Queen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Queen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Higashikuni avoids the body shot from Queen.
Higashikuni shoots in for a takedown but Queen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice shot lands for Queen.
Jab by Queen.
Higashikuni fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Queen avoids it really well and circles away.
Queen misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Higashikuni instigates a clinch.
Higashikuni keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Queen's efforts to push away.

Higashikuni gets control of Queen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Higashikuni will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Higashikuni is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Queen is aware though and is defending well.
Higashikuni has a closed guard, preventing Queen from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni pulls Queen in to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Queen is posturing up here but Higashikuni has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Queen tries to roll out but it's too tight and Queen has to tap! Slick submission there by Higashikuni!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Katsu Higashikuni!