PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zanch Boz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pete Higgedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pete Higgedy will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Boz
vs
Higgedy

163 cm
18
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
20
133 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zanch Boz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pete Higgedy!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgedy stuffs the takedown attempt from Boz. Boz gets slowly back to his feet.
Boz tries to clinch but Higgedy is having none of it.

Boz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ground and pound from Boz.
Boz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Higgedy's head.
Boz is trying to control the action in half guard but Higgedy is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Higgedy manages to get to full guard.
Boz wanted to stand there but Higgedy had control of the position.
Higgedy throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boz missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higgedy trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Boz scores with a body shot.
Boz closes this distance looking for a takedown but Higgedy circles away.
No luck for Boz with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Zanch Boz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Higgedy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Boz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Boz tries to clinch there but Higgedy circles away.
Higgedy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Higgedy has eaten all the pies!
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Higgedy, right into the meat.
No luck for Higgedy with that takedown attempt.

Boz has taken the fight to the clinch.

Boz pulls guard.
Higgedy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Boz is breathing heavily.
Higgedy postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Higgedy trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Higgedy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Boz looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Boz looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Boz!
Higgedy manages to work his way to half guard, despite Boz's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy is trying to get back to full guard.
Boz is looking to take a break and control but Higgedy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Boz prevents Higgedy from improving his position.
Higgedy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Higgedy.
Boz will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Higgedy is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Higgedy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy wants to control the pace but Boz is squirming around nicely.

Higgedy working for a submission but Boz is keeping him at bay.
Boz tries to hold on but Higgedy pushes him away.
Boz tries to reverse the position but Higgedy maintains control.
Higgedy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Boz is looking to escape.

Higgedy is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Boz can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Boz is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Higgedy lands a big shot there that rocks Boz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Boz is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Higgedy blocks Boz's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Boz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Boz is working hard here to advance position.
Higgedy looking to control but Boz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Higgedy thowing shots but they're missing.
Boz can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pete Higgedy will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No joy there for Higgedy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Higgedy's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Higgedy duly obliges.
Horrible takedown by Boz or perhaps it was just good defense by Higgedy which made him look bad.
Boz wants to clinch up but Higgedy keeps it at a distance.
Higgedy throws a series of punches but Boz moves out of range.
Boz throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Higgedy's head.

It looks like Pete Higgedy has been cut.

Boz has taken the fight to the clinch.
Higgedy wants a takedown.
Boz lands a hook to the side of the head.
Higgedy holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Boz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Boz blocks an elbow strike.
Boz has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Higgedy 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 Zanch Boz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boz fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Boz jumps guard but Higgedy stands there with Boz around his waist. Boz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Boz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Higgedy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Boz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Higgedy misses with a double jab.

Higgedy has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Higgedy trying to land knees to the body.
Higgedy just leaning against Boz, taking a breather.
Boz tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Higgedy prevents a takedown attempt there.
Boz has had enough of the clinch but Higgedy keeps him there for the moment.
Higgedy lands a damaging elbow.
Higgedy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Higgedy trying to land knees to the body.
Higgedy prevents the takedown attempt.
Higgedy lands a knee to the body.
Boz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Boz takes an elbow to the forehead.

Higgedy breaks the clinch.
Higgedy tries to clinch up

and Boz counters with a shoot takedown. Higgedy fights it but they end up in guard.

Higgedy looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boz passes Higgedy's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Boz looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Higgedy.

Higgedy is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Boz trying to control but Higgedy is working from the bottom.
Boz is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Higgedy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Higgedy seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Higgedy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Boz pushes down on Higgedy's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy gets back to full guard.
Higgedy keeping moving, preventing Boz from controlling successfully.
Higgedy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Nice strikes from Higgedy there.
Boz wants to control but Higgedy is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Boz manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Higgedy is looking to clinch but Boz is avoiding it.
Higgedy throws a lazy head kick

and Boz counters with a takedown into side control.
Boz working away.
Higgedy is looking to reverse the position.

Boz has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Zanch Boz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Higgedy tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Boz swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Boz scores a takedown into full mount!
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!
Boz controlling from the full mount.
Higgedy wants to control but Boz is having none of it.
Boz lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Boz wants to control the pace but Higgedy is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Higgedy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boz takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boz can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Higgedy is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zanch Boz dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Pete Higgedy's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Higgedy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boz.
Higgedy looks to land a combination but Boz avoids it well.

Boz moves into the clinch.
Boz is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Boz swings wildly with an uppercut but Higgedy uses good head movement to avoid it.

Higgedy breaks from the clinch.
Higgedy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Higgedy does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Boz rushes Higgedy and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Higgedy throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Boz blocks it with crossed arms.
Higgedy tries to land a knee to the head but Boz blocks with his arms.
Boz on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Higgedy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Higgedy throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Boz counters with a single leg into guard. Higgedy didn't expect that.
Boz wants to control from the top but Higgedy keeps moving.
Higgedy throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Higgedy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boz is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boz trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Boz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Boz won't allow Higgedy to sweep him here.
Higgedy looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Boz puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Higgedy is trying to maintain the position but Boz is very close to passing his half guard.
Zanch Boz overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Boz shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Boz is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Higgedy is just riding it out for now. Boz eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are battling for position here. Higgedy manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Boz tries to hold on but Higgedy postures up.
Boz tries to reverse the position but Higgedy maintains control.
Boz tries to hold on but Higgedy pushes him away.
Higgedy breaks from Boz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Boz is desperately trying to improve his position but Higgedy has a good base and remains in mount.
Higgedy lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Boz hang on?
Boz tries to hold on but Higgedy postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boz is trying to escape the mount.
Boz is squirming around, avoiding Higgedy's attempts to control the action.
Higgedy lands a big shot there that rocks Boz but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Higgedy raining down shots from the mount!
Higgedy tries to control but Boz wriggling away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Higgedy cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Higgedy scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Higgedy scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Higgedy looking to control but Boz is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boz taking shots to the head.
You get the feeling that Boz really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Higgedy lands a nice shot to the head.

Boz is rocked!
Boz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Oh Boz is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Boz is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Higgedy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Boz is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Boz is desperately trying to improve his position but Higgedy has a good base and remains in mount.
Higgedy landing strikes from the mount.
Higgedy punishing his opponent with strikes.
Higgedy can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Boz is looking to escape.
Boz really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Zanch Boz.
I think Boz has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zanch Boz!