PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ralph King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olunga Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Olunga Higgins will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

King
vs
Higgins

187 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ralph King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Olunga Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Mauricio Rocha and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

King scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
King throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Higgins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with King. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

King looking for a submission but Higgins manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
King throws a big elbow that misses.
King connects with a couple of short punches.
King missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Higgins wants to stand up but King is controlling him.
King throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Higgins manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Higgins is trying to pull guard but King has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins tries for a takedown. No joy.

King ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. King no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

King pushes Higgins off and gets back to his feet.
King lands with a nice combination. Higgins backs away looking to recover.
Higgins closes the distance and clinches up with King, looking for a takedown. Higgins pushes King against the cage but King circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ralph King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olunga Higgins.
Higgins throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
Higgins looks winded!
Higgins shoots in for a takedown but King shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Higgins is looking to clinch but King is avoiding it.

King manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Higgins on his heels. He'll look to pass Higgins's guard now, I'm sure.
King might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Higgins preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

King gets to his feet. Higgins looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
Olunga Higgins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

King clinches with his opponent.

King wants the takedown. Higgins is fighting it off but King persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Higgins's guard against the cage.
King cracks Higgins with a solid left hand.
King stands up over Higgins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as King accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but Higgins has wrist control.
King keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Higgins's head.
King content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

King gets to his feet - Higgins follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Higgins manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from King.
Higgins swats away the attempt to clinch by King.
A telegraphed right hand from Higgins misses the target.

King closes the distance and clinches.
Higgins is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Higgins won't allow it.

King manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
King pulls Higgins in close to his closed guard and prevents Higgins from doing any damage or advancing position.
King has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Higgins has passed into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King tries to escape but Higgins is in control.
King can't do much from the bottom here.
King is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Higgins asserts his dominance and retains side control.
King is trying to control Higgins's posture but Higgins avoids it.
King tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph King dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Higgins gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.

King ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. King no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
King has Higgins pulled in close to control his posture.
King wants to get back to his feet but Higgins is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
King has control of Higgins's left arm, preventing Higgins from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
King keeping moving, preventing Higgins from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
King wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Higgins is trying hard to land a takedown here. King sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

King closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

King pulls Higgins into guard.
King pulls Higgins in close to his closed guard and prevents Higgins from doing any damage or advancing position.
King is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Higgins dives into side control.
Ralph King overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King holding on.
Higgins working away.
King manages to work his way to half guard, despite Higgins's best efforts.
King moves into full guard.
Higgins must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Higgins is breathing heavily.
Higgins being controlled here momentarily.

Higgins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins won't allow King to sweep him here.
Higgins stops King from standing up.

King is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Higgins defends well.
King wants to stand up but Higgins is controlling him.
King pulls Higgins in to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

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.
King is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

King closes the distance and pushes Higgins back into the cage.

King breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
King uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Higgins.
Higgins tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. King manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

King decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
King working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
King 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.
Higgins is trying to stand back up but King is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph King dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Higgins tries to clinch but King moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Higgins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and King has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from King and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
King tries to clinch up.
King is looking to clinch but Higgins is avoiding it.
Higgins fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Higgins paws at him with a jab and circles away.

King looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Higgins!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

King is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Higgins is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Higgins pushes King away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, King gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Higgins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King tries to score with some ground and pound. Higgins controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
King cracks Higgins with a big right hand but Higgins just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
King lands a nice forearm strike.
King landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
King cracks Higgins with a big right hand but Higgins just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

King decides to stand back up. King steps back and let's Higgins get back to his feet.

King moves into the clinch.
King prevents the takedown attempt.
Higgins wants to take the fight to the mat but King manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Ralph King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Olunga Higgins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King jumps guard and drags Higgins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
King has control of Higgins's left arm, preventing Higgins from doing any damage.
King is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

King is trying to work for a kimura but Higgins is defending well.
King wants to stand up but Higgins has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King 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.
King slips a nice elbow through Higgins's hands, connecting with Higgins's forehead.
King 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 taking some punishment here, with King in his half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Higgins can do anything to dispel that myth.

King stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Higgins to get to his feet.
King is looking to clinch.
Ralph King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

King looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Higgins!

King tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
King is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Higgins can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Higgins is looking for a sweep.

King tries for a kimura but Higgins is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

King thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph King showed his dominance in that final round.
Well King 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 Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:26
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralph King!