PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cooper Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Turner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cooper Higgins could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Steven Turner's chin.

Higgins
vs
Turner

175 cm
21
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

164 cm
20
144 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Cooper Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Steven Turner!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Higgins pushes Turner up against the cage in a clinch.

Higgins has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Turner is trying to keep an underhook but Higgins manages to get the takedown into half guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Higgins's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Higgins trying to control the action but Turner is working from the bottom.
Higgins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Higgins is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Turner sees it coming and defends easily.

Higgins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Higgins is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Turner defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins is keen to just control but Turner is a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Higgins is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Turner has managed to free his arm - good work.

Higgins is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Turner is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Higgins pulls his head out easily.
Higgins wants to control but Turner is keeping him busy.

That's two 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.

Higgins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Higgins frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Higgins misses with a head shot.
Higgins breaks from Turner's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Higgins tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Higgins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Higgins tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higgins sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Higgins scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Turner tries to hold on but Higgins pushes him away.
Higgins thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Higgins is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Turner has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Turner!
Higgins 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 manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Turner manages to get himself to full guard.

Higgins is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Turner is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Turner has escaped and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Higgins has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Turner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Higgins not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Higgins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Turner is one step ahead there.
Higgins keeping moving, preventing Turner from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Turner might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Higgins haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cooper Higgins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Turner stuffs the takedown.
Higgins with a poor takedown
and Turner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higgins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Turner can do to turn this around?
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Higgins.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cooper Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higgins showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Turner.
A combination from Turner does no damage.

Higgins rushes Turner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Turner is looking to break free of the clinch but Higgins has double underhooks.

Higgins gets control of Turner's arms and successfully pulls guard. Higgins will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Turner must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner wants to stand but Higgins is controlling his posture from full guard.
Higgins trying to keep a closed guard but Turner is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Turner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Higgins has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Turner has managed to get both his arms back between Higgins's legs - danger averted.
Turner is fighting to break Higgins's control of his arms but Higgins is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Higgins is trying to keep Turner in close.
Cooper Higgins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Higgins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Turner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Higgins looking for a guillotine here but Turner defends easily.
Higgins is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins managing to control the position.
Turner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Higgins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Higgins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Turner defends it easily.
Turner won't allow Higgins to sweep him here.

Turner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner wants to sweep here but Higgins controlling him for the moment.
Higgins missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Higgins is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Turner is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Turner has escaped and now he's on top!

Higgins escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Turner gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Higgins working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins looking for a sweep. Not yet Higgins, not yet.

Higgins is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Turner has his hands clasped together but Higgins extends and breaks Turner's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Higgins.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Cooper Higgins!