PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Darryl Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Duke Hightower (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Higgins
vs
Hightower

220 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 0 - 1

178 cm
18
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Darryl Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Duke Hightower!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Dean Styles and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hightower takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Higgins fails to land the takedown.
Hightower lands a nice leg kick that just misses Higgins's sensitive parts.
Hightower misses with a low kick.
Duke Hightower seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hightower gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
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 is fighting to break Hightower's control of his arms but Hightower is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higgins preventing the sweep.

Hightower working for submissions but it's allowed Higgins to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins wants to take a breather but Hightower is having none of it.
Hightower keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Higgins trying to control from half guard but Hightower is working away.
Higgins missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Higgins controlling the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Higgins throws a head kick that Hightower semi-blocks.
Higgins wants to clinch.

Hightower shoots in and bounces Higgins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Higgins is trying to control the position but Hightower postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Higgins prevents Hightower from improving his position.
Higgins is just content to waste time from the top position. Hightower takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Higgins throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hightower keeping moving, preventing Higgins from controlling successfully.
Higgins working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hightower's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hightower can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hightower looking to control but Higgins passes into half guard.
Hightower avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Higgins.
Higgins winds up and cracks Hightower with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Higgins trying to control the action but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Hightower blocking the ground and pound attempt from Higgins.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hightower keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hightower tries to get to full guard but Higgins has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darryl Higgins dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A nice leg kick lands there from Hightower.
Hightower attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Higgins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hightower swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Higgins is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hightower can do to turn this around?
Hightower looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Higgins chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hightower can pounce on him.
Hightower misses with a body kick.
Higgins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hightower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower is looking to land body kicks.
Hightower misses with a body shot.
A leg kick checked by Higgins.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hightower instigates a clinch.
Higgins jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hightower walks away with a smile on his face. Higgins gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Crunch! Higgins slams his shin into Hightower's torso.
No luck for Higgins with that takedown attempt.

Hightower has Higgins up against the cage in a clinch.
Higgins tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Darryl Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hightower prevents the takedown attempt.
Higgins wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hightower has him pressed against the cage.
Hightower using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Higgins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hightower with a knee to the head.

It looks like Darryl Higgins has been cut.
Hightower utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hightower has Higgins pressed up against the cage in a tight Thai clinch. Higgins is arching his back, trying to avoid the knees but a big one sneaks through from Hightower - that's hurt Higgins badly! Oh, another knee lands and Higgins is covering up! The referee steps in to save him - possibly a bit early but Higgins doesn't seem to be complaining.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:17 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Duke Hightower!