PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Highfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyberius Furiusz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Highfield
vs
Furiusz

173 cm
25
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
156 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Highfield!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tyberius Furiusz!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Furiusz, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Furiusz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Furiusz fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Highfield on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Highfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Furiusz lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like James Highfield has been cut.
Furiusz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Furiusz swinging wildly here.
Furiusz slips under a jab.
Despite the aggression on Furiusz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Highfield works the jab nicely.
James Highfield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Furiusz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
A little feinted left hand from Highfield on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Highfield throws a leg kick but Furiusz sees it coming and moves out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Furiusz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Highfield.
Highfield keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Furiusz gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Furiusz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Highfield throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Highfield misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Highfield looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Furiusz takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Furiusz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Highfield has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Furiusz ducks under a wild hook from Highfield.
Furiusz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Furiusz with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Highfield to score with a decent uppercut.
A low kick from Furiusz misses
and Highfield counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Highfield getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Furiusz tries to clinch but Highfield moves out of range.
Highfield throws a big shot that misses.
Highfield is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highfield thuds his right hand into Furiusz's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Highfield moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Furiusz slips a straight right by Highfield.
Highfield connects with a crisp jab.
Highfield throws a body kick that misses.
Furiusz tries to clinch there but Highfield circles away.
Highfield misses with a straight right.
Highfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Good leg kick by Furiusz there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Highfield with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Furiusz misses with a wild combination.
Highfield looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A combination from Highfield does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highfield fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Furiusz manages to avoid it.
Furiusz walks into a jab.
Highfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Furiusz moves away.
Highfield lands with a good body shot.
Furiusz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Highfield stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Furiusz drives through and clinches with Highfield against the cage.
Highfield takes an elbow to the forehead.

Furiusz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Furiusz misses with a double jab.
Furiusz has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Highfield does it's job there.
Donk. Highfield catches Furiusz right on the button with a cross.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Furiusz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Furiusz slips a jab from Highfield.
Highfield fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Furiusz looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Highfield fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Furiusz manages to avoid it.
Highfield scores with a body shot.
Furiusz fails with an attempt to clinch.
A low kick from Highfield is predictable there
and Furiusz counters with an outside leg kick.
Furiusz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Furiusz tries to close the distance and clinch up but Highfield swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Highfield was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Furiusz.
Highfield throws a lazy uppercut
and Furiusz counters with a right hand to the body.
Furiusz throws a leg kick but Highfield sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Highfield dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Highfield's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Furiusz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Highfield is looking to counter punch.
Highfield shoots for a double leg takedown but Furiusz sprawls well. He's pushed Highfield's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Highfield throws a hook but Furiusz avoids it easily.
Furiusz is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Highfield moves into range and connects with a jab.
Highfield is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Furiusz can do to turn this around?
Furiusz swinging wildly here.
Tyberius Furiusz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Furiusz moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
A big right from Highfield misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Furiusz darts in and clinches Highfield up against the cage.
Furiusz prevents Highfield from breaking the clinch.
Highfield takes an elbow to the forehead.

Highfield breaks the clinch.
Highfield throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Furiusz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Highfield has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Highfield slips a straight right by Furiusz.
Highfield appears to be looking for a big counter.
A punch lands to the side of Furiusz 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Highfield slips a jab and a cross from Furiusz.
Highfield misses with a hook
and Furiusz counters with a nice uppercut.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Highfield, as that shot connected.
Highfield with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Highfield lands with a thumping leg kick.
Highfield throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Furiusz feints a counter leg kick.
Highfield swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Despite the aggression on Furiusz's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Highfield fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Furiusz sprawls well initially but Highfield persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Highfield is pressing down on Furiusz's thigh, looking to free his foot. Furiusz is holding on for now.

Highfield stands up out of the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highfield connects with a body shot.
James Highfield is winning the standup battle so far.
Highfield throws the left hand but Furiusz avoids the punch easily.
Highfield scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
A nice combination there by Highfield.
No joy there for Highfield, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Highfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Furiusz moves away.
Highfield throws a front kick aimed at Furiusz's knee but Furiusz avoids it well.
Highfield swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Furiusz appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Highfield swings for the body but Furiusz moves out of range.
As Highfield backs off Furiusz throws a huge counter combo but Highfield manages to avoid it all.
Furiusz doesn't manage to clinch there - Highfield circles away.
Highfield thinks about countering with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highfield avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Highfield has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Highfield there as he acknowledges the shot.
Furiusz on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Highfield lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Highfield tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Furiusz was well out of range. Poor timing from Highfield.
Highfield throws a series of punches but Furiusz avoids them all with ease.
Donk. Highfield catches Furiusz right on the button with a cross.
Nice cross by Highfield.
Tyberius Furiusz is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Highfield lands the left hand.
Highfield misses with a few strikes there.
A solid leg kick lands there for Furiusz.
Furiusz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Furiusz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Highfield backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Furiusz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Highfield.
Highfield swings away with a body shot that misses
and Furiusz counters with a thumping low kick.

Highfield shoots in and bounces Furiusz off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Furiusz is working an open guard so Highfield takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Furiusz waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Highfield.
Furiusz scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Furiusz lands a nice looking body shot.
Furiusz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Furiusz tries to clinch there but Highfield circles away.
Highfield misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Furiusz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Highfield dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Highfield's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Furiusz takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Highfield fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Furiusz on the side of the head.
Furiusz lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Highfield tries to score with a low kick but Furiusz moves his leg out of the way.
Furiusz defending well as Highfield loads up on a big left hand.
Furiusz turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Highfield looks to land a left hand but Furiusz moved out of range nicely.
Furiusz on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Highfield. Highfield obviously looking to wear him down.
Highfield lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Highfield turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Highfield lands with a right hand.
Highfield is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Furiusz ducks right into an uppercut from Highfield.
Highfield lands a nice leg kick that just misses Furiusz's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Highfield misses.
Highfield misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Furiusz.
Highfield pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Highfield checks a leg kick.
Furiusz swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Highfield scores with a crisp jab that stopped Furiusz in his tracks.
Furiusz checks a low kick from Highfield.
Highfield missing with a left hand there. Furiusz was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Highfield looks to land a left hand but Furiusz moved out of range nicely.
Furiusz tries to clinch up.
Highfield misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Furiusz unleashes a big counter combination but Highfield bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Highfield misses with a few strikes there.
A little jabbing left from Furiusz on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Highfield pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Furiusz throws a leg kick but Highfield moved away.
Highfield jabs Furiusz right on the nose. Furiusz blinks but takes it well.
Furiusz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Highfield manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Highfield scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Highfield works the jab nicely.
Highfield cracks a nice hook into Furiusz's ribs.
A shot to the liver by Highfield. Beautiful body shot.
Furiusz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Highfield.
Highfield is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Furiusz.
Highfield moves forwards but Furiusz connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Furiusz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highfield catches Furiusz with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Highfield lands a jab-cross combination.
Highfield lands a jab to Furiusz's midsection.
Highfield tries for a takedown but Furiusz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Highfield misses the shot to the body.
Furiusz tries to clinch but Highfield moves out of range.
A jab from Highfield finds it's way through Furiusz's defenses.
Highfield stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Furiusz.
Highfield jabs Furiusz to the body, keeping him at a distance.
A jab from Highfield misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highfield misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Furiusz counters with a two punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Furiusz misses with a series of wild punches.
A combination from Highfield does no damage.
Furiusz ducks under a wild hook from Highfield.
Highfield ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Highfield scores with a hook to the body. Furiusz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Highfield keeps the fight on the outside.
Furiusz tries to clinch up.
Furiusz closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Tyberius Furiusz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Highfield is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Highfield misses with a hook. Furiusz ducked under it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Highfield showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Highfield, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Highfield!