PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Highfield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lubek Boyko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Highfield
vs
Boyko

173 cm
26
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

165 cm
19
145 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Phantom Fightwear(50 $)

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 5 - 2 - 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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lubek Boyko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boyko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Highfield throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've been informed that Boyko has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Highfield throws out a loose jab but Boyko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Boyko dodges the punch combination from Highfield.
Highfield lands a jab.
Highfield shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Boyko eats them both and turns towards Highfield to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
A looping hook to the body misses from Highfield. Boyko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Boyko connects with a crisp jab.
A lazy left from Highfield finds it's target.
Boyko wants to clinch.
Boyko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Highfield misses with a looping left.
Boyko tries to counter by closing the distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Boyko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highfield pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boyko with the counter takedown but Highfield avoids it easily.
We've been told by Highfield's head coaches at Russian Fighting Community Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Highfield thows a leg kick but Boyko checks it
and Boyko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Boyko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Highfield scores with a jab.
Highfield misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Boyko.
Highfield falls off balance throwing a combination
and Boyko counters with a three punch combo that has Highfield backing up. Highfield nods at Boyko to acknowledge the strikes.
Highfield throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Boyko sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boyko tries to counter with a clinch but Highfield shakes him off and moves away.
Boyko fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Highfield.
A jab from Highfield misses.
Boyko tries a quick counter leg kick but Highfield is wise to it.
Boyko feints and then cracks Highfield's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Highfield down.
Boyko avoids the body shot from Highfield.
Highfield scores with the left hand. Boyko knows he should have avoided that one.
Highfield misses with a lunging right hand
and Highfield takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Boyko slips a jab and a cross from Highfield.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Highfield ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boyko moves away.
James Highfield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Boyko.
Highfield fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Boyko manages to avoid it.
Highfield connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Boyko momentarily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Boyko.
Boyko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Highfield.
Boyko scores with a one two! Highfield had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

It looks like James Highfield has been cut.
Highfield misses with a body shot.
Highfield swinging wildly here.
Boyko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Highfield.
Danga de danga de dang - Highfield scores with a four punch combination!
Boyko misses with a head kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Highfield misses its target.
Boyko throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Boyko tries to clinch there but Highfield circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Highfield. Boyko does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highfield throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Boyko fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Highfield.

Highfield gets caught flat footed, as Boyko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Boyko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Boyko advances to half guard.
Boyko lands with a punch from half guard.
Boyko wants to take a breather but Highfield is having none of it.
Boyko tries to pass to full mount but Highfield defends it.
Highfield pushes Boyko off looking to stand but Boyko dives back in and keeps control.
Boyko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Boyko is controlling the pace.
Highfield on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Highfield tries to get out of the position.
Highfield wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boyko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Highfield defending well though.
Highfield has hold of Boyko's hands but Boyko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Boyko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Highfield keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boyko tries to pass to full mount but Highfield defends it.
Highfield is trying to stand up here but Boyko is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nice defenses there by Boyko.
Highfield scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Highfield checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that James Highfield will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Highfield's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Highfield throws out a leg kick but Boyko moves out of range and Highfield only half commits.
Boyko is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Highfield with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A cross from Highfield lands.
Good leg kick by Boyko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Boyko connects with a solid leg kick.
A big right from Highfield misses.
The fighters circle momentarily. Highfield darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Boyko scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Boyko blocks a jab.
Boyko checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Boyko lands a head kick. Highfield smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Highfield waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Boyko.
Highfield on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Boyko keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Highfield has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Boyko.
Highfield lands a nice shot that snaps Boyko's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highfield thows a left - swing and a miss!
Boyko tries to counter by closing the distance.
Highfield takes one on the button.
Highfield tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Boyko was well out of range. Poor timing from Highfield.
Boyko tries a quick counter leg kick but Highfield is wise to it.
James Highfield is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Highfield, as that shot connected.
Boyko slips under a jab.
Highfield misses with a hook. Boyko ducked under it nicely.
Boyko tries to counter by closing the distance.
A jab lands there for Highfield.
Highfield misses with a hook. Boyko ducked under it nicely.
Highfield's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Highfield duly obliges.
Boyko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Highfield moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Boyko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
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!
Highfield wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Boyko cracks Highfield with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyko happy to just control the position for now.
Highfield is trying to get back to his feet.
Boyko in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Highfield pushes Boyko away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Boyko gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Highfield is not content to let Boyko control the position.
Boyko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Highfield is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Boyko is controlling him well.
Highfield is working to avoid the ground and pound but Boyko connects with a decent elbow.
Highfield is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Boyko asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Boyko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Highfield bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Highfield takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Highfield throws a big shot that misses.
Boyko is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Highfield misses with a series of wild punches.
Boyko slips under a jab from Highfield.
Boyko lands a nice leg kick that just misses Highfield's sensitive parts.
Boyko misses with a series of wild punches.
Highfield throws a leg kick but Boyko sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Highfield throws a shot from downtown. Boyko moves away and avoids it.
Boyko misses with a head kick.
Highfield throws an off balance right hand
and Boyko makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highfield misses with a leg kick
and Boyko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Boyko lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Highfield swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Highfield throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Highfield connects with a single shot there.
Boyko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Highfield looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Boyko blocks a jab.
Boyko throws a counter combo.
Boyko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Boyko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Highfield was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Highfield throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Boyko.
Highfield throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Boyko connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Highfield momentarily.
Highfield looks to throw the jab but Boyko is out of range.
Highfield stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Boyko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lubek Boyko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on James Highfield's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Boyko.
Highfield tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Highfield throws the left hand but Boyko avoids the punch easily.
Boyko blocks a leg kick.
Highfield scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A combination from Highfield does no damage.

Boyko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Highfield, pushing him back against the cage.
Boyko prevents Highfield from breaking the clinch.
Boyko throws an elbow that misses.
Highfield is trying to break the clinch but Boyko has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short uppercut from Boyko.
Boyko looking to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Highfield's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Boyko misses with an elbow over the top.
Highfield misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highfield wants to break the clinch but can't.
Highfield wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Boyko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Boyko lands a right hand that snaps the head of Highfield backwards.
Highfield is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Boyko trying to control the position but instead, Highfield has worked for underhooks and has pushed Boyko into the cage.
Highfield looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Highfield has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A short left from Boyko.
Highfield tries to break free but Boyko pushes him back against the cage.
Boyko has Highfield pressed against the cage.
Highfield lands an elbow just above Boyko 's eye.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boyko displaying some good clinch control by pressing Highfield up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Boyko prevents Highfield from breaking the clinch.
Highfield has had enough of the clinch but Boyko keeps him there for the moment.
Highfield takes a knee to the side of the body.
Highfield is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

Highfield breaks the clinch.

Highfield tries to keep at a distance but Boyko has taken the fight into the clinch.
Highfield is trying to push Boyko away but Boyko has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Highfield is looking to break free of the clinch but Boyko has double underhooks.
Highfield wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Highfield throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Boykos head.

Highfield escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Highfield misses with a looping right.
Boyko throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyko connects with an inside leg kick.
Boyko dodges the punch combination from Highfield.
That kick from Boyko tenderised Highfield's leg. Highfield is trying to keep his angry face on.
Highfield swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good leg kick by Boyko there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A big right from Highfield misses.
Boyko scores with the left hand. Highfield knows he should have avoided that one.
The fighters circling - Highfield throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Highfield misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boyko scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Highfield doesn't seem bothered though.
Highfield chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Boyko can pounce on him.
Nice body kick there by Boyko.
Highfield throws a hook but Boyko blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Highfield tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Highfield takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Nice defenses there by Boyko.
Highfield 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.
Boyko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Boyko gets a clinch.
Highfield wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Boyko has him pressed against the cage.
Highfield is trying to stall.
Highfield letting Boyko take a breather here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Boyko takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A nice right hand lands inside from Boyko.
Boyko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Highfield has had enough of the clinch but Boyko keeps him there for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lubek Boyko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Boyko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lubek Boyko!
A very excited looking Lubek Boyko made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.