PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jay Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sanchez is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: National Anthem. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Higgins
vs
Sanchez

172 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jay Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrei Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, James Glass and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanchez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Higgins.
Sanchez looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Nice sprawl there from Higgins as Sanchez shoots in.
Higgins lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Higgins.
Higgins bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sanchez's head.
Higgins throws a right hand that Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanchez also avoids with ease.
Higgins throws a series of punches but Sanchez avoids them all with ease.

Higgins decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.
Higgins perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Higgins is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins is pressing down on Sanchez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sanchez is holding on for now.

Higgins stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Higgins drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Higgins advances to full mount.
Higgins controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Higgins wants to stand up but Sanchez is controlling the position.
Sanchez moves into full guard.
Higgins is looking to stand up but Sanchez won't let him.

Sanchez has his foot on Higgins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Higgins works his way back into a safe position though.
Higgins has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sanchez is proving hard to escape from.
Higgins knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Sanchez on the ground.

Higgins avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Higgins would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Sanchez pushes Higgins off and scrambles back to his feet.
Sanchez fails with the takedown

and Higgins counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Sanchez!
Higgins controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Higgins takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Sanchez tries to hold on but Higgins pushes him away.
Higgins prevents Sanchez from getting the reversal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sanchez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Higgins not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Higgins lands with a shot to the body.
Sanchez dodges the punch combination from Higgins.

Higgins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Higgins looking to control and managing it successfully.
Sanchez is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Sanchez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sanchez wants to get back to his feet.
Sanchez bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sanchez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sanchez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Higgins swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Higgins wants to stand but Sanchez is controlling the position.
Jay Higgins overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sanchez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Higgins shoots in and drives through. Sanchez sprawls well.
Higgins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sanchez as he avoids it easily.
Higgins tries to bum rush Sanchez with a series of wild strikes but Sanchez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Higgins shows good takedown defense.
Sanchez scores with a spinning back kick!
Sanchez shoots in and drives through. Higgins sprawls well.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Higgins circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Higgins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Higgins tries for a takedown but Sanchez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sanchez tries to clinch there but Higgins circles away.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Higgins circles away.
Sanchez doesn't manage to clinch there - Higgins circles away.
Higgins throws a series of punches but Sanchez avoids them all with ease.
Jay Higgins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Sanchez tries to clinch up but Higgins circles away and keeps his distance.
Higgins stuffs the takedown attempt from Sanchez. Sanchez gets slowly back to his feet.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Higgins swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Higgins misses with a few strikes there.
Higgins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Higgins thows a left - swing and a miss!
Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Higgins pushes him off.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Higgins takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Higgins but Higgins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Higgins throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Sanchez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jay Higgins will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Higgins scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Higgins misses with a double jab.
Higgins fails to land with a series of punches.
Higgins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sanchez.

Higgins changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sanchez looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Higgins tries to stand but Sanchez is controlling his head.
Sanchez sneaks back into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
It looks like Higgins is going to stand back up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanchez wants to sweep but no luck.
Higgins is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sanchez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sanchez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Higgins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Higgins wants to stand but Sanchez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sanchez is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Sanchez working for a triangle but Higgins defends it easily.
Higgins has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Sanchez uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Sanchez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Higgins.
Higgins swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Higgins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Higgins gets the takedown into side control.
Jay Higgins is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Higgins prevents Sanchez from escaping the position.

Higgins decides to stand up, so the ref orders Sanchez to his feet.
Higgins throws a right hand that Sanchez ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanchez also avoids with ease.
Sanchez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Higgins paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Higgins throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins throws a right and a left that Sanchez avoids nicely.
Sanchez tries to clinch up.
Higgins lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Sanchez wants to clinch up but Higgins keeps it at a distance.
Sanchez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sanchez tries to clinch but Higgins moves away
and Higgins counters with a stiff right hand.
Higgins lands the left hand.
Sanchez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sanchez connects with a looping right hand.
Andrei Sanchez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sanchez misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jay Higgins.
Well Higgins 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jay Higgins!