PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brandon Higgins (ranked 4757 p4p, 2329 weight class) and Jonathan Liddell (ranked 268 p4p, 141 weight class). Jonathan Liddell is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Higgins
vs
Liddell

170 cm
25
140
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
21
147
3 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Likes comics

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brandon Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jonathan Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins slips a jab and a cross from Liddell.
Higgins half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Liddell moves into the clinch successfully.
Higgins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liddell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Liddell is leaning against Higgins and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Higgins has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Liddell is trying to keep an underhook but Higgins manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Liddell has one foot on Higgins's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Liddell rushes Higgins and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
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!
Higgins is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Liddell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Higgins can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Liddell manages to break the clinch.

Liddell has closed the distance and engaged Higgins in a clinch.
Liddell lands a good knee to the midsection. Higgins won't want to take too many of those.
Higgins goes for a takedown in the clinch but Liddell prevents it.
Higgins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Liddell after a bit of a struggle.
Higgins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liddell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Higgins is breathing heavily.

Liddell gets control of Higgins's arms and successfully pulls guard. Liddell will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Higgins has gone for a leg lock! Liddell slips out almost immediately though and dives into Higgins's guard.

Higgins seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Liddell wants to control from the top but Higgins keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liddell sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Higgins's guard.
Liddell performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

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

Liddell is trying to work for a kimura but Higgins is defending well.
Higgins tries to get to full guard but Liddell has control of the leg.

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

Higgins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins is looking to improve his position.

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

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

Higgins looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Liddell pushes past his half guard into mount!
Liddell content just to control the position here.
Liddell looking to control but Higgins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell is working for a guillotine from mount but Higgins frees his head quite easily.
Liddell trying to control but Higgins is having none of it.
Higgins working to try and regain half guard.
Higgins tries to improve his position but instead Liddell has taken his back!
Liddell biding his time, controlling Higgins.

Liddell is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Higgins is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Liddell gets his way!

Higgins defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Liddell's arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liddell is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

Liddell has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Higgins has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Higgins is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Liddell trying to control momentarily.

Liddell is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Higgins defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Liddell looking to break Higgins's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Higgins remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Liddell will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Liddell is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Higgins is defending well though. Liddell let's go of the attempt for now.

Liddell is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Higgins has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Liddell dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Higgins tries to keep at a distance but Liddell has taken the fight into the clinch.
Liddell lands a knee to the head.
Liddell with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Higgins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Liddell pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Higgins can't get the takedown.
Higgins is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Liddell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brandon Higgins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higgins is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Liddell's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Liddell lands a nice knee to the body.
Liddell has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Liddell pulls guard effortlessly.
Higgins tries to free his leg and advance position but Liddell is retaining full guard.
Liddell pulls Higgins in close to his closed guard and prevents Higgins from doing any damage or advancing position.
Liddell is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Liddell is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Higgins is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jonathan Liddell!