PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiruki Nakeda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pete Higgedy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Higgedy comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Fort Minor - In Stereo kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nakeda
vs
Higgedy

160 cm
25
132 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

150 cm
25
138 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Purple 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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiruki Nakeda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pete Higgedy!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgedy throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Nakeda throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Higgedy is looking to clinch but Nakeda is avoiding it.
Higgedy cracks the inside of Nakeda's front leg.
Nakeda slaps away a takedown attempt from Higgedy, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Higgedy throws a right and a left that Nakeda avoids nicely.
Nakeda lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Nakeda with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Nakeda pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Higgedy lands a jab-cross combination.
Nakeda throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nakeda tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Higgedy was well out of range. Poor timing from Nakeda.
Nakeda scores with a push kick.
Pete Higgedy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higgedy looks to land a right hand but Nakeda moved out of range.
Nakeda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Nakeda scores with a head kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higgedy lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Higgedy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgedy throws a right and a left that Nakeda avoids nicely.
Nakeda scoring well with a low kick there.
Higgedy throws a series of punches but Nakeda moves out of range.
A low kick from Nakeda misses
and Higgedy counters with a stiff right hand.
Higgedy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nakeda.
Higgedy throws a nice outside leg kick.
Higgedy on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Higgedy looks gassed!

Nakeda closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nakeda lands in his opponent's guard.
Nakeda trying to control but Higgedy is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Nakeda stopping the sweep attempt from Higgedy.
Nakeda missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nakeda pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higgedy is keeping the position for now.
Higgedy preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Higgedy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Nakeda moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Nakeda slips a jab and a cross from Higgedy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy tries to clinch but Nakeda is having none of it.
Nakeda walks into a jab.
Higgedy lands a body shot.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nakeda.
Nakeda feints and then cracks Higgedy's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Higgedy down.
A good leg kick by Nakeda.
Higgedy throws a series of punches but Nakeda avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Higgedy misses.

Nakeda shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Nakeda wants to pass the guard but Higgedy is defending well.
Higgedy is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nakeda is pressing down on Higgedy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Higgedy is holding on for now.
Nakeda stalling away here and it's allowed Higgedy to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nakeda throws a big right hand that misses.
Higgedy keeping moving, preventing Nakeda from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nakeda looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
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 Hiruki Nakeda will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nakeda chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A low kick from Higgedy misses
and Nakeda counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Higgedy thinking.
Nakeda pushes Higgedy away with a front kick.
Higgedy throws a leg kick

and Nakeda counters with a single leg into guard. Higgedy didn't expect that.
Nakeda trying to control the position from guard on top but Higgedy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nakeda is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Higgedy is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Higgedy has escaped and now he's on top!
Nakeda wants to sweep but no luck.

Higgedy got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nakeda has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Higgedy has managed to get both his arms back between Nakeda's legs - danger averted.

Higgedy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Nakeda pulls Higgedy in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgedy trying to control but Nakeda is working from the bottom.
Nakeda wants to sweep here but Higgedy controlling him for the moment.
Nakeda is trying to control the position but Higgedy postures up.
Nakeda knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Higgedy on the ground.
Nakeda is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Higgedy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Higgedy is looking to slow Nakeda down with leg kicks.
Higgedy's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A good leg kick by Nakeda.
A big right from Higgedy misses.
Nakeda dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Higgedy. That did some damage!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Higgedy.
Higgedy is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nakeda.
Higgedy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Pete Higgedy is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

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

Nakeda fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Higgedy, pushing him back against the cage.
Nakeda changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Higgedy fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A big right from Higgedy misses.
Higgedy throws a series of strikes that have Nakeda backpedaling.
Nakeda attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Pete Higgedy seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Higgedy misses with a wild combination.
Nakeda thows a leg kick but Higgedy checks it
and Higgedy counters with a one-two to the body.
Higgedy is breathing heavily.
Higgedy misses with a series of wild punches.
Nakeda throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

Nakeda closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Nakeda is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakeda seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Higgedy does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Higgedy is positioning himself well to prevent Nakeda advancing to mount.

Nakeda is looking for a kimura but Higgedy is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Nakeda to get the leverage.
Nakeda tries to stand and escape but Higgedy actually recovers to full guard.
Nakeda looking to pass the guard.
Nakeda is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nakeda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Nakeda wants to control from the top but Higgedy keeps moving.
Nakeda sitting in guard here, content to control.
Nakeda's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Higgedy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiruki Nakeda dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get 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.

Donk. Higgedy catches Nakeda right on the button with a cross.
Nakeda scores with a nice body kick.
Nakeda lands a nice leg kick that just misses Higgedy's sensitive parts.
Higgedy gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Nakeda counters with a big head kick but Higgedy shrugs it off.
Nakeda fakes the leg kick and cracks Higgedy in the body.
Nakeda lands with a nice body kick.
Higgedy gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nakeda counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Higgedy swinging wildly here.
A swing and a miss from Higgedy.
Nakeda throws a sloppy head kick and Higgedy moves out of range easily.
Higgedy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Nakeda lets loose with a powerful body kick. Higgedy will feel that in the morning.
Nakeda connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Higgedy tries to bum rush Nakeda with a series of wild strikes but Nakeda uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgedy chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Nakeda can pounce on him.
Nakeda throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nakeda with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Higgedy on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Nakeda. Nakeda obviously looking to wear him down.
Higgedy has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Nakeda.
A good leg kick by Nakeda.
Nakeda dives in and grabs Higgedy's left leg, looking for a takedown. Higgedy pushes down on Nakeda's head and hops out.
Nakeda shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Higgedy as he jumps to the side.
An inside leg kick lands from Nakeda.

Nakeda takes the fight into the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Higgedy.

Nakeda jumps guard and drags Higgedy to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Nakeda is looking for a triangle here but Higgedy uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Nakeda is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Higgedy's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nakeda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Higgedy.
Nakeda regains full guard. Nicely done.
Nakeda working a defensive guard here.
Nakeda wants to sweep but no luck.
Nakeda is trying to control the position but Higgedy postures up.

Higgedy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Higgedy.
Pete Higgedy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgedy jabs at Nakeda's body.
Nakeda thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Higgedy if he has to take too many more of those.
A solid leg kick lands there for Nakeda.
Nakeda throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Higgedy's head.

Nakeda scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Higgedy is looking for a sweep.

Nakeda tries for a kimura but Higgedy is defending well.

Nakeda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nakeda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Nakeda is looking to take a break and control but Higgedy is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nakeda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Higgedy is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Higgedy can't do much from the bottom here.

Nakeda goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Higgedy has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Nakeda but great work by Higgedy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hiruki Nakeda showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nakeda 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiruki Nakeda!