PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Duncan Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cane Gairzinio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duncan Higgins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Higgins
vs
Gairzinio

180 cm
25
150 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

178 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Duncan Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Cane Gairzinio!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins throws a leg kick but Gairzinio sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Higgins tries to clinch up but Gairzinio circles away and keeps his distance.
Higgins defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gairzinio.

Gairzinio clinches with his opponent.
Higgins connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gairzinio's face.
Higgins working Gairzinio over with knees to the body.
Higgins trying to land knees to the body.
Higgins pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gairzinio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Higgins blocks it with crossed arms.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Higgins tries to land knees in the clinch but Gairzinio avoids the damage to the body.
Gairzinio working aggressively here.
Gairzinio misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gairzinio managing to block the knees to the body from Higgins.
Higgins scores a nice knee to the body.
Higgins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Higgins is struggling to control the position.
Gairzinio has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Gairzinio tries to throw a body punch but Higgins avoids it by throwing Gairzinio back against the cage.
Nice elbow from Higgins.
Gairzinio can't find room to land a body shot as Higgins controls the action.
Gairzinio avoiding damage as Higgins throws knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Higgins.
Higgins lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gairzinio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gairzinio tries a body shot but Higgins blocks it.
Gairzinio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Higgins avoids it.
Higgins putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gairzinio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Gairzinio looks gassed!
The referee calls for Higgins to work.
Higgins gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Gairzinio swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Higgins prevents a takedown attempt there.
Higgins is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Gairzinio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Higgins lands a nice elbow.
Higgins manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Knees in the clinch landing for Higgins.
Higgins using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Higgins landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gairzinio misses with a hook to the ribs.
Higgins stalls.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Higgins obliges.
Higgins scores a nice knee to the body.
Higgins is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Higgins looking to throw knees to the head but Gairzinio is blocking nicely.
Gairzinio can't find room to land a body shot as Higgins controls the action.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Higgins obliges.
Higgins lands a knee to the head.
Higgins tries to land knees in the clinch but Gairzinio avoids the damage to the body.
Higgins lands a knee to the body.
Higgins lands a nice knee to the body.
Gairzinio takes a knee to the side of the body.
Higgins avoiding damage.
A short body shot lands from Gairzinio as the two fighters clinch.
Gairzinio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Higgins lands a nice knee to the body.
A short uppercut from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio misses with a hook from the clinch.
Higgins connects with a knee to the head.
Gairzinio dodges an elbow strike from Higgins.
Gairzinio doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Higgins tries to land knees in the clinch but Gairzinio avoids the damage to the body.
Gairzinio lands a body shot in the clinch.
Gairzinio is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Gairzinio lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins looking to slow down the pace here.
Gairzinio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gairzinio.
Gairzinio presses Higgins against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gairzinio misses with a hook from the clinch.
Higgins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio trying to control the position but instead, Higgins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gairzinio into the cage.
Gairzinio tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Higgins.
Higgins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gairzinio scores with a shoulder strike.
Gairzinio has a couple of punches blocked by Higgins.
Gairzinio misses with an elbow strike.
Knees in the clinch landing for Higgins.
Gairzinio missing with knees to the body.
Higgins lands an elbow that stopped Gairzinio in his tracks for a moment.
Higgins scores a nice knee to the body.
Gairzinio fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gairzinio blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gairzinio managing to block the knees to the body from Higgins.
Gairzinio can't get the takedown.
Duncan Higgins has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cane Gairzinio.
Gairzinio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Higgins missing with knees to the body.
Higgins blocks a body shot from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gairzinio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Higgins blocks it with crossed arms.
Higgins utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Gairzinio misses with the head strike.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Higgins obliges.
Gairzinio lands a shoulder strike.
Gairzinio misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gairzinio.
Higgins unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gairzinio lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Higgins is trying to stall.
Gairzinio displaying some good clinch control by pressing Higgins up against the cage.
Higgins leaning against his opponent.
Higgins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Gairzinio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Higgins throws a big shot that misses.
Higgins closes the distance but Gairzinio moves to the side

and Gairzinio counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gairzinio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gairzinio moves into the clinch.
Higgins lands an elbow just above Gairzinio 's eye.
Gairzinio scores with a shoulder strike.
Higgins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gairzinio avoids it.

Gairzinio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Higgins wants to clinch

and Gairzinio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gairzinio takes an elbow to the temple.
Higgins pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Gairzinio fails to land.
Higgins lands a knee to the body.
Gairzinio has Higgins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Higgins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Gairzinio tries to stall but Higgins uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Higgins blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Gairzinio doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Higgins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Higgins working Gairzinio over with knees to the body.
Higgins trying to control the position but instead, Gairzinio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Higgins into the cage.
Higgins lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins displaying some good clinch control by pressing Gairzinio up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Higgins scores a nice knee to the body.
Higgins missing with knees to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gairzinio as Higgins tries to tie him up.
Gairzinio working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Higgins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio is looking to control Higgins's arms but Higgins gets an underhook and turns him. Now Gairzinio has his back to the cage.
Gairzinio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Higgins blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Higgins scores a nice knee to the body.
Gairzinio throws a punch but it's blocked by Higgins.

Gairzinio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gairzinio closes the distance but Higgins moves to the side

and Higgins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gairzinio lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Higgins obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Higgins is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Gairzinio is keeping busy.
Gairzinio managing to block the knees to the body from Higgins.
Gairzinio throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio lands a left hand.
Gairzinio tries a body shot but Higgins blocks it.
Higgins tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gairzinio avoids it.
Gairzinio with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Gairzinio lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gairzinio lands a left hand that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.
Gairzinio tries to break the clinch but Higgins is controlling the position.
Gairzinio throws a head punch that misses.
Gairzinio scores with a shoulder strike.

Gairzinio breaks the clinch.
Higgins wants to clinch

and Gairzinio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Higgins misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gairzinio.

Gairzinio has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Higgins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Gairzinio 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins wriggles onto his back under a barage of strikes.
Higgins tries to lock up and control but Gairzinio gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Higgins is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Gairzinio trying to control but Higgins is having none of it.
Higgins wants to hold on but Gairzinio pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cane Gairzinio showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Higgins is looking to land body kicks.
Higgins wants to clinch
and Gairzinio counters with a slapping leg kick.
Higgins tries to clinch

and Gairzinio counters by moving into the clinch.
Duncan Higgins has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Gairzinio blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gairzinio trying to control the position but instead, Higgins has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gairzinio into the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Higgins takes a knee to the side of the body.
A hook to the body from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio misses with a knee to the head.
Gairzinio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gairzinio is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Higgins tries to stall but Gairzinio uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Higgins.
A short uppercut from Gairzinio.
Gairzinio lands a left hand that snaps the head of Higgins backwards.
Gairzinio lands a body shot in the clinch.
Higgins is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gairzinio is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gairzinio pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gairzinio lands a knee to the head.
Gairzinio has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Higgins is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gairzinio misses with a knee to the head.
Gairzinio doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gairzinio takes a knee right on the jaw!
Gairzinio working aggressively here.
Higgins unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gairzinio lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Higgins taking a breather.
Higgins is pushing Gairzinio up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A head punch on the inside from Gairzinio fails to land.
Higgins stalling the fight.
Gairzinio digs a right hand into Higgins's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Higgins's gas tank.

Gairzinio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Duncan Higgins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gairzinio wants to clinch.
Gairzinio circles away from the clinch attempt

and Gairzinio counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Higgins!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins is trying to escape the mount.
Gairzinio looking to control but Higgins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Gairzinio get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Higgins closes the distance and pushes Gairzinio back into the cage.
Higgins tries to land knees in the clinch but Gairzinio avoids the damage to the body.
Higgins crunches a lovely knee into Gairzinio's ribcage.
Gairzinio misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gairzinio is leaning against Higgins and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Gairzinio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Higgins tries to land knees in the clinch but Gairzinio avoids the damage to the body.
Gairzinio lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Higgins or not.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Higgins.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gairzinio.
Gairzinio lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Gairzinio drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gairzinio on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gairzinio throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Higgins blocks it with crossed arms.
Higgins unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Gairzinio softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Higgins takes a shot to the head.
Gairzinio is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Higgins putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gairzinio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Higgins obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gairzinio lands a right hand.
Gairzinio misses with an elbow over the top.
Higgins pressing his opponent against the cage.
Gairzinio tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Higgins lands an elbow inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gairzinio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Higgins avoids it.
Higgins comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Gairzinio pushes Higgins back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gairzinio misses with the head strike.
Higgins putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Gairzinio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Gairzinio escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Higgins wants to clinch but Gairzinio slips to the side
and Gairzinio counters with a left and a right that stings Higgins.
Higgins chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gairzinio tries to clinch up

and Higgins holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cane Gairzinio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gairzinio 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 James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cane Gairzinio!