PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Serge Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ray Gustavo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Higgins
vs
Gustavo

167 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Serge Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ray Gustavo!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Joseph Jones and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins throws a shot from downtown. Gustavo moves away and avoids it.
Higgins throws the left hand but Gustavo avoids the punch easily.
Higgins rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gustavo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A punch combination from Higgins misses.
Higgins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A big left from Higgins misses.

Gustavo has Higgins up against the cage in a clinch.
Higgins is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Higgins tries to circle away but Gustavo has him pinned against the cage.
Higgins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Higgins is looking to break free of the clinch but Gustavo has double underhooks.
Higgins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Gustavo.
Higgins wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustavo goes for a takedown attempt but Higgins pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Higgins misses with a looping right.
Gustavo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Higgins.
Higgins misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Higgins finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Higgins misses the target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Higgins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Gustavo has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Gustavo and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Higgins throws a jab but it's blocked by Gustavo.
Gustavo slips under a jab from Higgins.
Higgins jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A slow jab from Higgins misses its intended target.
Higgins throws a right and a left that Gustavo avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustavo takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Higgins stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Higgins drops Gustavo with a beautiful combination! Gustavo stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Higgins is looking for the KO!

Gustavo is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Higgins swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Gustavo is still on wobbly legs! Can Higgins finish him?
A telegraphed right hand from Gustavo misses the target.
Higgins misses with a hook.
Higgins misses with the combination.
Higgins throws a leg kick but Gustavo sees it coming and moves out of range.
A punch combination from Higgins misses.
Gustavo seems to have recovered his senses.
Higgins fails to land with a series of punches.
Gustavo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Higgins.
Gustavo moves out of range as Higgins strikes.
Higgins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Gustavo scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustavo content just to control the position here.

Gustavo goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Higgins is on top in guard.
Gustavo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Gustavo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins tries to lock up and control but Gustavo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Gustavo landing strikes from the mount.
Gustavo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
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!
Gustavo controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Gustavo has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Gustavo cracks Higgins with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gustavo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Gustavo with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Higgins misses with a looping left.
Higgins misses with a straight left.

Higgins gets tackled into the cage by Gustavo. Gustavo maintains the clinch.
Gustavo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Higgins pulls his leg out and moves away.
Higgins misses with a two punch combination.
Higgins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gustavo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Higgins throws a right and a left that both miss.
Higgins throws a nice looking combination but Gustavo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Sloppy strikes from Higgins. Those never looked like landing.
Higgins misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Higgins.
Higgins is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Gustavo's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Higgins swinging wildly here.
Serge Higgins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gustavo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Higgins.
Higgins steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gustavo.
Gustavo avoids the head kick by Higgins.
Higgins throws a jab when Gustavo was well out of range.
Higgins misses with a body shot.
Higgins throws a hook but Gustavo avoids it easily.
Higgins throws a right and a left that Gustavo avoids nicely.
Nice defenses there by Gustavo.
Gustavo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Higgins.
Gustavo walks into a left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Higgins misses.
Higgins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Higgins pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gustavo checks a leg kick.
Higgins throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Serge Higgins is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Gustavo.
Higgins thows a body shot but no joy.
Higgins loads up on a big right hand but Gustavo slips the punch.
Higgins misses the jab.
Higgins throws a hook but Gustavo avoids it easily.
Higgins tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Higgins thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins throws a hook but Gustavo blocks it.
Higgins missing with a left hand there. Gustavo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Higgins!
Serge Higgins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gustavo moves away from the strike by Higgins.
Higgins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustavo.
Higgins looks to land a left hand but Gustavo moved out of range nicely.
Higgins misses with a wild combination.
Higgins pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Higgins throws the left hand but Gustavo avoids the punch easily.

Gustavo closes the distance and pushes Higgins back into the cage.

Gustavo wants the takedown. Higgins is fighting it off but Gustavo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Higgins's guard against the cage.
Higgins knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gustavo on the ground.
Higgins has momentary wrist control but Gustavo slips an elbow through the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustavo is stalling in the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Gustavo drops back looking for a leg! Higgins is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Higgins manages to kick Gustavo off! Gustavo jumps back into Higgins's guard.
Gustavo postures up.
Higgins being controlled here, momentarily.
Gustavo stands up over Higgins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gustavo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Serge Higgins dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Higgins jabbing away but nothing is landing.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Higgins enables Gustavo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Higgins manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gustavo content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ray Gustavo was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Higgins misses with the combination.
Serge Higgins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Higgins jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Gustavo.
Gustavo ducks under a wild hook from Higgins.
Higgins keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

Higgins gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gustavo sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Higgins's guard.
Higgins is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gustavo slows the pace down in half guard.
Higgins taking some punishment here, with Gustavo in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustavo has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Higgins defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Gustavo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Higgins wants to control but Gustavo is having none of it.
Gustavo controlling the pace for now.
Gustavo in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustavo working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Higgins is rocked!

Higgins is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Gustavo locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Higgins is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ray Gustavo!