PBP Commentary

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

Perez
vs
Higashikuni

176 cm
33
157 lbs
27 - 10 - 2

162 cm
29
146 lbs
23 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q
GREEN!160

Perkele!
Merciless Gladiators

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 10 - 2, fighting out of London, Domingo Perez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Katsu Higashikuni!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higashikuni throws a series of punches but Perez avoids them all with ease.
Higashikuni tries to score with a low kick but Perez moves his leg out of the way.
Higashikuni with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Higashikuni plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Perez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Higashikuni manages to avoid it.
Perez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Higashikuni.
Higashikuni throws a big shot that misses.
Higashikuni avoids the head kick by Perez.
Higashikuni keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Perez misses with a wild body shot.

Perez clinches up with Higashikuni and pushes him back against the cage.

Higashikuni has hold of one of Perez's legs. Perez is fighting the takedown attempt but Higashikuni gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Higashikuni throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Perez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Perez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Higashikuni scoring with punches to the head and body.
Perez trying to keep a closed guard but Higashikuni is proving a slippery customer.

Perez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Higashikuni defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Higashikuni drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Higashikuni jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Perez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Higashikuni passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Higashikuni landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Higashikuni passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Perez!
Higashikuni scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Perez is in all sorts of trouble here.

Higashikuni is working for a guillotine from mount but Perez frees his head quite easily.
Perez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Perez tries to reverse the position but Higashikuni maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Higashikuni working for a submission but Perez is keeping him at bay.
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!
Higashikuni raining down shots from the mount!
Perez working to try and regain half guard.
Perez tries to hold on but Higashikuni postures up.
Perez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Perez regains half guard.
Higashikuni lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higashikuni scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Higashikuni throws a strike but Perez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Higashikuni won't allow Perez to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Higashikuni accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Perez looking for a sweep. Not yet Perez, not yet.
Perez wants to stand up but Higashikuni is controlling him.

Perez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Higashikuni defends well.
Higashikuni preventing the sweep.
Higashikuni postures up and lands a big shot to Perez's brow.
Higashikuni is pushing down on Perez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Perez is fighting to maintain full guard but Higashikuni has managed to sneak the leg through.
Perez taking some punishment here, with Higashikuni in his half guard.
Perez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Higashikuni's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Higashikuni's back!

Perez is looking for the choke from the back position but Higashikuni is controlling his hands well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higashikuni is trying to break free.
Higashikuni turns into Perez and is now in his guard.
Higashikuni looking to pass the guard.
Higashikuni with a nice head shot there.
Higashikuni scoring with punches to the head and body.
Higashikuni is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Higashikuni working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Higashikuni in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Higashikuni throwing strikes but missing.

Perez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Higashikuni content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Perez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Higashikuni is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Perez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Katsu Higashikuni dominated that round.
That's time! Perez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A solid leg kick lands there for Higashikuni.
Perez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Higashikuni slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Higashikuni has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Perez finds it's way round the side to connect with Higashikuni's head.
Perez misses with a low kick.
Higashikuni keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Perez.
Higashikuni cracks Perez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Perez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Higashikuni manages to avoid it.
Higashikuni walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Perez drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Higashikuni stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Higashikuni wants it to stay on the feet.
Higashikuni cracks Perez with a right hand to the side of the head.
Perez shoots in but no luck this time.

Higashikuni shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Higashikuni was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Higashikuni landing strikes.
Katsu Higashikuni has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higashikuni working the head and body with strikes.
Perez is trying to control Higashikuni's posture but Higashikuni avoids it.
Higashikuni trying to control the position but Perez is working away.
Higashikuni working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Higashikuni connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Perez some visible discomfort.
Perez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Higashikuni wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Higashikuni has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Perez taking a bit of punishment here - Higashikuni scoring with strikes.
Perez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Perez trying to control from Higashikuni's half guard. Higashikuni has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Higashikuni controls Perez momentarily but Perez frees himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Higashikuni manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Perez manages to get himself to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Higashikuni passes into side control.
Higashikuni grinds an elbow into Perez's temple.
You can see the frustration on Perez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Higashikuni in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Higashikuni working away.
Higashikuni advances to full mount.
Perez can't escape the position.
Perez is bucking up trying to escape but Higashikuni cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Perez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez is wriggling around trying to escape.
Higashikuni is landing with some decent strikes but Perez is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Perez is rocked!
Perez is trying desperately to improve position.
Oh Perez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Higashikuni lands a big shot there that rocks Perez but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Higashikuni landing shots from mount.
Higashikuni postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Perez badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Higashikuni around the waist but Higashikuni pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Higashikuni is the winner by TKO! Higashikuni jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Katsu Higashikuni!
A relieved looking Katsu Higashikuni thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.