PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rei Higuchi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damien Hellsfyre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Higuchi
vs
Hellsfyre

163 cm
25
139 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

158 cm
19
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rei Higuchi!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Damien Hellsfyre!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hellsfyre shoots in and drives through. Higuchi sprawls well.
Hellsfyre darts in looking for a takedown but Higuchi gets double underhooks and turns Hellsfyre into the cage.
Higuchi drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hellsfyre sprawls and moves away.
Higuchi shoots in for a takedown but Hellsfyre shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Hellsfyre feints and as Higuchi raises his hands in defense, Hellsfyre changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Higuchi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Higuchi throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Higuchi working a defensive guard here.
Higuchi wants to sweep but no luck.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higuchi is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hellsfyre's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellsfyre trying to control the position from guard on top but Higuchi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hellsfyre controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Higuchi throws a lazy uppercut
and Hellsfyre counters with a straight right hand.

Hellsfyre fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Higuchi to the ground. Hellsfyre is now in Higuchi's guard.
Hellsfyre is looking to work some ground and pound but Higuchi has wrist control.
Hellsfyre throwing strikes from guard but Higuchi blocks nicely.
Hellsfyre stands up over Higuchi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hellsfyre working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Hellsfyre looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hellsfyre postures up.
Hellsfyre must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellsfyre engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Higuchi wants to sweep here but Hellsfyre controlling him for the moment.

Higuchi is looking for a triangle but Hellsfyre pushes his legs off easily.
Hellsfyre pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higuchi is keeping the position for now.
Hellsfyre wants to control from the top but Higuchi keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higuchi trying to control the position here.
Hellsfyre's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Hellsfyre checks a leg kick.
Hellsfyre shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rei Higuchi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damien Hellsfyre.
Higuchi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hellsfyre. That did some damage!
Hellsfyre bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Hellsfyre dives in and scores a takedown into Higuchi's guard.
Higuchi wants to sweep but no luck.
Hellsfyre landing with the ground and pound.
Hellsfyre is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higuchi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hellsfyre puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Higuchi wants to control but Hellsfyre is keeping busy.
Hellsfyre controlling the action here.
Hellsfyre is looking to take a break and control but Higuchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Higuchi works his way to full guard. Good work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hellsfyre works over Higuchi with some ground and pound from guard.
Higuchi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hellsfyre trying to control but Higuchi is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damien Hellsfyre dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Higuchi fails with the takedown
and Hellsfyre counters with a stiff right hand.
Hellsfyre keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hellsfyre shoots in looking for a takedown but Higuchi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hellsfyre's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Higuchi has been working on his balance at Island Top Team, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Hellsfyre.

Higuchi drives through with a takedown into Hellsfyre's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Higuchi postures up.
Damien Hellsfyre has got the better of the ground game so far.
Higuchi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hellsfyre wants to get back to his feet but Higuchi is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Higuchi thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higuchi wants to control from the top but Hellsfyre keeps moving.
Higuchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hellsfyre is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hellsfyre is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Higuchi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Hellsfyre shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Higuchi's guard.

Higuchi wriggles free and stands up.
Higuchi throws the left hand but Hellsfyre avoids the punch easily.

Hellsfyre shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Higuchi is trying to defend but Hellsfyre finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Higuchi is looking for a sweep. Hellsfyre is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Higuchi looking for submissions off his back.
Higuchi tries to roll over but Hellsfyre keeps him under control.

Hellsfyre wants to work for an arm triangle but Higuchi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hellsfyre is trying to control. Higuchi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Higuchi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hellsfyre throws a big elbow that misses.
Higuchi keeping moving, preventing Hellsfyre from controlling successfully.
Higuchi trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higuchi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Higuchi looking for a sweep. Not yet Higuchi, not yet.
Higuchi keeping moving, preventing Hellsfyre from controlling successfully.
Hellsfyre preventing the sweep.
Hellsfyre wants to control from the top but Higuchi keeps moving.
Higuchi wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Higuchi throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hellsfyre tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Higuchi is in Hellsfyre's guard.
Higuchi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hellsfyre is keeping the position for now.
Higuchi wants to control from the top but Hellsfyre keeps moving.

Higuchi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Higuchi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Higuchi looking to sit in guard and control but Hellsfyre gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hellsfyre's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Higuchi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Hellsfyre preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rei Higuchi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hellsfyre looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Hellsfyre is looking to take a break and control but Higuchi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Higuchi trying to control from the bottom.
Higuchi has his hands clasped together around Hellsfyre's back. He's all about the action.
Hellsfyre landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higuchi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hellsfyre wants to control from the top but Higuchi keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higuchi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hellsfyre has passed into side control.
Higuchi sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Higuchi gets back to full guard.
Hellsfyre wants to control from the top but Higuchi keeps moving.

That's two 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.

Higuchi has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Hellsfyre should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Higuchi has tightened it up now! Hellsfyre should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rei Higuchi!
Rei Higuchi retains his featherweight title!
A very excited looking Rei Higuchi rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.