PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Loens (ranked 24995 p4p, 5445 weight class) and Ralph Hignett (ranked 497 p4p, 427 weight class). Loens comes to the cage accompanied by MMA Entrance Music / Justin Gaethje. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Loens
vs
Hignett

175 cm
21
145
1 - 4 - 0

183 cm
20
145
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rudy Loens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ralph Hignett !
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Bart Greer and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hignett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Loens looks to throw the jab but Hignett is out of range.
Hignett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Loens misses with a kick to the body.
Hignett shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Loens defends it nicely.
Loens's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hignett connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Loens scrambles back to his feet.
Hignett misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hignett shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Hignett is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hignett stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Loens to get to his feet.
Rudy Loens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hignett looks to land a right hand but Loens moved out of range.
Loens tries to counter with a takedown but Hignett is quick to defend against it.
Loens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rudy Loens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Loens tries to keep at a distance but Hignett has taken the fight into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Hignett .
Hignett prevents Loens from breaking the clinch.
Hignett tries to land a knee to the head but Loens blocks with his arms.

Hignett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Loens lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Loens misses.
Loens misses with a combination

and Hignett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Well, if Hignett is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Hignett escapes and gets back to his feet.
Loens just misses with a punch to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hignett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rudy Loens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralph Hignett .
Loens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Loens looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hignett throws a one two combo.
Loens thows a body kick. Hignett tries to catch it but that hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Loens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Hignett drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hignett throws a strike but Loens rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hignett is striking from the bottom but Loens uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Hignett keeping hold of Loens's head, controlling as best he can.
Hignett is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Loens decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Hignett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Loens stuffs the takedown.
Hignett looks winded!
Loens cracks Hignett with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Loens lands a two punch combo.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Loens stalks Hignett and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Hignett 's face. Hignett staggers backwards, shaken.

Hignett shoots in and gets a takedown into Loens's guard.

Hignett gets to his feet. Loens looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Loens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hignett .
Hignett misses with a takedown attempt - Loens sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Loens throws a right hand that Hignett ducks under and follows up with a left that Hignett also avoids with ease.
Loens delivers a nice body kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rudy Loens will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Loens looks to land a combination but Hignett avoids it well.
Loens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hignett .
Hignett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rudy Loens is winning the standup battle so far.
Loens tries a head kick but it misses.

Hignett shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Loens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Loens uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Loens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hignett .
Loens works the jab nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hignett fails with the takedown.
Rudy Loens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralph Hignett .
Hignett is breathing heavily.
Hignett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hignett looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Loens defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hignett .
Loens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hignett can do to turn this around?
Loens tries to clinch but Hignett is having none of it.
Hignett doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.

Loens clinches with his opponent.
Hignett tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hignett breaks from the clinch.

Loens rushes Hignett and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Loens manages to break the clinch.
Loens lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Loens cracks Hignett with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hignett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A lazy body kick from Loens

and Hignett holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Loens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Loens breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hignett .
Loens throws a series of punches but Hignett avoids them all with ease.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Loens tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hignett paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hignett looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Loens!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hignett in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hignett throwing strikes but Loens manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Loens stands up and beckons Hignett to his feet.
Rudy Loens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Loens explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hignett takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Loens scoring well with a low kick there.
Loens's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Loens duly obliges.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Loens.
Loens misses with the combination.
Hignett tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hignett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Loens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Loens throws a head kick that misses.
Hignett only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Loens lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Loens throws a series of punches but Hignett moves out of range.
Loens lands with a kick to the ribs.
A right-left combo lands from Loens.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hignett takes a jab right on the kisser.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hignett takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Hignett is looking to clinch but Loens is avoiding it.
Hignett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Loens swivels and escapes.
Loens closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Loens scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hignett moves out of range of the body kick.
Hignett shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Loens defends it nicely.
Loens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Loens wants to clinch up but Hignett keeps it at a distance.
Hignett lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Loens lands the left hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Loens dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Loens lands a jab-cross combination.
Hignett throws a right and a left that both miss.

Hignett moves into range and clinches up with Loens.
Loens is pressed up against the cage. Hignett has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Loens down to the mat. Loens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Loens swinging wildly here.
Loens misses with a two punch combination.
As Loens backs off Hignett throws a huge counter combo but Loens manages to avoid it all.

Loens gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ralph Hignett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Loens wants to stand but Hignett is controlling the position.

Hignett decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hignett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loens throws a body kick that misses

and Hignett counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Loens is trying to escape back to his feet but Hignett uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Hignett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hignett working the head with strikes.
Loens is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hignett asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Check out the look on Hignett 's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Loens pushes Hignett away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Hignett gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Loens is not content to let Hignett control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loens tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Hignett tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Hignett tries to control but Loens wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hignett punishing his opponent with strikes.
Loens's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Hignett is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Loens in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hignett won't let Loens get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hignett lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Loens hang on?

Hignett stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Hignett clinches up with Loens and pushes him back against the cage.
Loens trying to stall but Hignett improves his position.
Loens has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hignett is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Loens is defending well.

Loens breaks from the clinch.
Loens throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Loens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hignett takes a swing at Loens's ribcage but misses.
Hignett slips under a jab from Loens.
Loens tries to score with a low kick but Hignett moves his leg out of the way.
Hignett shoots in for a takedown but Loens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rudy Loens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ralph Hignett .
Hignett shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Loens but Loens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Loens throws a series of punches but Hignett moves out of range.
Hignett shoots in for a takedown but Loens shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ralph Hignett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rudy Loens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sloppy strikes from Hignett . Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph Hignett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Loens has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rudy Loens!
Rudy Loens made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'A big thanks to the Highland organisation for having the chance fighting here tonight. Also a big thanks on the great fans and public supporting me, without you all I could not win. Thanks again and i'll be back, you'r the best.'.