PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Hajime Nippon (ranked 24083 p4p, 5981 weight class) and Joe Higgins (ranked 671 p4p, 619 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Nippon
vs
Higgins

178 cm
22
175
0 - 3 - 0

182 cm
26
180
2 - 4 - 0

Great wrestler
Good kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Hajime Nippon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Higgins!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Nippon is predictable there

and Higgins counters with a crisp right hand that drops Nippon! Higgins lets Nippon back up to his feet, looking for a finish!

It looks like Hajime Nippon has been cut.

Nippon decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nippon trying to mount his opponent but Higgins defends it.
Nippon lands with a punch from half guard.
Higgins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nippon is trying to control. Higgins wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Higgins looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nippon wants to free his trapped foot but Higgins is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.

Nippon seems to be working for a kimura but Higgins defends the submission attempt.
Nippon trying to pass the guard but Higgins defending well.
Nippon trying to control from half guard but Higgins is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higgins pushes Nippon off but Nippon dives into side control.

Nippon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.
Nippon trying to control the action but Higgins is working from the bottom.
Higgins wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Nippon creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Higgins sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Higgins is pushing Nippon's head away, looking to escape. Nippon manages to hold on to the position though.
Nippon has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nippon in side control, throwing shots but Higgins defends.
Higgins is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nippon is trying to get an arm triangle but Higgins is defending well.
Nippon prevents Higgins from escaping the position.
Nippon in side control, throwing shots but Higgins defends.
Higgins pushes Nippon away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nippon gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Nippon throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.
Nippon is putting a hurting on Higgins here, landing some big shots from side control.
Nippon remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Nippon has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Higgins is not content to let Nippon control the position.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet but Nippon drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nippon creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Nippon thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nippon is looking to take a break and control but Higgins is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nippon prevents Higgins from escaping the position.

Nippon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Higgins tries to escape but Nippon is in control.

Higgins explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nippon jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Joe Higgins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nippon misses the shot to the body.
A head kick misses from Nippon.
Nippon throws a body shot but no joy.
Hajime Nippon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nippon misses with a hook
and Higgins counters with a huge left! Nippon is in big trouble! He's backing up but Higgins isn't giving him chance to recover. Under a barage of punches the ref has to step in to save Nippon from any more damage. A dominating finish by Higgins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joe Higgins!
Joe Higgins decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.