PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Merle Rodgers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlos Higelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rodgers
vs
Higelin

173 cm
24
178 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

190 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Merle Rodgers!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carlos Higelin!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodgers tries to keep at a distance but Higelin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rodgers misses with a body punch.
Higelin can't get the takedown.
Higelin jumps guard but Rodgers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Higelin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Merle Rodgers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Higelin.
Higelin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rodgers misses with an elbow strike.
Rodgers tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rodgers putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Higelin in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Higelin is trying to pull guard but Rodgers has him pressed against the cage.
Higelin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodgers just stands there and leans against the cage.
Higelin tries to pull guard but Rodgers won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Higelin jumps into guard, dragging Rodgers to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Higelin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rodgers.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rodgers's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Higelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rodgers thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Rodgers drops back looking for a leg! Higelin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Higelin manages to kick Rodgers off! Rodgers jumps back into Higelin's guard.
Higelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodgers trying to control the position from guard on top but Higelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Higelin controlling Rodgers's posture.
Rodgers 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.

Rodgers avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Higelin is keeping the position for now.
Rodgers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rodgers might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Higelin wants to sweep but no luck.
Rodgers slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Higelin tries to strike from the bottom.

Rodgers drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Higelin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rodgers has Higelin in his guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodgers trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Higelin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers wants to stand but Higelin is controlling the position.
Higelin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Rodgers wants to stand but Higelin is controlling the position.
Rodgers wants to sweep here but Higelin controlling him for the moment.
Rodgers punching from the bottom.
Rodgers striking off his back but it's not causing Higelin any problems.
Higelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Rodgers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Carlos Higelin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Higelin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Higelin forces Rodgers back against the cage and clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Rodgers just misses with a elbow thrown towards Higelin's brow.
Rodgers misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Higelin wants a takedown.
Higelin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rodgers prevents it.
Higelin looks winded!
Rodgers blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodgers can't find room to land a body shot as Higelin controls the action.
Higelin is trying to drag Rodgers to the mat but Rodgers just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Merle Rodgers will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Higelin shoots in looking for a takedown but Rodgers manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Higelin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rodgers has a takedown stuffed.
Carlos Higelin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Higelin rushes Rodgers and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Rodgers keeps control of Higelin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stalling in the clinch from Higelin.
Higelin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Rodgers just stands there and leans against the cage.

Higelin manages to pull guard.
Rodgers being controlled here momentarily.
Rodgers keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Higelin's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers connects with a couple of short punches.
Higelin keeping moving, preventing Rodgers from controlling successfully.
Rodgers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Higelin has momentary wrist control but Rodgers slips an elbow through the middle.
Higelin wants to stand up but Rodgers is controlling him.
Higelin is breathing heavily.
Rodgers connects with a couple of short punches.
Higelin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rodgers is controlling him.

Rodgers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodgers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rodgers lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Rodgers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rodgers preventing the sweep.
Rodgers throwing strikes but missing.

Higelin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Rodgers defends it easily.
Rodgers tries to free his leg and advance position but Higelin is retaining full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Higelin working for a triangle but Rodgers defends it easily.
Rodgers working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Higelin is trying to control the position but Rodgers postures up.
Rodgers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Higelin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rodgers throws a big elbow that misses.

Rodgers drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Rodgers jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Rodgers throws a big right hand that misses.

Rodgers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rodgers wants to control from the top but Higelin keeps moving.
Higelin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Higelin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rodgers sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rodgers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rodgers trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Higelin wants to sweep here but Rodgers controlling him for the moment.
Rodgers wants to pass the guard but Higelin is keeping the position.
Rodgers prevents Higelin from getting back to his feet.
Rodgers landing with the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rodgers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rodgers accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Merle Rodgers dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Higelin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Higelin dives in for a single leg takedown but Rodgers sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rodgers misses with an elbow strike.
Higelin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rodgers to keep the fight standing.
Higelin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rodgers walks away with a smile on his face. Higelin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Merle Rodgers has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlos Higelin.
Higelin shoots for a double leg takedown but Rodgers sprawls well. He's pushed Higelin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rodgers misses with the combination.

Rodgers has Higelin up against the cage in a clinch.
Higelin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rodgers to keep the fight standing.
Higelin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodgers has had enough of the clinch but Higelin keeps him there for the moment.
Higelin tries to pull guard but Rodgers forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rodgers is looking for a takedown.
Higelin tries to pull guard but Rodgers forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Higelin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Higelin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Higelin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Higelin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rodgers avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rodgers can't get the takedown.

Rodgers decides to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higelin wants to control from the top but Rodgers keeps moving.
Rodgers has a closed guard, preventing Higelin from standing up.

Rodgers wriggles free and stands up.
Higelin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice elbow from Rodgers.
Higelin is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rodgers fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Higelin throws a lazy head kick

and Rodgers counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rodgers distracts Higelin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rodgers lands a couple of elbows.
Rodgers is in close to Higelin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rodgers works over Higelin with some ground and pound from guard.
Higelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rodgers lands a couple of elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rodgers got a little sloppy there for a moment and Higelin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rodgers has managed to get both his arms back between Higelin's legs - danger averted.
Rodgers trying to control the position from guard on top but Higelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rodgers drops back looking for a leg! Higelin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Higelin manages to kick Rodgers off! Rodgers jumps back into Higelin's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rodgers is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Rodgers drops back looking for a leg! Higelin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Higelin manages to kick Rodgers off! Rodgers jumps back into Higelin's guard.
Higelin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Higelin working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Merle Rodgers showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rodgers, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Merle Rodgers!