PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dave Higginbotham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pierre Vogel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pierre Vogel acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Higginbotham
vs
Vogel

174 cm
23
144 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Valhalla Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dave Higginbotham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Pierre Vogel!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Andrew Berry and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Nice sprawl there from Vogel as Higginbotham shoots in.
Higginbotham misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Higginbotham doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Vogel counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Higginbotham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higginbotham shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Higginbotham fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higginbotham dives in for a single leg takedown but Vogel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Higginbotham has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vogel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Higginbotham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Higginbotham avoiding damage as Vogel throws knees to the body.

Vogel breaks from the clinch.
Higginbotham with a lazy takedown attempt
and Higginbotham takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Higginbotham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vogel circles away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higginbotham tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vogel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Higginbotham somewhat.
Vogel stuffs the takedown attempt from Higginbotham. Higginbotham gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higginbotham misses with a takedown attempt
letting Vogel counter with a right hand.
Vogel stuffs the takedown.
Higginbotham fails with the takedown
and Vogel counters with a nice uppercut.
Higginbotham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vogel's waist but Vogel gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Higginbotham off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higginbotham shoots in but no luck this time.
Higginbotham misses with a takedown
and Vogel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Higginbotham shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vogel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pierre Vogel will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Higginbotham fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Pierre Vogel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Higginbotham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vogel circles away.
Higginbotham misses with a takedown attempt
and Vogel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Higginbotham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higginbotham shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vogel as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higginbotham closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vogel circles away.
Higginbotham looks for a takedown but Vogel sprawls well.
Higginbotham shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Vogel pinned against the cage. Vogel gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two 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.
Higginbotham shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vogel defends it nicely.
Higginbotham tries for a takedown but Vogel circles away easily
and Vogel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higginbotham shoots and misses
and Vogel counters with a nice uppercut.

Higginbotham shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vogel manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Higginbotham trying to control the position from guard on top but Vogel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Higginbotham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Higginbotham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higginbotham trying to control but Vogel is working from the bottom.
Vogel tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Higginbotham wants to pass the guard but Vogel is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Higginbotham working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vogel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Higginbotham. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vogel keeping full guard, as Higginbotham tries to pass.
Higginbotham trying to control the position from guard on top but Vogel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vogel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Higginbotham is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Dave Higginbotham has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Higginbotham has his takedown stuffed
and Vogel counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Higginbotham dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Vogel tries to sprawl but Higginbotham drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vogel is positioning himself well to prevent Higginbotham advancing to mount.
Vogel wants to get back to full guard.
Vogel tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Higginbotham has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Higginbotham sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Higginbotham tries to control but Vogel wriggling away.
Vogel is trying to escape the mount.
Vogel is still trying to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Higginbotham is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Vogel to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Vogel shrugs it off.
Higginbotham scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Vogel is in all sorts of trouble here.
Vogel gets back to half guard.
Vogel is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Higginbotham jumps into side control!
Higginbotham wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vogel keeps working.
Higginbotham working the head with strikes.

Higginbotham wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Vogel, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Higginbotham is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vogel is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Higginbotham tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Higginbotham tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

Higginbotham is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vogel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dave Higginbotham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vogel is trying to control Higginbotham's posture but Higginbotham avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higginbotham throws a strike aimed at the side of Vogel's head but Vogel avoids it well.
Higginbotham working away.

Higginbotham goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Vogel has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Higginbotham but great work by Vogel.
Higginbotham seems a little lost for a moment, as Vogel dominates the positioning.
Vogel trying to control the position but Higginbotham is working away.
Vogel misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Vogel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Higginbotham keeps working.
An elbow from Vogel crashes against the mat.
Vogel happy to just control the position for now.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Higginbotham pushes Vogel away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vogel gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Higginbotham is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Vogel asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Higginbotham is looking to regain half guard here but Vogel keeps moving and retains side control.
Vogel is chipping away with strikes.
Higginbotham can't do much from the bottom here.
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!
Higginbotham manages to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vogel is keen to just control but Higginbotham is a slippery customer.
Higginbotham is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dave Higginbotham.
I think Higginbotham 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 James Atkins scores the fight for Dave Higginbotham!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Dave Higginbotham!
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for Dave Higginbotham!

Dave Higginbotham wins by unanimous decision!