PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jack Higgins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gip Moriarty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gip Moriarty has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Jack Higgins's chin.

Higgins
vs
Moriarty

215 cm
18
161 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Jack Higgins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Gip Moriarty!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Higgins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Moriarty wants to clinch
and Higgins counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Moriarty has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Higgins tries a head kick but it misses.
Moriarty tries to clinch up but Higgins circles away and keeps his distance.

Moriarty shoots in and gets a takedown into Higgins's guard.

Higgins scrambles and gets back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Moriarty looking to score a takedown here. Higgins is defending well but Moriarty drives through and ends up in Higgins's guard.
Moriarty stops Higgins from standing up.
Higgins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Higgins wants to stand up but Moriarty is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Higgins has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Moriarty has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Higgins ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Higgins no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet but Moriarty is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Higgins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Higgins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Moriarty controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higgins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Moriarty postures up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Higgins is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Higgins looks to land a body kick but Moriarty moved away.
Higgins throws a head kick but Moriarty moves out of range.
Moriarty is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A combination from Higgins does no damage.
Moriarty throws a one two combo.

Higgins is rocked!
Higgins is breathing heavily.
Moriarty lands a nice looking kick to the body. Higgins takes a step back to recover.
Jack Higgins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Moriarty rushes Higgins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Moriarty has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Higgins clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Higgins is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Moriarty.

Higgins manages to stand up with Moriarty still on his back. Eventually Moriarty drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Higgins really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Moriarty comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Higgins misses with a body punch
and Moriarty counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Oh Higgins is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moriarty instigates a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Moriarty will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Higgins up against the cage.
Moriarty manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd are getting on Moriarty's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.

Moriarty escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Moriarty shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Moriarty showed some decent athleticism there.

Higgins is defending against the submission attempts here by Moriarty.
Moriarty is taking a breather. Higgins says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Moriarty wants to pass to mount but Higgins is defending the position.
Moriarty slows the pace down in half guard.
Higgins is trying to stand back up but Moriarty is controlling him
Moriarty takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
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 Jack Higgins will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Higgins misses with an uppercut
and Moriarty cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Higgins misses with a jab, cross combination.
Higgins wants to land a leg kick but Moriarty is out of range.
Moriarty let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
A cross from Higgins lands.
Higgins misses with a wild combination.
Moriarty slips a jab and a cross from Higgins.
And Moriarty tries to counter it with a takedown but Higgins pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Higgins seems to have got his legs back now.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Moriarty blocks a head kick by Higgins.

Moriarty shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Moriarty is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moriarty slips nicely into half guard.
Moriarty trying to mount his opponent but Higgins defends it.
Moriarty looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Higgins trying to hold on to Moriarty's head to control him but Moriarty postures up.

Moriarty seems to be working for a kimura but Higgins defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Moriarty content to control rather than advance.
Moriarty is continuing to stall.
Higgins wants to control but Moriarty is keeping busy.
Higgins wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Moriarty.

Moriarty closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Higgins to the mat! Higgins manages to get full guard.
Higgins wants to get back to his feet but Moriarty is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Moriarty content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Higgins is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Moriarty is controlling him.

Moriarty gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Moriarty instigates a clinch.
Higgins fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Moriarty breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Moriarty bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Moriarty trying to control the position but Higgins is working away.

Moriarty working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Higgins struggling a bit here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gip Moriarty showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Moriarty blocks a leg kick.
Jack Higgins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Moriarty takes a kick to the side of the head.

Moriarty bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Moriarty decides to stand up, so the ref orders Higgins to his feet.

Moriarty shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Moriarty wants to control from the top but Higgins keeps moving.

Higgins has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Moriarty off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
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!
Higgins tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moriarty tries to close the distance and clinch up but Higgins swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Higgins went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Moriarty wants to clinch up but Higgins keeps it at a distance.

Moriarty manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Higgins on his heels. He'll look to pass Higgins's guard now, I'm sure.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Higgins manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Higgins is trying to pull guard but Moriarty turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Moriarty scores with a shoulder strike.

Higgins pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Moriarty wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moriarty pushes Higgins up against the cage in a clinch.
Moriarty gets through Higgins's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Moriarty lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Higgins pushes Moriarty off and gets back to his feet.
Moriarty showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Higgins.
Higgins throws a shot from downtown. Moriarty moves away and avoids it.
Higgins throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Higgins gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Stalling in the clinch from Moriarty.

Moriarty turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Higgins is trying to improve his position.
Moriarty wants to lay and pray for a moment but Higgins keeps working.
Higgins regains half guard, as Moriarty was trying to land strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Higgins pushes Moriarty off looking to stand but Moriarty dives back in and keeps control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Higgins has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Moriarty is on him like a limpet, forcing Higgins back against the cage.
Higgins jumps guard but Moriarty stands there with Higgins around his waist. Higgins gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Moriarty effectively controlling the action here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Higgins showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Higgins 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jack Higgins!