PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malik Allen (ranked 4643 p4p, 467 weight class) and George Hightower (ranked 8255 p4p, 671 weight class). Malik Allen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Allen
vs
Hightower

225 cm
25
272 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Malik Allen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Hightower!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hightower is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hightower has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hightower keeps the fight on the outside.
Hightower swats away the attempt to clinch by Allen.
Hightower throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Allen goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Allen misses with a shot to the body

and Hightower moves into the clinch.
Allen goes for a takedown attempt but Hightower pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Allen has a takedown stuffed.
Hightower flicks out a counter leg kick but Allen steps away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Hightower. No joy for Allen on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malik Allen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Allen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hightower manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice defenses there by Allen.
Allen avoids a kick to the body.
Allen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hightower should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Allen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hightower paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Allen seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Hightower misses the shot to the body.
Allen is looking to clinch.
Hightower with a poor takedown
and Allen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
No luck for Hightower with that takedown attempt.
Hightower misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Allen lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Hightower pushes Allen up against the cage in a clinch.

Hightower drags the fight down to the ground.
Hightower looking to hit a scissor sweep but Allen is one step ahead there.
Hightower is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Allen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hightower looking to control.
Allen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hightower on the ground.
Allen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hightower's guard.
Hightower bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Allen's guard.

Hightower with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Allen wants to control but Hightower passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hightower not doing much here.
Hightower is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hightower working Allen over with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hightower decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A swing and a miss from Hightower.

Allen dives in and scores a takedown into Hightower's guard.

Hightower pushes Allen off and scrambles back to his feet.
A punch combination from Allen misses.
Hightower darts in looking for a takedown but Allen gets double underhooks and turns Hightower into the cage.
Allen checks a low kick from Hightower.
Allen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

Allen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hightower napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Hightower throws Allen to one side and escapes!
Hightower closes the distance and clinches up with Allen, looking for a takedown. Hightower pushes Allen against the cage but Allen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hightower misses with a wild body shot.

Allen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hightower manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Hightower dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Allen fails with an attempt to clinch.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Hightower. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Allen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hightower sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Despite the aggression on Hightower's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hightower takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Hightower clinches.

Hightower escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Allen looks to clinch
and Hightower cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hightower tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Allen defends well and Hightower ends up having to push Allen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Allen slips a straight right by Hightower.

Hightower clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hightower is trying to maintain a safe position but Allen gets an underhook and turns Hightower into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Allen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hightower is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Allen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hightower gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Allen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Allen dodges an elbow strike from Hightower.

Allen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hightower has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hightower forces Allen back against the cage and clinches.
Allen jumps guard but Hightower turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malik Allen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hightower has Allen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Allen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Hightower is working for takedown but Allen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hightower looking for a takedown.
Allen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hightower blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hightower pulls guard effortlessly.
Allen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hightower looking for a sweep. Not yet Hightower, not yet.
Allen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Allen trying to control but Hightower is working from the bottom.
Hightower seems keen to control Allen's posture.

Allen has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Hightower to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Allen is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Hightower pulls down on the head and he's put Allen to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). George Hightower!