PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Michael Wackson (ranked 3622 p4p, 388 weight class) and Nuro Higati (ranked 3997 p4p, 413 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wackson
vs
Higati

175 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

184 cm
19
173 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Sportivité

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Wackson !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nuro Higati!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wackson tries to clinch but Higati moves out of range.
Higati feints the counter takedown.
Wackson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Higati as he jumps to the side.
Wackson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Michael Wackson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wackson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Wackson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Higati shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Higati was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Wackson throws Higati to one side and escapes!
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!

Higati gets the takedown into side control.
Higati in side control lands a decent elbow.
Wackson manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Higati is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Still in half guard, Wackson seems content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higati keeping control of the position.
Higati is looking for a sweep. Wackson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Wackson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Wackson trying to pass the guard but Higati defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Higati is trying to get back to full guard.
Wackson throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Higati to regain full guard.
Higati has control of Wackson 's left arm, preventing Wackson from doing any damage.
Wackson slips nicely into half guard.

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.
Wackson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Wackson is just content to waste time from the top position. Higati takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Higati is looking for a triangle but Wackson pushes his legs off easily.
Wackson wants to pass the guard but Higati is keeping the position.
Wackson controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Higati is adopting a defensive guard.
Wackson wants to control from the top but Higati keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A head kick by Wackson misses

and Higati decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Wackson 's guard.
Higati with a flurry of punches that miss.
Higati is in close to Wackson 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Higati throws a big right hand that misses.
Higati is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wackson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Higati manages to get himself to full guard.

Wackson trying to control but Higati is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wackson preventing the sweep.
Wackson throwing strikes from guard but Higati blocks nicely.
Higati trying to keep a closed guard but Wackson is proving a slippery customer.
Wackson stands up over Higati, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Wackson showing good wrestling skills 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 Michael Wackson 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.

Wackson shoots for a double leg takedown but Higati sprawls well. He's pushed Wackson 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wackson misses with a double jab.
Wackson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Higati is fending him off so far but Wackson persists. Nope, Higati circles away and we're back to standing.
Wackson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Higati defends well and Wackson ends up having to push Higati into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Wackson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown attempt by Higati or perhaps it was just good defense by Wackson , which made it look bad.
Higati takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Wackson gets a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Higati has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Wackson after a bit of a struggle.
Wackson wants to take the fight to the mat but Higati manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wackson is trying to drag Higati to the mat but Higati just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Wackson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Higati blocks an elbow strike.
Higati drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Higati content to slow the pace in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Higati drops down looking for an ankle pick but Wackson pulls his leg out and moves away.

Wackson scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Higati wants to get back to full guard but Wackson has mounted him!
Michael Wackson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Wackson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Wackson controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wackson throws some wild stikes that Higati manages to avoid easily.
Higati tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wackson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Higati tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Wackson looking to finish with strikes here!
Wackson avoids the attempt from Higati to control.
Higati is trying desperately to improve position.
Wackson thowing shots but they're missing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Wackson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Higati manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Wackson is controlling the pace.
Higati wants to get back to full guard.

Wackson is working for a kimura but Higati is defending it quite comfortably.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Higati is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Wackson dominated that second round.
That's time! Wackson 's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Wackson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Higati circles away.
Wackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wackson shoots in and drives through. Higati sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Wackson . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Higati defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Wackson .
Wackson has a takedown stuffed.
Higati ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wackson takes one to the side of the head.
Wackson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wackson fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Higati displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wackson .
Higati swings for the body but Wackson moves out of range.
Wackson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Wackson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wackson shoots in for a takedown but Higati shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Higati stuffs the takedown attempt from Wackson . Wackson gets slowly back to his feet.
Wackson shoots for a takedown but Higati saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Higati throws out a counter right but Wackson avoids it with no problem.

Higati shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Higati was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Higati tries for a kimura but Wackson is defending well.
Higati in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Higati scoring with punches and elbows.

Wackson is rocked!
Higati in side control here. He's dropped a big elbow there and Wackson looks hurt! Oh, he is hurt! Higati turns on the heat and pounds him out for a TKO victory! Good killer instinct there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Nuro Higati!
Michael Wackson spoke after the fight, saying 'Didn't do how I wanted it too, but I knew it was gonna be a tough fight, that's why I wanted it, anyways on the next kangaroo fight, I'm not cactus yet! '.