PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Hickling (ranked 4834 p4p, 4505 weight class) and Zion Masvidal (ranked 0 p4p, 550 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hickling
vs
Masvidal

201 cm
24
170
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
177
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kyle Hickling!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Zion Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Darius Henderson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masvidal is looking to clinch but Hickling is avoiding it.
Hickling changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masvidal tries to avoid it but Hickling manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masvidal to the ground. Masvidal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Hickling moves into range and clinches up with Masvidal.

Hickling escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The fight stays on the outside here - Masvidal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hickling looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Masvidal lunges at Hickling with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hickling's hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hickling darts in looking for a takedown but Masvidal gets double underhooks and turns Hickling into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Hickling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Masvidal misses with a straight left.
Hickling fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickling doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Hickling moves into the clinch.
Masvidal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Hickling is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Masvidal can't fight it off and eventually Hickling manages to take the fight to the floor. Masvidal looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Masvidal is looking to stand up but Hickling isn't so interested in that idea.
Masvidal is pulling down on Hickling's head. It's preventing any offense from Hickling, at least for the moment.
Masvidal tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hickling really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Masvidal is working an open guard so Hickling takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickling uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Masvidal.
Hickling tries to clinch up but Masvidal circles away and keeps his distance.
Hickling changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Masvidal tries to avoid it but Hickling manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Masvidal to the ground. Masvidal escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Decent striking displayed by Masvidal there.
Hickling lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hickling.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Masvidal rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hickling moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hickling shoots in looking for a takedown but Masvidal manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hickling's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Masvidal fails to land with a series of punches.
Hickling ducks under a wild hook from Masvidal.
Masvidal misses with an uppercut.
Masvidal closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Zion Masvidal is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Masvidal misses with an uppercut. Hickling saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickling misses with a takedown attempt - Masvidal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Masvidal takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Hickling tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Masvidal manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A little jabbing left from Masvidal on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Masvidal swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hickling lands a nice leg kick that just misses Masvidal's sensitive parts.
Masvidal cracks Hickling with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hickling scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Masvidal doesn't seem bothered though.
Hickling moves away from the strike by Masvidal.
Hickling slips a jab from Masvidal.
Hickling staying out of range there.
Hickling seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hickling doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Masvidal connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd cheers as Masvidal lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hickling doesn't seem phased though.
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!
A telegraphed right hand from Masvidal misses the target.

Masvidal moves into the clinch.

Hickling breaks the clinch.

Hickling has taken the fight to the clinch.
Masvidal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Masvidal throws a head punch that misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hickling as Masvidal tries to tie him up.
Masvidal prevents the takedown attempt.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Masvidal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hickling misses with a few strikes there.
Hickling shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Masvidal as he jumps to the side.
As Hickling backs off Masvidal throws a huge counter combo but Hickling manages to avoid it all.
Hickling tries to clinch up but Masvidal circles away and keeps his distance.
Masvidal throws the left hand but Hickling avoids the punch easily.
Masvidal throws a jab but it's blocked by Hickling.
Masvidal swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Hickling closes the distance and clinches.

Hickling breaks the clinch.
Masvidal has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hickling ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hickling tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Masvidal swivels and escapes.
Hickling looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Hickling. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Masvidal uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kyle Hickling is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slow jab from Masvidal misses its intended target.
Masvidal digs a good hook to Hickling's body.
Hickling misses with a body kick.
Hickling takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A punch combination from Masvidal misses.
Hickling misses with a takedown attempt - Masvidal sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hickling gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Masvidal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Masvidal keeping his opponent close.
Masvidal struggling a bit here.

Hickling tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hickling has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Masvidal can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Masvidal tries to bench press Hickling off him but Hickling keeps the position.
Hickling wants to control but Masvidal is keeping him busy.
Masvidal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal is still trying to improve position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masvidal keeps trying to improve his position.
Masvidal is trying to control Hickling's posture but Hickling avoids it.

Hickling tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hickling has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hickling is looking to take a break and control but Masvidal is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Masvidal can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Masvidal is trying to improve his position.
Hickling wants to lay and pray for a moment but Masvidal keeps working.
Masvidal is looking to reverse the position.
Hickling tries to move to mount but Masvidal blocks the move with his legs.
Masvidal is trying to buck Hickling off.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hickling walks into a straight right hand from Masvidal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zion Masvidal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Masvidal wants to clinch up but Hickling keeps it at a distance.
Hickling throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Masvidal.
Masvidal tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hickling was well out of range. Poor timing from Masvidal.
Masvidal throws a lazy right hand but Hickling sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hickling tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Masvidal swivels and escapes.
Hickling shoots in for a double leg but Masvidal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Masvidal sizes up Hickling with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Nice cross by Masvidal.
Hickling will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Hickling. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masvidal loads up on a big right hand but Hickling slips the punch.
Nice defenses there by Hickling.
Hickling was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Hickling rushes Masvidal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Masvidal is looking to break free of the clinch but Hickling has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masvidal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Masvidal is trying to force a seperation but Hickling has the dominant position.

Hickling manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hickling will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Masvidal is looking to stand up but Hickling won't let him.
Masvidal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hickling swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Masvidal looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Masvidal avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Masvidal looking to pass the guard.

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.
Hickling is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Masvidal is trying to get back to full guard.
Masvidal wants to get back to his feet.
Masvidal is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Masvidal is trying to stand back up but Hickling is controlling him
Hickling is trying to control the action in half guard but Masvidal is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal trying to hold on to Hickling's head to control him but Hickling postures up.
Masvidal regains full guard. Nicely done.
Masvidal avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hickling wants to control from the top but Masvidal keeps moving.
Masvidal wants to improve his position but instead Hickling has moved into half guard.
Masvidal wants to improve his position but Hickling is controlling well.
Masvidal wants to sweep but Hickling has passed to side control!
Masvidal is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickling just content to control the position.
Masvidal is not content to let Hickling control the position.
Masvidal is looking for a sweep.
Hickling working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hickling is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Masvidal is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kyle Hickling has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Masvidal's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

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 Kyle Hickling.
I think Masvidal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight for Zion Masvidal!
Judge Darius Henderson scores the fight for Zion Masvidal!
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight for Zion Masvidal!

Zion Masvidal wins by unanimous decision!