PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Wiremu West (ranked 2660 p4p, 3055 weight class) and Lyman Hicks (ranked 222 p4p, 255 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

West
vs
Hicks

175 cm
25
153
3 - 2 - 0

173 cm
25
153
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Primal
Phoenix Island

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Wiremu West!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lyman Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
West throws an off balance right hand
and Hicks counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Some wild striking there from Hicks.
West definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nice uppercut there from Hicks.
Hicks throws a good cross that connects.
Nice straight punches there by Hicks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hicks.
Hicks lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but West circles away quickly and effectively.
Hicks thows a left - swing and a miss!

West changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hicks looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Hicks bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hicks throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hicks jabs at West's body.
West defending well as Hicks loads up on a big left hand.
Hicks throws a shot from downtown. West moves away and avoids it.
It looked like West was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hicks.
Hicks throws a jab but it's blocked by West.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
West drops his hands momentarily and Hicks takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hicks connects with a body shot that sends West's belly button to the back.
Hicks throws a jab when West was well out of range.
Hicks misses with a lunging right hand

so West counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Hicks kicks West off and gets to his feet.
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!
Hicks digs a good hook to West's body.
Hicks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and West counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
West tries to free his leg and advance position but Hicks is retaining full guard.
West pushing down on Hicks's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
West throwing shots but Hicks is blocking nicely.
West has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hicks is trying to control but can't.
Hicks gets full guard.
West slips nicely into half guard.
West thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

West is looking for a kimura here.
Hicks is refusing to be controlled, as West sits in half guard.

West is working for a submission of some sort.
West is trying to control the action in half guard but Hicks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

West is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hicks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time West.

West is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hicks has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
West has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
West controlling the pace for now.
West throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
West thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hicks tries to reverse the position but West maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks wants to control but West is having none of it.
West controlling from mount.
West throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
West wants to control the pace but Hicks is squirming around nicely.

West looking for a guillotine from mount but Hicks is having none of it.
Hicks is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
West controlling from mount.

West has hold of Hicks's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hicks manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Hicks tries to hold on but West pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lyman Hicks dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

West takes a shot to the body in his stride.
West takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A jab from Hicks does it's job there.

West rushes Hicks and presses him up against the cage.

Hicks breaks the clinch.
Hicks scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Hicks scores with a crisp jab that stopped West in his tracks.
Hicks just misses with a punch to the body.
West pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
West dives in and grabs Hicks's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hicks pushes down on West's head and hops out.

West gets a double leg takedown into Hicks's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hicks trying to keep a closed guard but West is proving a slippery customer.
West trying to control the position from guard on top but Hicks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hicks is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing West from controlling successfully.
West trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
West is working hard here to advance position.
West advances position into side control!
West misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
West wants to take a breather but Hicks manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for West.
West postures up.
West looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
West wants to pass the guard but Hicks is keeping the position.

Hicks working for a triangle but West defends it easily.
West in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hicks is trying to control the position but West postures up.
West tries to free his leg and advance position but Hicks is retaining full guard.
West wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.
Hicks keeping full guard, as West tries to pass.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
West throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hicks lands an overhand right.
Nice defenses there by West.
Hicks looks to score with a jab to the body but West is just out of range.
West moves away from the strike by Hicks.
West showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hicks.
Hicks tries to bum rush West with a series of wild strikes but West uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
West bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

West rushes Hicks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
West wants to take the fight to the mat but Hicks manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
West scores with an uppercut up the middle.

West breaks the clinch.
West uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hicks.
West shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hicks defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wiremu West. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Hicks finds it's way through West's defenses.
Hicks throws a shot from downtown. West moves away and avoids it.

West darts in and clinches Hicks up against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hicks throws a head punch that misses.
Hicks scores with a shot to the side of West's head.

West has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hicks clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
You can see the frustration on Hicks's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

West has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Hicks has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

West working for the choke.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lyman Hicks will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

West keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hicks lands a slapping body shot.
Hicks clobbers West with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
West takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hicks lands a jab to West's midsection.
Hicks changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hicks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from West.
Hicks scores with a nice head shot.
Hicks stuns West with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hicks connects with a looping right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
West throws a hook to the side of Hicks's head but Hicks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hicks misses the shot to the body.
West shoots in but no luck this time.
It seemed like Hicks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hicks throws a hook but West blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
West moves forwards but Hicks connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hicks misses with an uppercut.
West is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hicks pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces West back to the cage. Hicks follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
West shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hicks as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wiremu West. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hicks lands with a nice body punch.
Hicks cracks West with a good jab.

Hicks tries to sprawl but West drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wiremu West overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
West trying to pass the guard but Hicks defending well.
Hicks trying to control here.
Hicks is refusing to be controlled, as West sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
West not landing any meaningful shots this time.
West wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hicks keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

West is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hicks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

West wants to work for an arm triangle but Hicks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

West is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hicks is just riding it out for now. West eventually gives up the hold.
West is taking a breather. Hicks 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

West is looking for a kimura but Hicks is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for West to get the leverage.

West is looking for a kimura here.
Hicks blocking the ground and pound attempt from West.

West is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hicks defends it well.
Hicks trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hicks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
West wants to take a breather but Hicks is having none of it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Hicks slaps away a takedown attempt from West, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lyman Hicks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
West takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
West will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hicks thuds a left hand into West's body.
Hicks swinging wildly here.
Wiremu West has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
West has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyman Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hicks winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyman Hicks!
Lyman Hicks decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.