PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Clive Hicks (ranked 1436 p4p, 2283 weight class) and Waheed Saqqaf (ranked 61 p4p, 109 weight class). Saqqaf has chosen The Endless River - Eternal Insomnia as his entrance music. 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.

Hicks
vs
Saqqaf

170 cm
24
170
3 - 0 - 1

182 cm
25
173
6 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
Decent elbows
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Knockaround Guys Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of New York, Clive Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Waheed Saqqaf!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Richard Clark and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks blocks a head kick by Saqqaf.
Saqqaf looks to land a left hand but Hicks moved out of range nicely.
Saqqaf throws a leg kick that misses.
Saqqaf lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

It looks like Clive Hicks has been cut.
Hicks blocks a head kick by Saqqaf.
Saqqaf swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Waheed Saqqaf seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saqqaf dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hicks. That did some damage!
Hicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saqqaf throws a big shot that misses.
Hicks changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Saqqaf misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saqqaf throws a body punch but Hicks moves out of range.
Saqqaf throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hicks shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Saqqaf manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Hicks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks distracts Saqqaf with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Saqqaf trying to keep a closed guard but Hicks is proving a slippery customer.
Hicks looking to pass the guard.
Hicks lands a couple of elbows.

Saqqaf looking for subs off his back but Hicks has passed one foot through into half guard.
Hicks lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Saqqaf manages to get to full guard.
Saqqaf wants to sweep here but Hicks controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saqqaf is keeping the position for now.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Saqqaf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hicks got a little sloppy there for a moment and Saqqaf has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hicks has managed to get both his arms back between Saqqaf's legs - danger averted.
Hicks cracks Saqqaf with a solid left hand.
Saqqaf trying to control the position.
Hicks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Saqqaf trying to control the position.
Hicks landing with the ground and pound.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hicks trying to control but Saqqaf is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saqqaf looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hicks passes into half guard.
Saqqaf makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saqqaf.

Saqqaf is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hicks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hicks is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Hicks lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Saqqaf wants to sweep here but Hicks controlling him for the moment.
Saqqaf trying to control the position.
Hicks is working Saqqaf over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saqqaf is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Hicks trying to hold on to Saqqaf's head to control him but Saqqaf postures up.
My spies in Final Mile inform me that Saqqaf has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Hicks is controlling Saqqaf's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hicks trying to control here.
Saqqaf takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Hicks is defending against the submission attempts here by Saqqaf.
Hicks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hicks.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Clive Hicks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Clive Hicks's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hicks looks to land a left hand but Saqqaf moved out of range nicely.
Hicks has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hicks there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hicks punishes Saqqaf's body with a nice straight punch.
Saqqaf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Saqqaf walks into a straight right hand from Hicks.
Hicks dodges the punch combination from Saqqaf.
Hicks looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hicks with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saqqaf throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hicks wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Saqqaf looks to throw the jab but Hicks is out of range.
Saqqaf ducks under a wild hook from Hicks.
Waheed Saqqaf seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicks looks to throw the jab but Saqqaf is out of range.
Saqqaf throws out a leg kick but Hicks moves out of range and Saqqaf only half commits.
Hicks seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saqqaf throws a good cross that connects.
Hicks doesn't manage to clinch there - Saqqaf circles away.
Hicks misses with a wild body shot.
Saqqaf looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Saqqaf throws a shot from downtown. Hicks moves away and avoids it.
Hicks changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hicks swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Hicks clinches up with Saqqaf and pushes him back against the cage.
Hicks prevents a body shot from Saqqaf.
Saqqaf tries to throw a body punch but Hicks avoids it by throwing Saqqaf back against the cage.

Saqqaf manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hicks landing some decent shots from guard.
Hicks distracts Saqqaf with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Saqqaf looking to control.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Saqqaf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hicks is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Saqqaf is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saqqaf working a defensive guard here.
Hicks with a nice head shot there.
Saqqaf has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Saqqaf looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hicks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saqqaf's head.

Saqqaf looking for a guillotine here but Hicks defends easily.

Saqqaf has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hicks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hicks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saqqaf trying to keep a closed guard but Hicks is proving a slippery customer.
Hicks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hicks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hicks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hicks postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hicks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saqqaf's head.

Saqqaf has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hicks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hicks cracks Saqqaf with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hicks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks scoring with some ground and pound.
Hicks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Saqqaf's head.
Saqqaf keeping full guard, as Hicks tries to pass.
Saqqaf has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Saqqaf is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Saqqaf is on top in guard.

Hicks seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hicks wants to sweep but no luck.
Hicks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Clive Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Saqqaf sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Clive Hicks dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Clive Hicks's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down 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.

Saqqaf misses with a head kick.
Hicks misses with a hook.
Saqqaf tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Saqqaf lands a nice looking body shot.
A head kick by Saqqaf misses

and Hicks counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Saqqaf has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Hicks works over Saqqaf with some ground and pound from guard.
Hicks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hicks is working Saqqaf over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hicks working some strikes from top position.
Saqqaf has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Hicks lands a couple of elbows.
Hicks connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Hicks's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hicks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Saqqaf is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Saqqaf is still in real trouble! Can Hicks finish him?
Hicks lands a couple of digs.
Hicks looking to pass the guard.
Hicks controlling from the top position.
Saqqaf lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Saqqaf pushes down on Hicks's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Saqqaf seems to have recovered his senses.
Hicks makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hicks.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing Saqqaf from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Saqqaf drops back looking for a leg! Hicks is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hicks manages to kick Saqqaf off! Saqqaf jumps back into Hicks's guard.
Clive Hicks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saqqaf preventing the sweep.
Hicks controlling the position.
Saqqaf passes Hicks's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Saqqaf is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Saqqaf in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Hicks tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Saqqaf!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Waheed Saqqaf!