PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrei Vochev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andrei Vochev has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ben Hicks's chin.

Hicks
vs
Vochev

165 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big heart

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrei Vochev!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hicks misses with a series of wild punches.
Nice takedown defense from Vochev. No joy for Hicks on that attempt.
Vochev misses with a hook.
Hicks tries to clinch but Vochev is having none of it.
Hicks throws a wild body kick that Vochev sees coming a mile off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vochev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hicks manages to avoid it.
Vochev lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hicks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vochev throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vochev throws a big shot that misses.
Vochev lands a jab to the nose.
Hicks tries to clinch up.
Hicks fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hicks tries to clinch up.
Horrible takedown by Hicks or perhaps it was just good defense by Vochev which made him look bad.
Hicks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hicks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hicks slips under a jab.
Hicks looks to land a combination but Vochev avoids it well.
Ben Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hicks misses with a double jab.
Vochev misses the jab.
Hicks throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vochev lands a jab to the head.
Vochev misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hicks moves in looking to clinch but Vochev pushes him off.
Vochev is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vochev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vochev misses with an uppercut. Hicks saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Vochev throws a looping overhand right but Hicks ducks down to avoid it.
Vochev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hicks misses with the combination.
A telegraphed right hand from Vochev misses the target.
Vochev dodges the punch combination from Hicks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vochev throws an overhand right that lands on Hicks's shoulder, as Hicks tries to avoid the shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hicks staying out of range there.
Vochev lands with an uppercut that bounces Hicks off the cage and back into rage.
Vochev might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hicks doesn't manage to clinch there - Vochev circles away.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vochev as he avoids it easily.
A jab from Vochev misses.
Hicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ben Hicks is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Hicks.
Hicks slips under a jab.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Vochev in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Vochev lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vochev throws a looping overhand right but Hicks ducks down to avoid it.
Vochev throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hicks misses with a double jab.
Vochev bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Hicks's head backwards.
No joy there for Hicks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big left from Vochev misses.
Vochev keeps the fight on the outside.
Hicks slips under a jab from Vochev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vochev throws a big shot that misses.
Vochev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Vochev scores with a nice head shot.
Hicks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hicks moves out of range of the strikes.
Hicks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vochev.
Hicks tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vochev throws a hook to the side of Hicks's head but Hicks sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vochev looks to land a left hand but Hicks moved out of range nicely.
Hicks keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vochev.
The fighters circling - Vochev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Vochev throws the left hand but Hicks avoids the punch easily.
Vochev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hicks.
Vochev avoids the head kick by Hicks.
Hicks slips under a jab from Vochev.

That's four 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.
Vochev checks a leg kick nicely.
Hicks is looking to clinch but Vochev is avoiding it.
Vochev misses with an uppercut.
Hicks slips a jab from Vochev.
Hicks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vochev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vochev throws a lazy right hand but Hicks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hicks wants to clinch.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Vochev waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Hicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Vochev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hicks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vochev misses with a looping right.
Hicks walks into a straight right hand from Vochev.
Hicks staying out of range there.
Hicks swings for the body but Vochev moves out of range.
Hicks moves out of range as Vochev strikes.
Vochev misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks fails to land with a series of punches.
Vochev keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks misses with a double jab.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vochev sprawls well. Vochev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hicks gets slowly back to his feet.
Hicks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Vochev.
Hicks tries to land a leg kick but Vochev saw it coming and moves away.
Vochev pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vochev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Hicks throws a chopping leg kick but Vochev manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Vochev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hicks moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Nice takedown defense from Vochev. No joy for Hicks on that attempt.
Andrei Vochev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hicks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hicks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vochev.
Vochev misses with a straight right.
Vochev lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vochev, as that shot connected.
Hicks closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hicks takes one to the side of the head.
The fighters circle momentarily. Vochev darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

Hicks is rocked!
Hicks blocks a jab.
The crowd cheers as Vochev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hicks doesn't seem phased though.
Vochev moves out of range as Hicks strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Hicks 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vochev cracks Hicks with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hicks looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Vochev finish him?
Oh Hicks is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hicks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vochev.
Andrei Vochev seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vochev sizes up Hicks with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Hicks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vochev.
Hicks seems to have got his legs back now.
Hicks ducks under a wild hook from Vochev.
Vochev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hicks moves away.
Ben Hicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrei Vochev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vochev lands a with a good body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrei Vochev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vochev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Vochev!