PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Keyes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Fick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Keyes
vs
Fick

172 cm
22
162 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

168 cm
19
164 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stephen Keyes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Fick!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keyes avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fick fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fick walks into a jab.
Fick takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Keyes scores with a one two! Fick had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fick fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Keyes avoids it really well and circles away.
Fick fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fick tries to clinch but Keyes moves out of range.

Keyes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fick trying to land knees to the body.
Keyes lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Michael Fick has been cut.
Keyes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Keyes putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Fick in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Fick has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Fick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Keyes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Stephen Keyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Fick.
Keyes tries a knee to the head but Fick blocks it.
Keyes lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Fick changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Keyes fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Keyes forces Fick back against the cage and clinches.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Fick being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keyes stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A knee to the head by Keyes.
Keyes leaning against his opponent.
Fick tries to pull guard but Keyes won't allow it.
Keyes is leaning against Fick and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Fick looks gassed!
Keyes has Fick pressed against the cage, preventing Fick from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Keyes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fick's defenses.
Fick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Keyes smiles and moves away.
Fick fails with the takedown.
Keyes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Keyes clinches.
Fick misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Keyes.
Keyes lands an elbow just above Fick 's eye.
Keyes lands a body shot.
Fick is trying to drag Keyes to the mat but Keyes just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Keyes obliges.
Come on Keyes - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fick has had enough of the clinch but Keyes keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fick is looking to control Keyes's arms but Keyes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fick has his back to the cage.
Fick takes a knee right on the jaw!

That has opened up Michael Fick's cut even more.
Fick takes a knee right on the jaw!
Keyes lands an elbow inside.
Keyes lands a knee to the head.

Keyes breaks from the clinch.
Keyes goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Fick tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fick looks to clinch

and Keyes counters by clinching up.
A frustrated look appears on Fick's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Keyes managing to block the knees to the body from Fick.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Keyes.
Keyes lands a good knee to the midsection. Fick won't want to take too many of those.
Keyes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Keyes lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Keyes lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Keyes crunches a lovely knee into Fick's ribcage.

Keyes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Keyes gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Keyes makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Keyes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Keyes breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fick doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Keyes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fick utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Fick misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Keyes.
Keyes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Keyes prevents Fick from breaking the clinch.
A hook to the body from Keyes.
Knees to the body from Keyes.
Fick unloads a knee to the mid-section. Keyes lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Keyes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Keyes pushes Fick up against the cage in a clinch.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Keyes manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Keyes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fick lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Keyes comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Keyes lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Fick.
Fick is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Keyes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Keyes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fick has Keyes pressed against the cage, preventing Keyes from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fick tries to break the clinch but Keyes is controlling the position.
Fick unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Keyes lands a knee to the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Knees in the clinch landing for Keyes.
Keyes on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Fick tries to pull guard but Keyes won't allow it.
Keyes is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Keyes taking a breather.
Fick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Fick looking for a takedown.
A short right from Keyes on the inside.
Fick managing to block the knees to the body from Keyes.
Fick landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Keyes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fick tries to clinch up

and Keyes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Keyes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fick is looking to control Keyes's arms but Keyes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fick has his back to the cage.
Fick can't get the takedown.
Keyes working Fick over with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Keyes dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Fick's cut.
That's time! Keyes's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Keyes has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fick can't break the clinch.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Fick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Keyes lands a nice knee to the body.
Keyes crunches a lovely knee into Fick's ribcage.
Keyes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Keyes lands a nice elbow.
A knee to the head by Keyes.
Fick tries to pull guard but Keyes won't allow it.
Fick is trying to maintain a safe position but Keyes gets an underhook and turns Fick into the cage.
Keyes lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Fick can't break the clinch.
Keyes lands a good knee to the midsection. Fick won't want to take too many of those.
Keyes lands a hook to the side of the head.
Keyes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stephen Keyes has scored more points in the clinch so far.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Keyes creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Fick is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Fick breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Horrible takedown by Fick or perhaps it was just good defense by Keyes which made him look bad.
Keyes throws a one two combo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Fick.
Fick tries to clinch

and Keyes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Keyes.
Keyes is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Fick is defending well for now.
Fick wants to break free but Keyes has control.
Keyes is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Fick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stephen Keyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Fick.

Fick gets control of Keyes's arms and successfully pulls guard. Fick will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Keyes is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Keyes wants to pass the guard but Fick is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keyes trying to control but Fick is working from the bottom.
Fick is trying to control the position but Keyes postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Keyes swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fick fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fick avoids the body shot from Keyes.
Keyes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fick misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Fick swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Fick tries to clinch up

and Keyes counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A short body shot lands from Keyes as the two fighters clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Fick's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fick jumps guard but Keyes stands there with Fick around his waist. Fick gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Keyes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Keyes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fick wants to clinch
and Keyes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Fick darts in trying to clinch

and Keyes counters by moving into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Keyes.
Fick tries to pull guard but Keyes holds him up against the cage and eventually Fick drops back down to his feet.
Fick can't get the takedown.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Fick misses with an elbow strike.
Keyes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fick lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Fick missing with knees to the body.
Keyes is struggling to control the position.
Fick trying to land knees to the body.
Keyes lands a nice elbow.
Fick tries to land knees in the clinch but Keyes avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keyes landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Keyes unloads a knee to the mid-section. Fick lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Keyes lands a knee to the head.
Keyes is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Fick is keeping busy.
Fick putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Keyes in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Keyes dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Fick's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. 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.

Fick tries to clinch
and Keyes makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Fick on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Keyes has Fick up against the cage in a clinch.
Keyes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Keyes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fick has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Fick tries to land knees in the clinch but Keyes avoids the damage to the body.
Keyes landing knees to the head.
Fick misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Keyes.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fick avoids it.
Keyes avoiding damage.
A frustrated look appears on Fick's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Fick on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Fick as Keyes tries to tie him up.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the head but Fick blocks with his arms.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fick tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Keyes just stands there and leans against the cage.
Fick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Keyes has had enough of the clinch but Fick keeps him there for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fick tries for a takedown but Keyes manages to get underhooks.
Stephen Keyes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Fick.
Keyes looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Fick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Fick is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Keyes gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Fick can't get the takedown.
Keyes creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Fick's defenses.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Fick tries to pull guard but Keyes holds him up against the cage and eventually Fick drops back down to his feet.
Fick tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Knees to the body from Fick.
Keyes lands a good knee to the midsection. Fick won't want to take too many of those.
Fick is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Keyes is defending well for now.
Fick avoiding damage as Keyes throws knees to the body.
Keyes avoiding damage as Fick throws knees to the body.
Fick landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fick takes an elbow to the temple.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Fick avoids it.
Fick landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Keyes lands an elbow that stopped Fick in his tracks for a moment.
A right hook to the body lands for Keyes.
Keyes looking to stall.
Keyes managing to block the knees to the body from Fick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Keyes takes a knee to the side of the body.
Fick tries to circle away but Keyes has him pinned against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Keyes.

Keyes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Keyes displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fick.
Fick has a takedown stuffed.
Michael Fick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Keyes rushes Fick and presses him up against the cage.
Fick tries to break the clinch but Keyes is controlling the position.
Fick takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Fick obliges.
Keyes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fick wants to break the clinch but can't.
Keyes lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Keyes tries to stall but Fick uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Fick scores a nice knee to the body.
Keyes with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Fick landing knees to the body.
Keyes blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Keyes takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Keyes.
Keyes tries to land a knee to the head but Fick blocks with his arms.
Fick has Keyes pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Keyes manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Keyes manages to break the clinch.
Fick tries to clinch but Keyes moves away
and Keyes counters with a two punch combo.
Fick tries for a takedown but Keyes circles away easily

and Keyes counters by moving into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Fick.
Fick tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Keyes smiles and moves away.
Fick closes the distance looking to clinch
and Keyes counters with a left and a right that stings Fick.

Keyes gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Keyes throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Fick lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Keyes is pressed up against the cage. Fick has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Keyes down to the mat. Keyes avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Keyes closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fick trying to land knees to the body.
Fick is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fick takes an elbow to the temple.
Fick tries to circle away but Keyes has him pinned against the cage.
Fick wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Keyes using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Keyes stalls.
Keyes landing knees to the head.
Fick jumps guard but Keyes stands there with Fick around his waist. Fick gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Fick blocks an elbow strike from Keyes.
Michael Fick has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keyes scores a nice knee to the body.
Fick is looking to control Keyes's arms but Keyes gets an underhook and turns him. Now Fick has his back to the cage.
Fick lands a nice knee to the body.
Fick unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Keyes gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Keyes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Fick has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Keyes prevents a takedown attempt there.
Keyes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fick can do to turn this around?
Fick tries a body shot but Keyes blocks it.
Fick lands a knee to the body.
Stephen Keyes is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Keyes with a knee to the head.
Fick taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Keyes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Keyes, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:26
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:26
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Keyes!