PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between QL Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harley Royale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Royale has chosen Empire X by Dubtraction as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Hicks
vs
Royale

183 cm
22
186 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
183 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Blitzkrieg Formula 5000
Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

White Gorilla Nutrition
White Gorilla Nutrition

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, QL Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Harley Royale!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Royale fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hicks throws a jab but it's blocked by Royale.
Royale tests Hicks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hicks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Royale is fending him off so far but Hicks persists. Nope, Royale circles away and we're back to standing.
Hicks thows a body shot but no joy.

Hicks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Royale's guard.
Hicks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Royale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hicks preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Royale keeps moving.
Hicks throws a big right hand that misses.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Royale keeps moving.
Royale looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hicks is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A jab from Hicks misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hicks takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Royale shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hicks manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Royale controlling from the top position.
Royale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hicks is keeping the position for now.
Royale throws a strike but Hicks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hicks trying to control but Royale is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hicks lands a couple of elbows.
Hicks throwing strikes but missing.
Hicks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Royale keeps moving.
Royale wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Royale has Hicks pulled in close to control his posture.
Royale wants to sweep but no luck.
Hicks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Royale keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Royale closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Royale lands in his opponent's guard.
Royale stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hicks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hicks manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Royale manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Royale dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Royale clinches up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Hicks.
Hicks is pressed up against the cage. Royale has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hicks down to the mat. Hicks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Royale tries to close the distance and clinch but Hicks swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Royale misses the jab.
Royale avoids the body shot from Hicks.

Royale closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hicks did well to prevent Royale getting side control.
Hicks trying to hold on to Royale's head to control him but Royale postures up.
Royale is looking to advance position but Hicks won't allow it.
Royale is trying to control. Hicks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hicks controlling the position well.
Royale prevents Hicks from improving his position.
Royale wants to free his trapped foot but Hicks is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Royale trying to control from half guard but Hicks is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hicks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Harley Royale is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hicks walks into a stiff left hand from Royale.

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 has his takedown stuffed

and Royale counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hicks!
Hicks is looking to get to half guard.
Royale misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Hicks can't escape the position.
Hicks holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Royale tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Royale goes for an armbar but Hicks turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Hicks.
Hicks lands a couple of digs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Royale trying to keep a closed guard but Hicks is proving a slippery customer.
Royale has his hands on Hicks's head, controlling the position.
Hicks postures up in Royale's guard and throws a big left but Royale blocks it.
Hicks preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hicks stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Royale swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Hicks clinches with his opponent.

Hicks decides to pull guard.
Hicks is controlling Royale's posture.
Royale pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hicks is keeping the position for now.
Hicks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Royale is one step ahead there.
Hicks keeping full guard, as Royale tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harley Royale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hicks wants to clinch.
Royale fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Royale closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Harley Royale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Royale trying to pass the guard but Hicks defending well.
Hicks is not content to let Royale control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks wants to get back to full guard but Royale has passed into side control.
Royale trying to control but Hicks is having none of it.
Royale looking to finish with strikes here!
Royale looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Royale prevents Hicks from getting the reversal.
Royale cracks Hicks with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Royale is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Royale can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hicks is looking to escape.
Hicks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Royale working Hicks over with strikes here.
Royale looking to control but Hicks is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Royale connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Royale working the ground and pound effectively.
Royale avoids the attempt from Hicks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Royale wants to control the pace but Hicks is squirming around nicely.
Hicks wants to hold on but Royale pushes him away.
Hicks is squirming around, avoiding Royale's attempts to control the action.
Royale landing punches.
Hicks bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Royale has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hicks has passed into side control.
Royale tries to get back to half guard but can't.
QL Hicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Royale gets back to half guard.
Hicks misses with a head shot. Royale uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hicks makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hicks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harley Royale is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Royale pulls Hicks in close to prevent any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harley Royale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Royale 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Harley Royale!