PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Badr Hari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Licken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Hari
vs
Licken

197 cm
20
240 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

193 cm
23
225 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great low kicks
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Badr Hari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Steve Licken!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Licken blocks a head kick by Hari.
Licken wants to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hari throws a leg kick but Licken moved away.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hari lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Licken fails in his attempt to clinch.
Licken takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Hari lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
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!
Hari scores with a push kick.
Licken looks gassed!
Licken looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hari rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Licken moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hari fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Licken.
Licken takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Steve Licken seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hari throws a front kick that sends Licken stumbling back into the cage.
Hari throws a nice looking combination but Licken bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Licken takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Hari misses with a two punch combination.
Hari is looking to slow Licken down with leg kicks.
Hari cracks the inside of Licken's front leg.
Hari scores with a sloppy right hand. Licken should have avoided that one.
Licken has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari scores with a spinning back kick!
A nice inside leg kick there by Hari. That's going to slow Licken down.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hari. That's going to slow Licken down.
Hari connects with a solid leg kick.
Hari scores with a one two! Licken had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Licken fails in his attempt to clinch.
Good standup being displayed there by Hari as he connects with a hook.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hari fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Licken.
Badr Hari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Licken tries to clinch up.
Hari throws a head kick that Licken semi-blocks.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Licken showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hari.
Licken tries to clinch up but Hari circles away and keeps his distance.
A good leg kick by Hari.
Hari connects with a right hand. Licken shakes it off.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hari swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licken takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Licken fails with an attempt to clinch.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Hari.
Hari is looking to slow Licken down with leg kicks.
Hari tries a head kick but it misses.

Licken darts in and clinches Hari up against the cage.
Hari is trying to break the clinch but Licken is controlling him.
Licken has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hari.

Licken gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Licken throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Hari has one foot on Licken's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Hari swats away the attempt to clinch by Licken.
Licken fails in his attempt to clinch.
Licken fails in his attempt to clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Hari finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hari thumps Licken with a low kick.
Licken is looking to clinch.
Hari scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Hari lands a jab.
Hari works over Licken's head and body with a nice combination.
Licken blocks a jab.

Licken clinches up with Hari and pushes him back against the cage.
Licken's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hari is pressed up against the cage. Licken has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hari down to the mat. Hari avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Licken fails with a takedown attempt.
Hari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hari feints and then cracks Licken's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Licken down.
Hari throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Licken checks a low kick from Hari.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Licken stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Hari.
Licken tries to clinch up.
Hari misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Licken moves into the clinch.
Hari tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Licken avoids it.
Licken tries for a takedown but Hari manages to get underhooks.
Badr Hari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Licken.
Hari avoids the elbow strike from Licken, against the cage.
Licken can't get the takedown.
Licken has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hari avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Licken wants a takedown.
Hari lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Licken throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hari blocks it with crossed arms.

Hari breaks from the clinch.
A good leg kick by Hari.
Hari goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Licken is defended easily by Hari.
Licken wants to clinch.
Hari is working the combinations to good effect here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Good exchange - Hari coming out on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari 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.

Licken tries to clinch up.
Hari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Licken can do to turn this around?
Hari lands with a thumping leg kick.
A right-left combo lands from Hari.
Hari misses with a head kick.
Licken wants to clinch.
Hari lands a jab-cross combination.
Hari throws a series of punches but Licken moves out of range.

Licken instigates a clinch.
Hari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hari prevents the takedown attempt.
Hari wants to get back to striking at distance but Licken won't allow it.
Hari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Licken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Licken drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Badr Hari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Licken.
Hari stalling in the clinch but Licken improves position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hari scores with a knee to the head.
A right handed body shot lands from Hari.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licken lands an elbow inside that Hari shrugs off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari avoids a wild elbow strike from Licken.
Licken looking for a takedown.
Hari putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Licken in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hari connects with a knee to the head.
Licken changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hari fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hari throws a series of punches but Licken avoids them all with ease.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch but Hari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hari leaves Licken with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Good exchange - Hari coming out on top.
Hari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hari scores with a push kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hari.
Hari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Hari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Licken circles away quickly and effectively.
Licken tries to clinch up but Hari circles away and keeps his distance.
Licken doesn't manage to clinch there - Hari circles away.
Hari misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Licken or perhaps it was just good defense by Hari which made him look bad.
Badr Hari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Licken tries to clinch up.
Hari keeps the fight on the outside.
Hari goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Licken moves in looking to clinch but Hari pushes him off.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hari.
Hari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Licken tries to clinch but Hari is having none of it.
Hari swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Licken gets a clinch.
Licken connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hari's face.
Hari controlling the action here for a moment.
Hari working hard to break the clinch.
Licken gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Licken creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Licken is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hari pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hari with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licken takes a knee to the side of the body.
Licken is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hari gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hari misses with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hari tries a knee to the head but Licken blocks it.
Licken is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Licken is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hari pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hari scores with a knee to the head.
Hari misses with an elbow strike.
Hari misses with a knee strike.
Licken is working for takedown but Hari is calmly controlling the position for now.
Licken tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Hari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hari throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Licken fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hari avoids it really well and circles away.
Hari lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Licken circles away quickly and effectively.
Licken tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Licken tries to clinch up.
Licken is looking to clinch.
Licken doesn't manage to clinch there - Hari circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hari.
Licken tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Licken looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Licken is looking to clinch but Hari is avoiding it.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch but Hari swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Licken is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Licken tries to clinch but Hari moves out of range.

Licken clinches with his opponent.
Hari taking a breather.
Licken tries a knee to the head but Hari blocks it.
Hari tries to circle away but Licken has him pinned against the cage.
Hari takes an elbow to the forehead.
Licken has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hari is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee calls for Hari to work.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Hari for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Licken drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hari pulls his leg out and moves away.
Badr Hari is winning the standup battle so far.
No joy there for Hari, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Badr Hari dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hari scores with a jab to the jaw.
Licken tries to clinch there but Hari circles away.
Licken wants to clinch.
Hari keeps the fight on the outside.
Hari lunges at Licken with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Licken's hand.
Licken tries to clinch up but Hari circles away and keeps his distance.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hari.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hari.
Licken takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hari throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Hari throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hari tests Licken's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hari lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Steve Licken has been cut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hari swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hari dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Licken. That did some damage!
Hari connects with a solid leg kick.
Licken tries to clinch up.
Hari with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A solid body kick from Hari.
Hari is looking to slow Licken down with leg kicks.
Hari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hari swats away the attempt to clinch by Licken.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hari.
Hari lands with a right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hari.
A head kick from Hari lands but Licken takes it in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Licken tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hari swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hari avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Licken has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Licken tries to clinch but Hari moves out of range.
Hari lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Licken backs up against the cage.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licken tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hari will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Licken shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hari as he jumps to the side.
Hari thuds his shin into the meat of Licken's side.
A right-left combo lands from Hari.

Licken clinches with his opponent.
Licken throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hari blocks it with crossed arms.
Hari connects with a knee to the head.
Licken pushes off an throws an elbow but Hari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hari is stalling here.
Licken with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Licken misses with a knee to the head.
Hari lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Licken tries for a takedown but Hari manages to get underhooks.
Hari is looking to control Licken's arms but Licken gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hari has his back to the cage.
Hari takes an elbow to the temple.
Licken using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hari has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hari stops a takedown attempt from Licken.
Badr Hari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Licken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licken creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hari takes an elbow to the temple.
Licken pushes off an throws an elbow but Hari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Licken lands a knee to the head.
Hari leaning against his opponent.
With the fighters up against the cage, Licken throws an elbow but misses.
Hari tries to break free but Licken pushes him back against the cage.
Licken looking to throw knees to the head but Hari is blocking nicely.
Hari throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hari is trying to stall.
Hari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Licken blocks it with crossed arms.
Licken is trying to drag Hari to the mat but Hari just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Hari wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hari with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Licken throws a knee to the head but misses.
Licken pushes off an throws an elbow but Hari leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Steve Licken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hari makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Licken misses with an elbow over the top.
Licken tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Licken tries to land a knee to the head but Hari blocks with his arms.
Hari lands a good knee to the midsection. Licken won't want to take too many of those.

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.
Hari looking to throw knees to the head but Licken is blocking nicely.

Hari manages to break the clinch.

Licken clinches up against the cage.
Licken is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hari using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Licken has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Licken lands an elbow that stopped Hari in his tracks for a moment.
Hari dodges an elbow strike from Licken.
Hari landing knees to the head.
Licken drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hari connects with a knee to the head.
Licken looking to throw knees to the head but Hari is blocking nicely.
Hari lands an elbow inside that Licken shrugs off.
Licken tries for a takedown. No joy.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Licken as Hari tries to tie him up.
Hari tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Licken has Hari pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Hari manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Licken looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Licken tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A frustrated look appears on Hari's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hari pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Badr Hari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hari chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hari fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
Badr Hari showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hari, 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:25
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Badr Hari!