PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kristobel James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bret Hicken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

James
vs
Hicken

185 cm
24
210 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

192 cm
24
216 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Kristobel James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bret Hicken!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James misses with a body shot.
James throws a shot from downtown. Hicken moves away and avoids it.
Hicken blocks a jab.
James misses with a straight right.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Hicken is just out of range.
Hicken fakes high and swings low for a body shot but James manages to avoid it.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hicken sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hicken lands the left hand.
Hicken drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hicken.
Kristobel James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from James does no damage.
A big left from James misses.
James slips a jab from Hicken.

Hicken closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming James to the mat! James manages to get full guard.
Hicken trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
James knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hicken on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicken trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hicken trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
James is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
James not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hicken is stalling in the full guard.
Hicken stops James from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
James throws a combination. Hicken tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

It looks like Bret Hicken has been cut.
James misses with an uppercut.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hicken.
Hicken drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
James bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hicken's head.
A shot to the body from James misses

and Hicken counters with a takedown into side control.
Hicken with the ground and pound but James regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Hicken throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hicken trying to control from James's half guard. James has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hicken trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hicken thows a big elbow that misses.
James wants to stand but Hicken is controlling the position.
Hicken wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James looks to land a right hand but Hicken moved out of range.

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.
James looks to throw the jab but Hicken is out of range.
Hicken smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hicken moves out of range as James strikes.
James takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
James has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hicken moves away from the strike by James.
James throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
James throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hicken moves out of range of the strikes.
James throws a leg kick but Hicken checks it.
Hicken cracks James with an open hand slap.

Hicken instigates a clinch.
Hicken has a couple of punches blocked by James.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicken throws a head punch that misses.
Hicken taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hicken tries a body shot but James blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hicken dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bret Hicken's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James looks to land a left hand but Hicken moved out of range nicely.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
James throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hicken slips a jab from James.
Hicken digs a good body shot into James's ribs.
Hicken throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
Hicken slips a jab from James.
Hicken uses good head movement to avoid the hook from James.
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hicken to score with a decent uppercut.
James waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hicken.
James misses with a double jab
and Hicken makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
James throws out a loose jab but Hicken uses good head movement to avoid it.
James misses with a telegraphed body shot
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slow jab from James misses its intended target.

Hicken closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hicken breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hicken jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a jab when Hicken was well out of range.
James connects with a right hand. Hicken shakes it off.
Hicken cracks James with an open hand slap.
James loads up on a big right hand but Hicken slips the punch.
Hicken scores with a sloppy right hand. James should have avoided that one.
James is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Hicken's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.

Hicken pushes James up against the cage in a clinch.
Hicken is leaning against James and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hicken throws a head punch that misses.
Hicken prevents James from breaking the clinch.
Hicken lands a right hand.
Hicken misses with a body punch.
Hicken lands a left hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Hicken misses with the head strike.
Hicken doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hicken lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
James wants to get back to striking at distance but Hicken won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicken lands with a left to the head.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hicken works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hicken throws a head punch that misses.

Hicken breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
James throws a hook but Hicken avoids it easily.
James misses with a jab to the body
enabling Hicken to counter with a crisp jab.
James misses with a looping right.
A slow jab from James misses its intended target.
James throws a hook but Hicken blocks it.
A shot to the liver by Hicken. Beautiful body shot.
James misses the jab.
Hicken has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
James loads up on a big right hand but Hicken slips the punch.
Hicken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from James.
James connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicken throws a hook but James blocks it.
Hicken takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bret Hicken seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicken steps to the side to avoid the strikes from James.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hicken counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hicken moves out of range of the strikes.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hicken sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hicken swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by James.
Hicken ducks under a wild hook from James.
James takes a swing at Hicken's ribcage but misses.
Jab, jab by Hicken - just one landing.
Hicken lands an overhand right.
Hicken staying out of range there.
A jab from James misses.
Hicken swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by James.
James scores with a jab to the body.
James throws a body kick that misses.
James misses with a jab to the body
and Hicken counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicken slips under a jab.
James thuds a left hand into Hicken's body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A punch combination from James misses.
James throws a looping overhand right but Hicken ducks down to avoid it.
James misses with a straight right.
James tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hicken was well out of range. Poor timing from James.
A telegraphed right hand from James misses the target.
James misses with a straight right.
Hicken moves out of range as James strikes.
Hicken darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hicken slips under a jab.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hicken sees it coming and avoids it easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
James throws a combination that misses
and Hicken counters with a straight right hand.
Hicken defending well as James loads up on a big left hand.
Hicken misses with a wild body shot.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hicken showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bret Hicken's cut.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hicken throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hicken fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
James throws out a leg kick but Hicken moves out of range and James only half commits.
James throws a shot from downtown. Hicken moves away and avoids it.
Hicken staying out of range there.
James looks to land a left hand but Hicken moved out of range nicely.
Hicken scores with a jab.
James throws a big shot that misses.
James misses with a looping left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James throws out a loose jab but Hicken uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hicken throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. James was covering up waiting for the punch and Hicken finishes the takedown easily into guard.
James working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hicken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James keeping moving, preventing Hicken from controlling successfully.
James avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hicken trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hicken thows a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hicken throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as James works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hicken trying to control the position from guard on top but James is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hicken uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from James.
James throws a hook to the side of Hicken's head but Hicken sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
James misses with a looping right.
James slips under a jab.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hicken.
Kristobel James is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A big right from Hicken misses.
Hicken displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as James throws out the jab.
Hicken clobbers James with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
James looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Nice defenses there by Hicken.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from James.
James defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hicken.
James throws a big shot that misses.
James shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hicken slips under a jab from James.
Hicken uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
James attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
James moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
James takes a swing at Hicken's ribcage but misses.
James misses with a hook to the body
and Hicken counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hicken misses with a kick to the body.
An inside leg kick from James misses.
James throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hicken sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Hicken drives through and clinches with James against the cage.
Hicken lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt James or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicken avoiding damage.
Hicken continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Hicken lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Hicken.
Hicken scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Hicken misses with a body punch.
James tries to break free but Hicken pushes him back against the cage.
Hicken lands on the inside with an uppercut.
James prevents a body shot from Hicken.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Hicken tries a body shot but James blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hicken really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bret Hicken's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

James waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hicken.
Hicken tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hicken somewhat.
Hicken moves out of range of the strikes.
Hicken ducks under a wild hook from James.
James throws a jab when Hicken was well out of range.
James misses with a straight left.
James misses with a straight right.
James swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A big left from James misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hicken counters with a left to the body.
Hicken shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
James pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hicken walks into a straight right hand from James.
Jab from Hicken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James misses with an uppercut.
Hicken slips a jab from James.
Hicken misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
James tries a head kick but it misses.
James throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
James throws an overhand right that lands on Hicken's shoulder, as Hicken tries to avoid the shot.
James misses with an uppercut. Hicken saw that one coming.
James thows a left - swing and a miss!
James throws a big shot that misses.

Hicken clinches up against the cage.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hicken has him pressed against the cage.
James letting Hicken take a breather here.
Hicken tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hicken is stalling here.

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.
James blocks a body shot from Hicken.
Hicken makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Hicken.
Hicken misses with a short punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Hicken.
Hicken throws a head punch that misses.
Hicken throws a head punch that misses.
A short right from Hicken on the inside.
A short left from Hicken.
A head punch on the inside from Hicken fails to land.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Hicken has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicken slowing the pace effectively.
Hicken scores with a hook to the body.
Hicken digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Good body shot from Hicken.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hicken.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
Nice body punch from Hicken.
Hicken lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hicken is leaning against James and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hicken lands a nice shot to the body.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Hicken lands a left hand.
James takes a shot to the head.
Hicken lands a right hand.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hicken has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short left from Hicken.
Hicken swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hicken has James pressed against the cage.
James is trying to break the clinch but Hicken has him pressed against the cage.
Hicken lands with a light punch inside.
Hicken lands with a light punch inside.
James being controlled against the cage.
James wants to break free but Hicken has control.
James has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice left hand lands by Hicken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bret Hicken dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Bret Hicken'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. This is the final round!

James throws a hook to the side of Hicken's head but Hicken sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hicken moves out of range of the strikes.

Hicken closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
James working hard to break the clinch.
James blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hicken digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Hicken stalling the fight.
Hicken keeps the fight in the clinch, despite James's efforts to push away.
Hicken misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James blocks an uppercut.
James tries to break the clinch but Hicken is controlling the position.
Hicken stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hicken has James pressed against the cage, preventing James from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hicken lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James wants to break free but Hicken has control.
Hicken throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Hicken misses with the head strike.
Hicken doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hicken lands with a left to the head.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hicken - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hicken scores with a hook to the body.
Hicken effectively controlling the action here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hicken.
Hicken is pushing James up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicken works on James's body with a couple of short punches.
James tries to break free but Hicken pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Hicken fails to land.
A short right from Hicken.
James is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Hicken.
Hicken is working James over against the cage.
Hicken keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Hicken works on James's body with a couple of short punches.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Good body shot from Hicken.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hicken lands a body punch.
James takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hicken creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hicken works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hicken lands a left hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Hicken works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hicken creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hicken.
James is looking to break free of the clinch but Hicken has double underhooks.
Hicken lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hicken's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

James is rocked!
Still in the clinch, Hicken scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicken stalling in the clinch.
James looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hicken lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
James can't break the clinch.
James is trying to break free.
Bret Hicken is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hicken avoiding damage.
James wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hicken has him pressed against the cage.
Bret Hicken seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hicken pushes James back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by James.
Hicken lands a body shot.
Kristobel James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicken displaying some good clinch control by pressing James up against the cage.
James tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bret Hicken comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hicken 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 44:50
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 44:50
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 44:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bret Hicken!