PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Matt Hickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bruno Belanger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Belanger has chosen morbid ange l- immortal rights as his entrance music. Bruno Belanger is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hickson
vs
Belanger

176 cm
19
157 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

179 cm
24
142 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Hickson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bruno Belanger!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Alec Ball and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belanger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hickson circles away.
Matt Hickson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hickson closes the distance but Belanger moves to the side
and Belanger counters with a straight right hand.
Hickson's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Belanger connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hickson scrambles back to his feet.
Belanger works over Hickson's head and body with a nice combination.
Hickson blocks a head kick by Belanger.

Hickson dives in and scores a takedown into Belanger's guard.
Belanger is looking to stand up but Hickson isn't so interested in that idea.
Hickson scoring with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hickson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Belanger tries to buck Hickson off but Hickson is having none of it.

Hickson stands up and beckons Belanger to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belanger throws a hook but Hickson avoids it easily.
Hickson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Belanger counters with a nice uppercut.
Hickson ducks under a wild hook from Belanger.
Hickson shoots in for a double leg but Belanger sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hickson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickson tries to clinch
and Belanger cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hickson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Belanger counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Belanger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hickson wants to hit a switch here but Belanger passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hickson there!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickson tries to lock up and control but Belanger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hickson is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Hickson is looking to improve his position but Belanger isn't that keen on the idea.
Belanger is landing with some decent strikes but Hickson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hickson tries to lock up and control but Belanger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hickson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hickson is trying to stand up here but Belanger is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belanger throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hickson wants to improve his position but Belanger is controlling well.
Belanger throwing shots but Hickson is blocking nicely.
Hickson is trying to control but can't.
Hickson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belanger.
Belanger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hickson defending well though.
Belanger throwing shots but Hickson is blocking nicely.
Hickson is trying to stand up here but Belanger is controlling him well.

Hickson actively working from the bottom here.
Hickson is breathing heavily.
Belanger is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Hickson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Belanger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hickson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Belanger is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hickson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hickson content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Belanger dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hickson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hickson misses with a combination
and Belanger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Belanger throws a lazy right hand but Hickson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Belanger stuffs the takedown attempt from Hickson. Hickson gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hickson tries to clinch up
and Belanger counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Matt Hickson has been cut.
Hickson looks to score with a jab to the body but Belanger is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Belanger counters with a straight right hand.
A combination from Belanger does no damage.
Hickson shoots for a takedown but Belanger saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Belanger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Belanger dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hickson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Belanger paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hickson tries for a takedown but Belanger circles away easily
letting Belanger counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Hickson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Belanger scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hickson doesn't seem bothered though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belanger throws a sloppy head kick and Hickson moves out of range easily.
Belanger lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hickson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Belanger counters with a nice uppercut.

Belanger throws a left that rocks Hickson and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Belanger dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Hickson regain composure!

Hickson is rocked!
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!
Belanger prevents Hickson from escaping the position.
Oh Hickson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hickson seems to have got his legs back now.
Hickson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Belanger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickson is looking for a sweep.
Belanger looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hickson is avoiding damage well.
Hickson manages to work his way to half guard, despite Belanger's best efforts.
Belanger lands strikes from half guard.
Belanger slips a nice elbow through Hickson's hands, connecting with Hickson's forehead.
Hickson is trying to get back to full guard.
Belanger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hickson's head.

Hickson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hickson trying to control here.
Belanger tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hickson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four 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.
Hickson trying to control here.
Belanger scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hickson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Belanger's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Belanger's back!
Hickson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Belanger looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Belanger defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Belanger rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bruno Belanger showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Hickson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hickson swings widly with a right hand
and Belanger counters with a nice uppercut.

Hickson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Belanger quickly recovers to half guard.
Belanger looks like he's trying to stand up.
Belanger scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Hickson manages to mount him!
Hickson controlling from mount.
Hickson scoring with strikes but Belanger is staying in there.
Belanger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Belanger keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hickson controlling from mount.
Belanger is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Belanger tries to buck Hickson off but he can't manage it.
Hickson controlling the position easily from mount.
Hickson working Belanger over with strikes here.
Belanger tries to reverse the position but Hickson maintains control.

Hickson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Belanger to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Belanger shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Belanger is wriggling around trying to escape.

Hickson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Belanger bucks Hickson off and manages to get back to his feet!
Bruno Belanger seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Belanger scores with a takedown into Hickson's guard.

Belanger avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Belanger trying to move into half guard but instead Hickson has managed to sweep!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belanger looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hickson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hickson stops Belanger from standing up.
Belanger keeping moving, preventing Hickson from controlling successfully.

Belanger looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hickson passes into side control.
Belanger is not content to let Hickson control the position.

That's four 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.
Belanger taking a bit of punishment here - Hickson scoring with strikes.
Belanger sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hickson working Belanger over with strikes.
Hickson frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Hickson controlling his opponent.
Hickson with good strikes from the mount here!
Matt Hickson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruno Belanger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belanger is trying desperately to improve position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hickson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Belanger has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruno Belanger!