PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Claude Harper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and QL Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Harper
vs
Hicks

193 cm
23
193 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
186 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Asphyxiation Ltd.
Asphyxiation Ltd.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Claude Harper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, QL Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Harper as he avoids it easily.
Hicks moves out of range as Harper strikes.
Harper scores with a sloppy right hand. Hicks should have avoided that one.
A telegraphed right hand from Hicks misses the target.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
Harper tries a low kick but Hicks avoids it.
Hicks with a poor takedown
and Harper counters with a slapping leg kick.
Claude Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of QL Hicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harper throws a series of punches but Hicks avoids them all with ease.
Hicks misses with a takedown
enabling Harper to counter with a crisp jab.
Hicks moves out of range as Harper strikes.
Hicks shoots in looking for a takedown. Harper tries to sprawl out of it but Hicks keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Harper manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Harper throws a right hand that Hicks ducks under and follows up with a left that Hicks also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Claude Harper is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hicks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Harper avoids it really well and circles away.
Hicks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Hicks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hicks is landing with some decent strikes but Harper is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Harper is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks throwing strikes here but Harper is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hicks 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.
Harper tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Harper bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Harper passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hicks is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hicks wants to improve his position but Harper is controlling well.
Harper wants to pass the guard but Hicks is defending well.

Hicks actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to improve his position.
Harper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hicks slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hicks trying to control the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Harper gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Harper gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hicks misses with a double jab
and Harper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but QL Hicks will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hicks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Harper throws out the jab.
Hicks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Harper connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hicks shoots in for a double leg but Harper sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hicks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Harper moves away.
Harper misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hicks.
Harper misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Harper makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Claude Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of QL Hicks.
Harper displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hicks.
Harper lands a jab.
Harper slaps away a takedown attempt from Hicks, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks with a poor takedown
and Harper counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hicks misses with a takedown
and Harper cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Harper lands a slapping body shot.
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hicks is breathing heavily.
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!
Hicks with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harper counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Harper tries a low kick but Hicks avoids it.
Claude Harper is winning the standup battle so far.
Harper scores with the left hand. Hicks knows he should have avoided that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harper throws a series of strikes that have Hicks backpedaling.
Harper stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hicks shoots in looking for a takedown but Harper manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hicks's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hicks fails with the takedown
letting Harper counter with a right hand.
Harper throws a right hand that Hicks ducks under and follows up with a left that Hicks also avoids with ease.
Harper ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hicks moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harper tries to land a leg kick but Hicks saw it coming and moves away.
Harper motions for Hicks to come forward. Harper throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hicks fails with the takedown
and Hicks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hicks misses with a takedown
and Harper counters with an inside leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harper moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Claude Harper dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! 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.

Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
Harper wants to land a leg kick but Hicks is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown but Harper shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A shot to the liver by Hicks. Beautiful body shot.
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt
and Harper connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Claude Harper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of QL Hicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Harper connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
Hicks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hicks shoots and misses
and Harper counters with a thumping low kick.
Harper misses with a low kick as Hicks jumps back.
Claude Harper is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hicks shoots and misses
enabling Harper to counter with a crisp jab.
Harper lands with a straight right. Hicks didn't see that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harper scores with a nice right hand.
Hicks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hicks dodges the punch combination from Harper.
Harper thows a left - swing and a miss!
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!
Harper missing with a left hand there. Hicks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hicks is defended easily by Harper.
Harper looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hicks attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Harper is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Harper misses with a double jab.
Harper throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks with a poor takedown
and Harper counters with a three punch combo that has Hicks backing up. Hicks nods at Harper to acknowledge the strikes.
Harper lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hicks with a lazy takedown attempt
and Harper counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt
and Harper counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hicks has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Harper leaves Hicks with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Harper connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

And that's the end of the fight!
Claude Harper showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Harper has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claude Harper!
A pretty intense looking Claude Harper took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.