PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between QL Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Blair (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that QL Hicks has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily QL Hicks seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Hicks
vs
Blair

183 cm
27
186 lbs
14 - 7 - 1

197 cm
31
192 lbs
21 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 14 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, QL Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Jimmy Blair!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Blair missing with a left hand there. Hicks was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Blair throws out a loose jab but Hicks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hicks shoots in but no luck this time.
Blair digs a good hook to Hicks's body.
A slow jab from Blair misses its intended target.
Hicks shoots in but Blair avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hicks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blair throws out the jab.
Blair lands a high kick!
Hicks shoots for a double leg takedown but Blair sprawls well. He's pushed Hicks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for QL Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blair throws a good cross that connects.
Hicks slips under a jab.
Hicks with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Blair to counter with a crisp jab.
Blair swings for the body but Hicks moves out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hicks is defended easily by Blair.
Blair rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hicks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
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!
Jab from Blair.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hicks.
Hicks dodges the punch combination from Blair.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Blair both land. Nice combination.
Blair stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Blair wants it to stay on the feet.
Hicks takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Blair misses with a wild combination.
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt
and Blair counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice sprawl there from Blair as Hicks shoots in.
Hicks is breathing heavily.
Hicks ducks under a wild hook from Blair.
Blair misses with a looping left.
Blair lands with an uppercut that bounces Hicks off the cage and back into range.
Hicks has his takedown stuffed
and Blair counters with a nice body shot.
Hicks avoids the body shot from Blair.
Hicks has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Blair finds it's way round the side to connect with Hicks's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Horrible takedown by Hicks or perhaps it was just good defense by Blair which made him look bad.
Blair throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
Blair lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Blair throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Blair scores with a three punch combo!
Hicks slips under a jab.
A swing and a miss from Blair.
A decent looking cross lands there for Blair.
Hicks closes the distance and clinches up with Blair, looking for a takedown. Hicks pushes Blair against the cage but Blair circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hicks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Blair.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Hicks. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Hicks will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Blair lands a nice shot to the body.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blair sprawls well. Blair wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hicks gets slowly back to his feet.
Hicks fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blair thuds his right hand into Hicks's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hicks with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Blair to score with a decent uppercut.
Blair misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Blair misses with a straight left.
Blair lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Hicks shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hicks thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Hicks looking to finish with strikes here!
Hicks with good strikes from the mount here!
The referee warns Blair that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Blair is wriggling around trying to escape.

Hicks is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Blair to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Blair shrugs it off.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Blair blocking the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Blair avoids a series of strikes thrown by Hicks.
Blair is working to get back to half guard.
You get the feeling that Blair really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Blair really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hicks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hicks postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Blair looks a forlorn figure.
Hicks thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Hicks looking to control but Blair is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Blair is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hicks unloads with some shots from mount but Blair bucks and avoids them well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Blair dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hicks cracks Blair with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hicks has his takedown stuffed
and Blair counters with a left to the body.
Blair stuffs the takedown.
Hicks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for QL Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Blair cracks Hicks with an open hand slap.
Blair slaps away a takedown attempt from Hicks, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Blair sprawls well. Blair wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hicks gets slowly back to his feet.
Hicks moves away from the strike by Blair.
Hicks needs to keep his hands up - Blair had a free shot at his head there.
A lazy left from Blair finds it's target.
Blair lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hicks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Blair pinned against the cage. Blair gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hicks steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Blair.
Jimmy Blair is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blair lands a nice shot that snaps Hicks's head back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hicks drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hicks with a nice head shot there.
Hicks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hicks has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Blair trying to control the position.
Blair is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Blair utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Blair can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hicks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hicks thows a big elbow that misses.
Hicks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hicks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks throws a big right hand that misses.
Blair has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hicks preventing the sweep.
Blair not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hicks thows a big elbow that misses.
Blair working a defensive guard here.

Jimmy Blair has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Blair throws a jab but it's blocked by Hicks.
Blair works Hicks's body with a nice hook.
Blair slaps away a takedown attempt from Hicks, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hicks throws out a powerful jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Blair circles away.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Hicks or perhaps it was just good defense by Blair which made him look bad.
Blair pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.
Blair has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hicks avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hicks drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Blair fails to land with a series of punches.
Blair fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hicks manages to avoid it.
Hicks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jab by Blair.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks shoots in and drives through. Blair sprawls well.
Jimmy Blair seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Blair lands with a hook. Hicks tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Blair thuds his right hand into Hicks's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hicks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Blair sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fighters circling - Blair throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Blair throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Blair slips a jab and a cross from Hicks.
Nice sprawl there from Blair as Hicks shoots in.
Nice uppercut there from Blair.
Blair works the jab nicely.
Blair moves into range and connects with a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Blair dips to his left and cracks Hicks with an uppercut!
Blair throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Blair throws a shot from downtown. Hicks moves away and avoids it.
Blair throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Blair showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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 displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Blair throws out the jab.
Blair scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
QL Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks takes a swing at Blair's ribcage but misses.
Hicks fails to land the takedown.
Hicks dives in and grabs Blair's left leg, looking for a takedown. Blair pushes down on Hicks's head and hops out.
Blair scores with a jab to the jaw.

Hicks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hicks tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hicks misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Blair is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Blair takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Blair defending against the ground and pound.
Hicks scoring with punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blair is pushing Hicks's head away, looking to escape. Hicks manages to hold on to the position though.
Hicks with the ground and pound but Blair regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Hicks prevents Blair from standing back up.
Hicks seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hicks throwing shots but Blair is blocking nicely.

Hicks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hicks throwing shots but Blair is blocking nicely.
QL Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Blair tries to roll over but Hicks keeps him under control.
Hicks throwing shots but Blair is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Blair defending well though.
Hicks missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hicks is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Hicks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hicks prevents Blair from improving his position.
Hicks not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hicks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Blair tries to get to full guard but Hicks has control of the leg.
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!
Blair trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Blair!
Hicks lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Blair is in a horrible position here. Hicks smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hicks lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hicks avoids the attempt from Blair to control.
Hicks landing strikes from the mount.
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 avoids the attempt from Blair to control.
Hicks working Blair over with strikes here.
QL Hicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Blair looks a forlorn figure.
Hicks raining down shots from the mount!

Hicks has hold of Blair's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Blair manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Blair regains half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hicks thows a huge punch but Blair dodges it nicely.
Hicks looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Blair with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Hicks is looking for a kimura but Blair is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hicks to get the leverage.

And that's the end of the fight!
QL Hicks showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blair 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 Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jimmy Blair!