PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Rapa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Bob Hick (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Rapa
vs
Bob Hick

193 cm
19
216 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

185 cm
30
210 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Fight Day Nutrition (Authentic 160Q/159Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pertti Rapa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Billy Bob Hick!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rapa connects with a leg kick. Hick looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rapa avoids a punch combination nicely.
Billy Bob Hick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hick gets a clinch.

Hick escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hick shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rapa is trying to defend but Hick finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rapa wants to improve his position but Hick is controlling well.
Hick is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rapa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Rapa actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Rapa tries to roll over but Hick keeps him under control.
It looks like Hick is going to stand back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hick is pressing down on Rapa's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rapa is holding on for now.
Hick is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Rapa is looking to control Hick's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rapa avoid being mounted?
Rapa wants to improve his position but Hick is controlling well.
Hick performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rapa gets full guard.
Hick pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rapa is keeping the position for now.
Hick slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Billy Bob Hick wasn't active enough on the ground.
Rapa misses with a low kick as Hick jumps back.
Hick just misses with a punch to the body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rapa enables Hick to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rapa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Rapa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hick defends it easily.
Hick sitting in guard, not really doing much.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hick looking to pass the guard.
Hick slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Billy Bob Hick has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Hick feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Rapa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hick doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hick manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Hick stands up and waves to Rapa to follow him.
Rapa pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rapa looks to land a body kick but Hick moved away.
Rapa thows a body shot but no joy.
Rapa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hick misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rapa tries to clinch but Hick moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rapa enables Hick to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rapa manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
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!
Hick is stalling in the full guard.

Hick gets to his feet - Rapa follows without any prompting.
Rapa looks to land a body kick but Hick moved away.
Rapa tries to clinch up.
Hick lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Rapa backs up against the ropes.

Hick shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hick seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rapa is looking to improve his position.
It looks like Hick is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Bob Hick dominated that 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.

Rapa lands a leg kick that knocks Hick off balance momentarily.
Hick lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rapa circles away quickly and effectively.
Hick goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Hick misses with a two punch combination.
Rapa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hick uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rapa.
Rapa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rapa throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Hick stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rapa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hick displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rapa throws out the jab.
Rapa misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rapa throws out a leg kick but Hick moves out of range and Rapa only half commits.
A shot to the body from Hick misses
and Rapa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hick moves out of range of the body kick from Rapa.

Hick drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapa keeping full guard, as Hick tries to pass.
Rapa 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.

Rapa is looking for a triangle but Hick pushes his legs off easily.
Hick stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rapa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rapa has a closed guard, preventing Hick from standing up.

Rapa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hick can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hick controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hick wants to get up but he can't break Rapa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rapa looking for subs off his back but Hick has passed one foot through into half guard.
Hick tries to pass to full mount but Rapa defends it.
Rapa is looking to improve his position.
Rapa is trying to stand back up but Hick is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapa won't allow Hick to pass to mount.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Rapa trying to get back to full guard but Hick takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Rapa tries to hold on but Hick pushes him away.
Rapa tries to reverse the position but Hick maintains control.

Hick stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Hick instigates a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Hick has Rapa pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hick pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Rapa tumbling to the mat - Hick dives into Rapa's guard.
Hick slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hick wants to get up but he can't break Rapa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hick content to stall in guard here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Rapa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hick got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rapa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hick has managed to get both his arms back between Rapa's legs - danger averted.
Hick stays in close to Rapa's body and controls the position.

Rapa is working an open guard so Hick takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hick rushes Rapa and presses him up against the ropes.
Rapa stalling in the clinch but Hick improves position.
Maybe Rapa would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Bob Hick 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! This is the final round!

Hick shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hick must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hick controlling from the top position.

Rapa is working an open guard so Hick takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rapa moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Hick blocks the leg kick.

Hick closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hick lands in his opponent's guard.

Rapa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Hick stands and steps away. Rapa gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Rapa.

Hick shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rapa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A lull in the action here.
Hick misses with the ground and pound.
Hick happy to just control the position for now.

Hick stands up and we're back to a striking position.
A punch combination from Hick misses.
Rapa throws a leg kick but Hick sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rapa tries to clinch up but Hick circles away and keeps his distance.
Pertti Rapa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hick throws a body kick that misses.
Rapa throws a body punch but Hick moves out of range.
Billy Bob Hick is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hick throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Rapa tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hick is in Rapa's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hick is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Rapa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hick trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rapa's guard.
Hick stands and throws Rapa's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hick stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hick scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hick lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rapa at a distance.
Hick scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Hick drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hick looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rapa looking for a sweep. Not yet Rapa, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hick got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rapa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hick has managed to get both his arms back between Rapa's legs - danger averted.
Billy Bob Hick is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rapa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hick stands up from Rapa's guard - Hick perhaps looking for a knockout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hick.
Hick moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Bob Hick comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hick 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Billy Bob Hick!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Billy Bob Hick!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Billy Bob Hick!

Billy Bob Hick wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Billy Bob Hick gave a big smile as he said 'Thanks to my sponsors and my great fans!'.