PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bill Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melekh David (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hicks comes to the cage accompanied by Bang Your Head. Bill Hicks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hicks
vs
David

174 cm
34
155 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

170 cm
24
154 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Charlie Wang's Tattered Rags & 95% Laundry

CEC Nutrition Q159 (*$75*)
Mango Nutrition (90% Laundry)

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bill Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melekh David!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
David throws the left hand but Hicks avoids the punch easily.
Hicks lands a slapping body shot.
Hicks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from David.
Hicks tries to clinch but David is having none of it.
Hicks takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hicks staying out of range there.
David connects with a crisp jab.
David displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hicks.
Hicks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
David misses with a straight left.

David instigates a clinch.
Hicks is trying to stall.
David works on Hicks's body with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hicks tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hicks misses with a punch on the inside.
Hicks tried to land a shot to the body but connects with David's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

David breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hicks misses with a body shot.

David forces Hicks back against the cage and clinches.
David tries for a takedown but Hicks manages to get underhooks.
Hicks is working for takedown but David is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hicks is looking to control David's arms but David gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hicks has his back to the cage.
Hicks presses David against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
David is trying to break free.
Hicks throws a punch but it's blocked by David.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by David as Hicks tries to tie him up.

David pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hicks misses with a straight left.

Hicks rushes David and presses him up against the cage.
Hicks tries to stall but David uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hicks tries to throw a body punch but David avoids it by throwing Hicks back against the cage.
Hicks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Davids head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David can't get the takedown.

David drags the fight down to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
David controlling Hicks's posture.
Hicks postures up in David's guard and throws a big left but David blocks it.
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.
David looking to control but Hicks passes into half guard.
Hicks wants to control but David is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
David makes his way to full guard. A much better position for David.
Hicks wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.
Hicks works over David with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.
Hicks throwing strikes but missing.
Hicks wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.
Hicks tries to free his leg and advance position but David is retaining full guard.
David wants to sweep but no luck.
David working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hicks.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but David is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hicks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
David wants to sweep but no luck.

David has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hicks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
David looking to control.
Hicks works over David with some ground and pound from guard.
David keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.
Hicks advances position into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
David is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hicks controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bill Hicks will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hicks thows a body shot but no joy.
David takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A telegraphed right hand from David misses the target.
David rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hicks moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

David has closed the distance and engaged Hicks in a clinch.

Hicks is trying to trip David. He has hold of a leg but David is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Hicks persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Hicks is pushing down on David's leg trying to pass to half guard. David is fighting to maintain full guard but Hicks has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hicks wants to take a breather but David is having none of it.
David tries to roll over but Hicks keeps him under control.
Hicks tries to pass the half guard into mount. David knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hicks wants to control but David is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
David is not content to let Hicks control the position.
David is pressing down on Hicks's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Hicks trying to control but David is working from the bottom.
Hicks forces his way into half guard.
David controlling the position for now.
David trying to control but Hicks postures up.
Hicks thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed David's head.
David wants to improve his position but Hicks is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David makes his way to full guard. A much better position for David.
Hicks wants to pass the guard but David is keeping the position.
Hicks throws a big right hand that misses.
Bill Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hicks pushing down on David's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Hicks is just content to waste time from the top position. David takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hicks won't allow David to sweep him here.
David looking to control.
David working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Hicks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
David has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
David working a defensive guard here.
David keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
David staying out of range there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. David looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hicks works the jab nicely.

David rushes Hicks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Hicks stalling against the cage.
Nice body punch from David - that landed with a thud.
David is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
David misses with a punch to the body.
Hicks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt David or not.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hicks misses with a body punch.
David scores with a shot to the side of Hicks's head.
David wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hicks stalling in the clinch but David improves position.
A right hand to the body from Hicks.
Hicks throws a punch but it's blocked by David.
David lands with a right to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Hicks dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hicks closes the distance but David moves to the side
and Hicks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
David lands a jab-cross combination.
Melekh David is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hicks takes a swing at David's ribcage but misses.
The fighters circling - David throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hicks swings for the body but David moves out of range.
A combination from David does no damage.
Hicks moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Hicks lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hicks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hicks misses the shot to the body.
Hicks misses with a wild body shot.
Hicks bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of David's head.
David misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hicks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from David.
Bill Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks lands with an uppercut that bounces David off the cage and back into range.
Melekh David seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicks misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from David.
Hicks thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from David misses the target.

David pushes Hicks up against the cage in a clinch.
Hicks tries a body shot but David blocks it.
Hicks tries for a takedown but David manages to get underhooks.
Hicks has a couple of punches blocked by David.
Hicks lands a hook that snaps the head of David backwards.
David lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hicks can't find room to land a body shot as David controls the action.
A shot in the inside from Hicks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Melekh David has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
David is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hicks effectively controlling the action here.
A short left from David.
Hicks pushes David back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hicks wants to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
David wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hicks has him pressed against the cage.

David breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

David gets caught napping as Hicks dives in and scores a takedown. David manages to retain guard.
David not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
David is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
David is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hicks wants to control from the top but David keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Melekh David hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
David just misses with a punch to the body.
David throws an overhand right that lands on Hicks's shoulder, as Hicks tries to avoid the shot.
Hicks throws a jab when David was well out of range.
Hicks tries to clinch but David moves away
and David counters with a nice uppercut.
David avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hicks is defended easily by David.
Hicks misses with a hook to the body
and David counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Hicks is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks moves in looking to clinch but David pushes him off.

David has closed the distance and engaged Hicks in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hicks is trying to work for a single leg takedown but David pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bill Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A shot in the inside from David.
Oh Hicks is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

David's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
David uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hicks.
Nice defenses there by Hicks.
Hicks seems to have got his legs back now.
A slow jab from Hicks misses its intended target.
David lands the left hand.
Hicks misses with an uppercut. David saw that one coming.
David misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hicks tries for a takedown but David sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hicks lands with a straight right. David didn't see that one coming.
Bill Hicks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
David throws a looping overhand right but Hicks ducks down to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Melekh David.
I think Hicks 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 William Peck scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bill Hicks!
A very excited looking Bill Hicks made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.