PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxwell Hickman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Poppy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Hickman
vs
Poppy

181 cm
25
235 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

200 cm
25
265 lbs
9 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Maxwell Hickman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Nick Poppy!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Shirou Masuda and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poppy walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Hickman checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hickman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Poppy sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hickman somewhat.
Poppy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hickman.

Poppy shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Hickman looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Poppy wants to free his trapped foot but Hickman is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Poppy seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hickman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hickman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Poppy is working for a kimura but Hickman is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poppy is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hickman sees it coming and defends easily.
Hickman wants to control but Poppy is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Poppy is working for a kimura but Hickman is defending it quite comfortably.

Poppy is trying to work for a kimura but Hickman is defending well.
Poppy is trying to control the action in half guard but Hickman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickman striking from the bottom.
Poppy is trying to control the action in half guard but Hickman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hickman tries to get to full guard but Poppy has control of the leg.
Poppy controlling the action here.
Hickman tries to roll over but Poppy keeps him under control.
Hickman is staying active underneath Poppy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hickman keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Nick Poppy wasn't active enough on the ground.
Poppy pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hickman is out of range and Poppy settles back down.
Hickman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poppy.
Poppy misses with a looping left.
Nick Poppy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hickman tries to clinch but Poppy moves out of range.
Hickman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Poppy paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A clash of legs there as Hickman blocks the low kick.
Hickman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Poppy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hickman on his heels. He'll look to pass Hickman's guard now, I'm sure.
Hickman is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Poppy stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hickman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hickman keeping moving, preventing Poppy from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickman is looking to stand up but Poppy isn't so interested in that idea.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hickman is on top in guard.
Poppy lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hickman!

Poppy jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Hickman is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Hickman and Poppy has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hickman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Poppy dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Poppy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Poppy misses with a low kick.
Poppy throws a hook but Hickman avoids it easily.

Hickman throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Poppy was covering up waiting for the punch and Hickman finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hickman is looking to stand up but Poppy won't let him.
Hickman passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Poppy can't do much from the bottom here.
Poppy is looking to reverse the position.
Hickman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poppy keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poppy managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hickman.
Hickman trying to control the position but Poppy is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poppy sneaks back into half guard.
Poppy wants to improve his position but Hickman is controlling well.
Hickman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Poppy keeps working.
Hickman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Poppy with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hickman wants to pass to mount but Poppy is defending the position.
Hickman wants to control but Poppy is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hickman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Poppy is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hickman is nestled in close to Poppy, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Poppy actively working from the bottom here.
Poppy trying to hold on to Hickman's head to control him but Hickman postures up.
Hickman seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Poppy is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hickman pulls his head out easily.
Hickman wants to control but Poppy is keeping him busy.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hickman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hickman wants to control but Poppy is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickman is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Poppy manages to get to full guard.
Poppy bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hickman's guard.
Hickman is trying to keep Poppy in close.
Hickman manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Poppy manages to get himself to full guard.
Poppy is trying to control the position but Hickman postures up.
Hickman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hickman trying to control but Poppy is working from the bottom.
Hickman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Maxwell Hickman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hickman shoots and misses
and Poppy counters with an inside leg kick.
Hickman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Poppy manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hickman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hickman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Poppy takes a swing at Hickman's ribcage but misses.
A leg kick checked by Hickman.
Nice sprawl there from Poppy as Hickman shoots in.
Poppy throws a low kick, looking for Hickman's leg but Hickman calmly moves out of range.
Poppy misses with a leg kick.
Hickman shoots in for a double leg but Poppy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxwell Hickman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hickman shoots in for a takedown but Poppy shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hickman checks a low kick from Poppy.

Hickman looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Hickman dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hickman tries to clinch up but Poppy circles away and keeps his distance.
Hickman fails to land the takedown.
Poppy does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Hickman blocks a low kick nicely.
Hickman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Some bone on bone action there as Hickman checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hickman is looking to clinch.
Hickman moves out of range of the strikes.
Hickman tries to clinch up but Poppy circles away and keeps his distance.
Hickman blocks a low kick nicely.
Poppy circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hickman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Poppy counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Poppy.
Poppy prevents Hickman from getting back to his feet.
Poppy trying to control but Hickman is working from the bottom.
Poppy works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Poppy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Poppy is working for a guillotine from mount but Hickman frees his head quite easily.
Hickman tries to lock up and control but Poppy gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickman tries to reverse the position but Poppy maintains control.
Poppy is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Hickman is in real trouble.
Poppy controlling well, preventing Hickman from escaping the position.

Poppy tightening his grip on Hickman, looking for the choke.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hickman tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hickman swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickman is trying to escape the mount.
Poppy mounts Hickman! Really nice guard pass there!

Poppy looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Hickman is desperately trying to improve his position but Poppy has a good base and remains in mount.
Poppy looking to control but Hickman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Poppy moves to the back.

Poppy patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickman trying to control the hands but Poppy breaks the grip.
Nick Poppy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hickman has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Hickman is trying to break free.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Poppy is not going to allow Hickman to sit and survive in this position.
Poppy is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Poppy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Poppy 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Poppy! Nick Poppy retains his heavyweight title!