PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rickie Lambert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). George Hicks looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Lambert
vs
Hicks

193 cm
18
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rickie Lambert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, George Hicks!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lambert tries for a takedown but Hicks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lambert tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hicks swivels and escapes.
Lambert is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hicks dodges the punch combination from Lambert.
Lambert throws a combination that misses

and Hicks moves into the clinch.
Hicks controlling the action here for a moment.
Hicks gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lambert.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickie Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lambert goes for a takedown attempt but Hicks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Hicks misses.
Hicks lands a head shot.
Hicks slips a jab and a cross from Lambert.
Lambert fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hicks circles away.
George Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lambert throws a series of punches but Hicks avoids them all with ease.
Hicks shoots in for a double leg but Lambert sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hicks keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hicks's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lambert under the eye.
Lambert fails with a takedown attempt.

Hicks gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lambert is breathing heavily.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Lambert missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lambert postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hicks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lambert postures up.
Lambert throws a strike but Hicks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hicks controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks passes Lambert's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lambert pushes Hicks off looking to stand but Hicks dives back in and keeps control.
Hicks seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lambert does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lambert is looking for a sweep. Hicks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hicks decides to return to a standing position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicks fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hicks scores with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but George Hicks will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lambert misses the shot to the body.
Hicks is looking to clinch.
Lambert shoots for a double leg takedown but Hicks sprawls well. He's pushed Lambert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Lambert dives in and scores a takedown into Hicks's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lambert connects with a couple of short punches.
Lambert wants to pass the guard but Hicks is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lambert throws a big right hand that misses.

Hicks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hicks has a closed guard, preventing Lambert from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks wants to stand but Lambert is controlling the position.
Lambert throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hicks is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hicks looking for a takedown.
Hicks is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks misses with a punch to the body.
Lambert is trying to pull guard but Hicks turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Lambert has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Hicks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lambert.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickie Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks has a takedown stuffed.
Lambert lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hicks at a distance.
Lambert fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hicks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lambert throws a series of punches but Hicks avoids them all with ease.
Lambert looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hicks is fending him off so far but Lambert persists. Nope, Hicks circles away and we're back to standing.
Lambert fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hicks avoids it really well and circles away.

Hicks is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lambert's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hicks is working for a kimura here but Lambert manages to reverse the position and he's now in Hicks's guard.
Lambert will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lambert would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lambert decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicks tries to bum rush Lambert with a series of wild strikes but Lambert uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Rickie Lambert will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hicks lands a nice looking body shot.
Hicks misses with a head kick.
Lambert fails with the takedown.
Rickie Lambert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lambert.
Lambert looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickie Lambert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hicks misses the shot to the body.
Lambert will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lambert misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lambert misses with a takedown attempt
and Hicks counters with a straight right hand.
No luck for Hicks with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks looks to land a combination but Lambert avoids it well.
Hicks punishes Lambert's body with a nice straight punch.
Lambert shoots for a double leg takedown but Hicks sprawls well. He's pushed Lambert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No luck for Lambert with that takedown attempt.
Hicks shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lambert pinned against the cage. Lambert gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hicks throws a one two combo.
Lambert fails to land the takedown.
Hicks lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambert takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hicks's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hicks duly obliges.
Lambert fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hicks avoids it really well and circles away.
Hicks misses with a straight right.
Lambert shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hicks as he jumps to the side.
Hicks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lambert sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambert fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hicks avoids it really well and circles away.
Hicks lands a jab.
Hicks throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lambert.
That kick from Hicks tenderised Lambert's leg. Lambert is trying to keep his angry face on.
Lambert misses with a takedown attempt - Hicks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Hicks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hicks is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hicks stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Lambert to get to his feet.
Lambert takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Lambert blocks a head kick by Hicks.
Hicks stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hicks wants it to stay on the feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lambert looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hicks is fending him off so far but Lambert persists. Nope, Hicks circles away and we're back to standing.
Lambert slaps away a takedown attempt from Hicks, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hicks thows a body kick. Lambert tries to catch it but that hurt him.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hicks 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 James Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Hicks!