PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Dawson's choice of entrance music: m.A.A.d city. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Hicks
vs
Dawson

177 cm
20
157 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

178 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryan Dawson!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawson scores with a jab to the head.
Hicks darts in trying to clinch

and Dawson counters with a single leg into guard. Hicks didn't expect that.
Dawson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hicks is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hicks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dawson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dawson postures up.
Dawson is looking to stand up but Hicks won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Hicks escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dawson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dawson wanted to stand there but Hicks had control of the position.
Dawson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hicks working a defensive guard but Dawson manages to pass into side control anyway.
Hicks tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dawson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks seems a little lost for a moment, as Dawson dominates the positioning.

Dawson stands up.
Dawson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hicks.
Dawson scores with a jab to the body.

Dawson clinches up against the cage.

Dawson breaks the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Dawson clinches up with Hicks and pushes him back against the cage.

Dawson breaks the clinch.
Dawson throws a nice head kick!
Dawson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Hicks is breathing heavily.

Dawson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dawson tries for a kimura but Hicks is defending well.
Dawson tries to get to his feet but Hicks is in the middle of advancing position himself and ends up with Dawson in his guard.

Hicks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dawson defends well.
Dawson wants to stand but Hicks has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Hicks throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson is looking to stand up but Hicks won't let him.
Hicks 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.

Dawson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dawson being controlled here momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dawson working some strikes from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dawson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hicks's guard.

Hicks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dawson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Hicks has an active guard here but Dawson has managed to pass into half guard.

Hicks looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dawson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hicks tries to roll over but Dawson keeps him under control.
Dawson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson controlling the action here.
Dawson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dawson wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hicks looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Hicks.
Dawson 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.
Dawson prevents Hicks from improving his position.
Dawson trying to control the pace.
Dawson lands with a punch from half guard.
Dawson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ryan Dawson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is trying to maintain the position but Dawson is very close to passing his half guard.

Dawson escapes and gets back to his feet.

Dawson closes the distance and clinches.
Dawson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hicks.
Dawson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Dawson has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hicks clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Dawson slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks tries to break free.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Dawson. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dawson is riding his opponent, not letting Hicks buck him off.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Let's hope that Dawson has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hicks rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Dawson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hicks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dawson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hicks misses with a low kick as Dawson jumps back.
Dawson misses with a few strikes there.
Hicks throws a low kick, looking for Dawson's leg but Dawson calmly moves out of range.
Dawson has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Hicks is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Hicks wants to clinch.

Dawson closes the distance and clinches.

Dawson has clasped his hands together around Hicks's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Hicks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dawson blocks the strikes from Hicks.

Hicks looking for submissions off his back.
Dawson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hicks with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dawson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hicks manages to get to full guard.
Hicks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dawson wanted to stand there but Hicks had control of the position.
Tony Hicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dawson postures up.

Dawson stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Dawson dives in and scores a takedown into Hicks's guard.
Dawson controls from within his opponent's guard.
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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Ryan Dawson.
Hicks takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hicks is looking to clinch but Dawson is avoiding it.
Hicks buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

Dawson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hicks's guard.
Dawson wants to get up but he can't break Hicks's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Hicks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dawson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Dawson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dawson gets to his feet. Hicks looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hicks looks to land a body kick but Dawson moved away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hicks on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Dawson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Dawson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Dawson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dawson 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Dawson!
During a confident post fight interview, Ryan Dawson thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.