PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stevie Hinch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dante Hicks has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Stevie Hinch's chin.

Hinch
vs
Hicks

201 cm
32
280 lbs
17 - 17 - 0

191 cm
36
280 lbs
13 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 17 - 0, fighting out of London, Stevie Hinch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dante Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hinch has managed to clinch.

Hicks decides to pull guard.
Hicks trying to keep a closed guard but Hinch is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hinch sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Hinch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hicks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hinch has managed to get both his arms back between Hicks's legs - danger averted.
Hicks keeping full guard, as Hinch tries to pass.

Hicks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hinch defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hicks kicks Hinch off and gets to his feet.
A swing and a miss from Hicks.
Hinch is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks throws a series of strikes that have Hinch backpedaling.

It looks like Stevie Hinch has been cut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hicks is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hinch has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hicks avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Hicks jumps guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hinch postures up.
Hicks wants to stand but Hinch is controlling the position.

Hinch is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hicks working a defensive guard here.
Hinch wants to pass the guard but Hicks is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hinch trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Hinch drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hinch jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hinch won't allow Hicks to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hicks loads up on a big right hand but Hinch slips the punch.
Hicks keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Hicks throws a body shot but no joy.
Nice takedown defense from Hicks. No joy for Hinch on that attempt.
Hicks looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Hinch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hicks throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hinch moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hinch throwing a counter right hand but Hicks manages to avoid it.
Hinch moves out of range of the strikes.
Hinch gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hicks lands an overhand right.
Hinch shoots in and drives through. Hicks sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Hinch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hicks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hicks with a hook.

Hinch rushes Hicks and presses him up against the cage.

Hicks works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hinch looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hicks scoring with some ground and pound.
Hicks chips away with some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hicks in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hinch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hinch looking for a guillotine here but Hicks defends easily.
Hicks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hinch's head.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Hinch keeps moving.
Hicks might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hinch haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hinch has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Hicks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stevie Hinch's cut.
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.

Hinch clinches with his opponent.
Hinch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Hicks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hicks scores with a body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hicks blocks a body shot from Hinch.
Hinch is looking to take this one to the mat.
Hinch is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hicks pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stevie Hinch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hicks jumps guard but Hinch turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hinch jumps guard but Hicks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hicks manages to pull guard.
Hinch loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hicks wants to get back to his feet but Hinch is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hicks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hinch's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hinch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hinch is looking for a triangle but Hicks pushes his legs off easily.
Hicks throwing strikes from guard but Hinch blocks nicely.
Hicks cracks Hinch with a solid left hand.
Hicks is looking to work some ground and pound but Hinch has wrist control.
Hicks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hicks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hicks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hicks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hinch's head.

Hinch looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Hinch keeps moving.
Hicks controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Hicks is sitting in close to Hinch's body. Hinch has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Hicks is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Hicks is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Hinch.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Stevie Hinch!
After winning the bout, Stevie Hinch thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.