PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dante Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel McGowen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McGowen has chosen Control - Kendrick Lamar as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hicks
vs
McGowen

191 cm
36
280 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

218 cm
33
300 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dante Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gabriel McGowen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hicks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. McGowen is trying to defend but Hicks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
McGowen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Hicks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

McGowen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hicks pulls his head out easily.
Hicks looks to land a strike but McGowen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hicks throwing strikes but missing.

McGowen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hicks defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

McGowen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
McGowen trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGowen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hicks's guard.

Hicks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McGowen is aware though and is defending well.
Hicks trying to keep a closed guard but McGowen is proving a slippery customer.
McGowen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hicks looking to hit a scissor sweep but McGowen is one step ahead there.

Hicks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McGowen defends well.
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.

Hicks looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
McGowen trying to control the position from guard on top but Hicks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hicks wants to sweep here but McGowen controlling him for the moment.
Hicks is trying to keep McGowen in close.

Hicks is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGowen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
McGowen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McGowen trying to move into half guard but instead Hicks has managed to sweep!

McGowen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McGowen is pressing down on Hicks's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hicks is holding on for now.
McGowen is trying to control. Hicks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Hicks is defending against the submission attempts here by McGowen.
Hicks is trying to stand back up but McGowen is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGowen trying to mount his opponent but Hicks defends it.
Hicks is not content to let McGowen control the position.

McGowen is trying to work for a kimura but Hicks is defending well.
Hicks moves into full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.
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 Dante Hicks will probably get the nod.
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.

McGowen misses with a wild body shot.
McGowen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A punch lands to the side of McGowen 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Hicks closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hicks working the strikes but McGowen uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

Hicks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McGowen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hicks.
Hicks thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks working the head and body with strikes.
McGowen is trying to control but can't.

Hicks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. McGowen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hicks.
Hicks is looking to take a break and control but McGowen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McGowen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McGowen.
Hicks lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
McGowen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
McGowen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hicks haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hicks looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hicks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hicks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McGowen is keeping the position for now.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGowen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hicks drops back, looking for a kneebar! McGowen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. McGowen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from McGowen!

Hicks is looking to regain half guard here but McGowen keeps moving and retains side control.
Hicks gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
McGowen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks wants to control but McGowen is having none of it.
Hicks is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, McGowen has taken his back.
Hicks rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
McGowen wants to free his trapped foot but Hicks is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hicks is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGowen can do to turn this around?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGowen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Hicks dominated that second round.
That's time! Hicks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McGowen fails to land the takedown.
Hicks looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from McGowen! But no joy.
McGowen throws a lazy right hand but Hicks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hicks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hicks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McGowen defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks tries to clinch but McGowen is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on McGowen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks takes a swing at McGowen's ribcage but misses.
Nice shot by McGowen.

It looks like Dante Hicks has been cut.
Hicks throws a body shot but no joy.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Hicks throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and McGowen counters with a one-two to the body.
McGowen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McGowen tries to bum rush Hicks with a series of wild strikes but Hicks uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hicks throws a leg kick but McGowen checks it.
McGowen avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hicks drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hicks is working McGowen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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!
McGowen has his hands on Hicks's head, controlling the position.
McGowen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hicks is one step ahead there.
McGowen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks tries to free his leg and advance position but McGowen is retaining full guard.
Hicks is fighting to break McGowen's control of his arms but McGowen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hicks preventing the sweep.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but McGowen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hicks slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Dante Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hicks happy to just control the position for now.
McGowen is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McGowen can't do much from the bottom here.
Hicks in side control lands a decent elbow.
McGowen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
You can see the frustration on McGowen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sloppy strikes there by Hicks.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hicks tries to score with some ground and pound. McGowen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Sloppy strikes there by Hicks.
McGowen dodges the ground and pound from Hicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Hicks clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Dante Hicks's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hicks takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
McGowen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hicks was well out of range. Poor timing from McGowen.
McGowen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hicks eats them both and turns towards McGowen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
McGowen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hicks.
McGowen misses with a lunging right hand
and Hicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McGowen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
An attempted straight right counter from Hicks misses the target.
Gabriel McGowen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks lands with a nice combination. McGowen backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Gabriel McGowen has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGowen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McGowen throws a right hand that misses
and Hicks counters with a straight that turns McGowen's legs to rubber! Hicks pushes forward with more strikes and McGowen goes down, battered and bloody! That's a wrap folks!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:19 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dante Hicks!