PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Kim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Hickock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hickock is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Why can't we be friends. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kim
vs
Hickock

190 cm
31
195 lbs
19 - 10 - 0

182 cm
35
193 lbs
32 - 19 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Beaver Jooce!

Spartan Nutrition
Beaver Jooce!

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 19 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roberto Kim!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Montreal, Richard Hickock!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hickock doesn't manage to clinch there - Kim circles away.
Kim moves forwards but Hickock connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hickock throws a leg kick but Kim sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hickock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hickock lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
An inside leg kick from Hickock misses.
Hickock takes a swing at Kim's ribcage but misses.
Kim looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A big left from Hickock misses.
Kim moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kim fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hickock avoids it really well and circles away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hickock.
Kim attempts a counter takedown but Hickock avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim digs a good hook to Hickock's body.
Hickock throws a hook but Kim blocks it.
Hickock displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kim.
Hickock scoring well with a low kick there.

Hickock rushes Kim and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kim wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hickock has him pressed against the cage.
Kim blocks an elbow strike from Hickock.
Hickock stalling against the cage.
Hickock swings wildly with an uppercut but Kim uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hickock told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Hickock lands with a short shot to the head.
Kim misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Kim's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hickock lands a hook that snaps the head of Kim backwards.
A short right from Hickock on the inside.
Kim has a couple of punches blocked by Hickock.
Hickock pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hickock avoiding damage.
Kim tries to work over Hickock's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kim wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kim.
Hickock lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
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!
Kim blocks an uppercut.
Kim blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hickock tries to stall but Kim uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Kim decides to pull guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kim is on top in guard.

Kim wants to pass the guard but Hickock is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim advances to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kim trying to control the action but Hickock is working from the bottom.
Kim seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kim throwing shots but Hickock is blocking nicely.
Hickock is refusing to be controlled, as Kim sits in half guard.
Kim not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hickock keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kim has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Kim seems to be looking for submissions.
Kim is pressing down on Hickock's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hickock is holding on for now.
Kim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hickock keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hickock keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kim is thwarting Hickock's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Richard Hickock dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hickock misses with a hook. Kim ducked under it nicely.
Hickock throws a nice inside leg kick.
Hickock throws a leg kick but Kim sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Hickock swings for the body but Kim moves out of range.
Kim appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hickock avoids the head kick by Kim.
Hickock throws a hook but Kim avoids it easily.
Kim checks the leg kick.
Hickock tries to land a front kick but Kim steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hickock looks to throw the jab but Kim is out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hickock misses with a body shot.
Kim throws a body punch but Hickock moves out of range.
Kim takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Kim has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hickock finds it's way round the side to connect with Kim's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim fails with a takedown attempt.
Hickock appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hickock missing with a left hand there. Kim was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good work by Hickock as he checks the leg kick.
Hickock moves out of range of the leg kick from Kim.
Kim fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hickock has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hickock throws a body kick that misses

and Kim counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kim.
Kim wants to control from the top but Hickock keeps moving.
Kim is looking to work some ground and pound but Hickock has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kim postures up in Hickock's guard and throws a big left but Hickock blocks it.

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

Kim is looking to reverse the position.
Hickock controls the position.

Hickock stands up.

Kim shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kim was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The strikes coming from Kim are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kim is trying to ground and pound but Hickock uses the momentary lack of control by Kim to regain half guard.
Kim keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hickock wants to control but Kim is keeping busy.
Hickock wants to get back to full guard.
Kim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hickock keeps working.
Kim tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hickock knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kim is thwarting Hickock's attempts to control the position.
Kim trying to pass the guard but Hickock defending well.
Kim scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hickock has hold of Kim's hands but Kim slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kim not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim is looking to advance position but Hickock won't allow it.

Kim is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roberto Kim dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hickock takes a swing at Kim's ribcage but misses.
Kim lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hickock takes a step back to recover.

Hickock closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Hickock lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hickock is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hickock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kim's elbow.
Hickock working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kim doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hickock.
A short right from Hickock.
Hickock taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kim misses with some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kim tries to pull guard but Hickock holds him up against the cage and eventually Kim drops back down to his feet.
Hickock throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hickock.
Richard Hickock seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kim blocks an elbow strike.

Kim pulls guard successfully.
Hickock stopping the sweep attempt from Kim.
Hickock's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Kim looking for a guillotine here but Hickock defends easily.
Kim wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickock content to stall in guard here.
Hickock pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kim is keeping the position for now.
Kim not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kim tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hickock 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.

Hickock gets to his feet - Kim follows without any prompting.
Hickock is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Richard Hickock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kim avoids the body shot from Hickock.
Hickock misses with a looping left.
Hickock throws a leg kick but Kim checks it.
Kim changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hickock jabs at Kim's body.
Kim looks to score with a jab to the body but Hickock is just out of range.
Kim takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kim connects with the punch.
Hickock scores with a sloppy right hand. Kim should have avoided that one.
Hickock throws a low kick, looking for Kim's leg but Kim calmly moves out of range.
Richard Hickock seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hickock misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hickock connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickock misses with a straight left.
Kim half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hickock misses with a kick to the body.
Kim half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hickock throws a head kick that misses

and Kim decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hickock'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!
Hickock is trying to keep Kim in close.
Hickock keeping full guard, as Kim tries to pass.
Kim working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kim is looking to work some ground and pound but Hickock has wrist control.
Kim postures up in Hickock's guard and throws a big left but Hickock blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Hickock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hickock has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Richard Hickock!
A victorious Richard Hickock thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.
In defeat, Roberto Kim stepped up to the mic, saying 'HOOOODOOR!'.