PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mas Slamet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mas Slamet will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Hicks
vs
Slamet

183 cm
20
151 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Juan Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mas Slamet!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shigeki Sano and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Slamet closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Slamet stalls.
Slamet throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hicks can't find room to land a body shot as Slamet controls the action.

Hicks drags the fight down to the ground.

Slamet gets to his feet. Hicks looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hicks gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Slamet manages to pull guard.
Hicks has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Slamet is proving hard to escape from.
Hicks distracts Slamet with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Slamet avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Slamet looking for a sweep. Not yet Slamet, not yet.
Hicks stands up over Slamet, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hicks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hicks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Slamet looking for a sweep. Not yet Slamet, not yet.
Hicks throws a big right hand that misses.
Slamet throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Hicks 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.
Hicks throws a big elbow that misses.
Slamet trying to control the position.

Slamet has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Hicks is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Hicks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slamet just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hicks is trying to pull guard but Slamet has him pressed against the cage.
Hicks fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juan Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Slamet gets control of Hicks's arms and successfully pulls guard. Slamet will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slamet pushes Hicks off and gets back to his feet.
Mas Slamet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slamet throws a head kick that misses.

Slamet drives through and clinches with Hicks against the cage.
Slamet lands a hook to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slamet tries to pull guard but Hicks holds him up against the cage and eventually Slamet drops back down to his feet.
Slamet is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hicks to keep the fight standing.
Hicks works on Slamet's body with a couple of short punches.

Slamet breaks the clinch.

Slamet closes the distance and clinches.
Hicks jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Slamet walks away with a smile on his face. Hicks gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Good leg kick by Slamet there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slamet fails with the takedown.
Hicks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Slamet.

Slamet gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hicks lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hicks fails to pull guard.

Slamet escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Slamet is looking to slow Hicks down with leg kicks.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slamet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Slamet closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hicks did well to prevent Slamet getting side control.
Hicks trying to control but Slamet postures up.
Slamet prevents Hicks from improving his position.
Slamet wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hicks keeps working.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hicks pushes Slamet off looking to stand but Slamet dives back in and keeps control.

Hicks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Slamet pulls his head out easily.

Hicks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Slamet pulls his head out easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hicks looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mas Slamet dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hicks tries to clinch but Slamet is having none of it.

Hicks closes the distance and clinches.
Slamet avoiding damage as Hicks throws knees to the body.
Slamet changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hicks fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Slamet fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Slamet has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
No luck for Slamet with that takedown attempt.
Juan Hicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mas Slamet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Slamet closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Hicks misses with a body punch.
Mas Slamet seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slamet jumps guard but Hicks stands there with Slamet around his waist. Slamet gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Slamet decides to pull guard.
Hicks throwing strikes but missing.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hicks lands a couple of elbows.
Hicks with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hicks with a nice head shot there.
Hicks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Slamet has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Hicks trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Slamet uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hicks rushes Slamet and presses him up against the cage.

Slamet jumps guard.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hicks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hicks working some strikes from top position.
Hicks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hicks lands a couple of digs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hicks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hicks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hicks scoring with some ground and pound.
Hicks landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slamet striking off his back but it's not causing Hicks any problems.
Hicks working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hicks throwing strikes but missing.
Hicks missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Slamet pulls Hicks in to control the position.
Let's hope that Slamet 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.
Slamet controls Hicks momentarily but Hicks frees himself.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hicks fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hicks shoots in and drives through. Slamet sprawls well.
Slamet shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hicks sprawls well. Hicks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slamet gets slowly back to his feet.

Slamet moves into the clinch successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Slamet breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Hicks moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Hicks dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Slamet closes the distance and pushes Hicks back into the cage.
Slamet jumps guard but Hicks turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hicks tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Slamet avoids it.

Hicks breaks the clinch.
Slamet misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Slamet fails to land the takedown.
Juan Hicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mas Slamet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Slamet manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Slamet tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hicks defends well and Slamet ends up having to push Hicks into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hicks half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Slamet throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks wants to clinch up but Slamet keeps it at a distance.
Slamet takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Slamet.
Hicks drops down looking for a counter takedown but Slamet sprawls and moves away.

Hicks has Slamet up against the cage in a clinch.
Slamet drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hicks manages to pull guard.
Hicks keeping full guard, as Slamet tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hicks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slamet defends it easily.

Slamet avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Mas Slamet has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hicks has his foot on Slamet's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Slamet works his way back into a safe position though.
Slamet stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hicks swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Slamet got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hicks has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slamet has managed to get both his arms back between Hicks's legs - danger averted.
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.
Slamet controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing Slamet from controlling successfully.
Slamet slips nicely into half guard.
Slamet is thwarting Hicks's attempts to control the position.

Hicks is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Slamet pulls his head out easily.
Slamet prevents Hicks from improving his position.

Hicks looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Slamet not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Slamet is controlling the pace.
Hicks is refusing to be controlled, as Slamet sits in half guard.
Slamet is taking a breather. Hicks says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Slamet has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Slamet drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Juan Hicks.
I think Hicks has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28

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