PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Major Hicks (ranked 25334 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tama Tonga (ranked 6447 p4p, 0 weight class). Tonga has chosen Lockjaw as his entrance music. Major Hicks has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Hicks
vs
Tonga

179 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

190 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Major Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tama Tonga !
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hicks clinches.

Hicks gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Tonga is trying to get back to full guard.

Hicks is working for a submission of some sort.
Tonga punching from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonga is trying is best to control the position here.

Hicks is looking for a kimura but Tonga is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hicks to get the leverage.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hicks connects with a nice short shot to Tonga 's temple.
Hicks is thwarting Tonga 's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tonga looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hicks throwing shots but Tonga is blocking nicely.

Hicks is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tonga has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tonga manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Tonga is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hicks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tonga is pulling down on Hicks's head. It's preventing any offense from Hicks, at least for the moment.

Tonga looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tonga wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Hicks manages to pass to side control.
Tonga wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonga slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tonga looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Hicks 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 drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tonga dives on top into guard.

Tonga trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hicks manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Hicks stopping the sweep attempt from Tonga .

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks scoring with some ground and pound.
Tonga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hicks is one step ahead there.
Hicks throwing strikes from guard but Tonga blocks nicely.
Hicks passes into half guard.
Tonga regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hicks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tonga wants to control but Hicks passes easily into half guard.
Tonga missing with punches from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Major Hicks dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hicks throws a head kick that misses.
Hicks is looking to clinch.
Tonga lands a jab-cross combination.

It looks like Major Hicks has been cut.

Tonga drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hicks has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tonga off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Hicks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tonga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hicks is looking to clinch.

Tonga throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hicks tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tonga is in Hicks's guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Hicks manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonga keeps control of Hicks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Tonga jumps guard.
Tonga preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Tonga keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tonga wants to stand but Hicks is controlling the position.
Tonga is breathing heavily.

Hicks drops back looking for a leg! Tonga is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Tonga manages to kick Hicks off! Hicks jumps back into Tonga 's guard.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Tonga keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonga manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hicks manages to get himself to full guard.

Hicks keeping full guard, as Tonga tries to pass.
Major Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing Tonga from controlling successfully.

Tonga drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hicks manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tonga has Hicks in his guard.

Hicks pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tonga is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tonga is trying to control the position but Hicks postures up.
Tonga 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.

Hicks drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hicks jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hicks lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tonga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tonga keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tonga shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hicks sprawls well. Hicks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tonga gets slowly back to his feet.
As Tonga looks to move away, Hicks throws a big counter combo but Tonga just gets out of the way.
Tama Tonga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hicks tries to clinch up but Tonga circles away and keeps his distance.

Tonga closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Major Hicks will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Major 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. This is the final round!

Tonga throws a nice looking combination but Hicks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Tonga shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tonga stopping the sweep attempt from Hicks.

Tonga is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Hicks is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Hicks has escaped and now he's on top!

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tonga can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Tonga keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks trying to stand up but can't free himself from Tonga 's guard.
Hicks tries to free his leg and advance position but Tonga is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tonga looking for a guillotine here but Hicks defends easily.
Hicks being controlled here momentarily.
Tonga takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tonga wants to stand up but Hicks is controlling him.

Hicks postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tonga is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hicks, into his guard.

Tonga wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tonga wants to stand but Hicks has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tonga scoring with some ground and pound.
Tonga trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.
Tonga advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonga wants to control for a moment but Hicks uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Tonga is trying to control the action in half guard but Hicks is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Tonga performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Tonga 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.

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.
Tonga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hicks keeps working.

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

Tonga moves into range and clinches up with Hicks.
Hicks tries to pull guard but Tonga won't allow it.

Tonga manages to break the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hicks looks to land a body kick but Tonga moved away.
Tonga lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Tonga changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hicks tries to avoid it but Tonga manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hicks to the ground. Hicks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tama Tonga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!