PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Henry Bickle (ranked 3161 p4p, 268 weight class) and Rick Astley (ranked 3239 p4p, 271 weight class). Astley has chosen Rickrolling Link? as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Bickle
vs
Astley

170 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

168 cm
21
152 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Henry Bickle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rick Astley!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Ben Hemmingworth and Chris Dean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bickle with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Astley moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Astley moves out of range of the strikes.
Bickle connects with a single shot there.
Bickle connects with a body shot.
Astley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bickle looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Bickle lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Henry Bickle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bickle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bickle fails to land with a series of punches.
Astley scores with a shot to the body.
Bickle throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Astley to counter with a crisp jab.
Astley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Astley doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bickle swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bickle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Astley sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Astley scores with a jab to the jaw.
Astley will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Astley slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle lands a body shot.
Bickle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Astley.
A swing and a miss from Bickle.
Astley looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bickle scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Astley lands a jab to Bickle's midsection.
Nice jab there from Bickle.
A leg kick checked by Bickle.
Bickle throws a shot from downtown. Astley moves away and avoids it.
Bickle avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Astley gets the takedown into side control.
Astley has knee on belly and moves into mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bickle prevents Astley from taking his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bickle is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Astley wants to take Bickle's back here but Bickle is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Bickle is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Bickle has given up his back - I don’t know if this is a deliberate ploy to try and escape or if he is just struggling down there.
Astley biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Astley is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bickle defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Astley is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Astley tightening his grip on Bickle, looking for the choke.

Astley working for a choke but Bickle is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.

Astley has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Astley working for a choke but Bickle is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rick Astley will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Astley.
Bickle fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Astley manages to avoid it.
Henry Bickle is winning the standup battle so far.
Bickle connects with a good right hand that stumbles Astley. Astley circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Astley misses with a looping right.
A little feinted left hand from Bickle on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bickle scores with a jab.
Astley throws a head kick that misses.

Bickle gets tackled into the cage by Astley. Astley maintains the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bickle.
Nice elbow from Astley.
Astley misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Astley misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bickle lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bickle has a couple of punches blocked by Astley.
Astley prevents a body shot from Bickle.
Astley blocks a body shot from Bickle.
Bickle throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Bickle fails to land.
Bickle throws a punch but it's blocked by Astley.
Bickle is trying to stall.
Bickle blocks the elbow strike.
Bickle misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Astley turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bickle is trying to get back to his feet.
Astley tries to advance to mount but Bickle denies him.
Astley wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bickle keeps working.
Astley tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bickle knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Astley on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Astley swings around for an armbar but Bickle sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Astley's guard.
Astley has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bickle has passed into side control.
Bickle wants to stand but Astley has his arm trapped.
Astley tries to improve position but can't.
Astley struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astley gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Astley felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Astley is looking to improve his position.
Astley is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Astley wants to improve his position but Bickle is controlling well.
Astley keeps trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bickle tries to stand and escape but Astley is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Astley is trying to maintain the position but Bickle is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Astley wants to improve his position but Bickle is controlling well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Astley motions for Bickle to come forward. Astley throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Astley throws the kick towards the body but Bickle avoids it.
Bickle ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Bickle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Bickle dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Bickle avoids the head kick by Astley.
Bickle connects with a nice looking jab.
Bickle lands a nice shot to the body.
Astley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bickle misses with a straight right.
Astley throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Some wild striking there from Bickle.
Bickle connects with a nice looking jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bickle connects with a body shot.
Bickle throws a body punch but Astley moves out of range.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Astley, as that shot connected.
Astley looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bickle is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Bickle throws a hook but Astley blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astley bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bickle throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Astley throws a leg kick but Bickle sees it coming and moves out of range.
Astley slips a straight right by Bickle.
Astley moves out of range as Bickle strikes.
Astley misses with a body kick.
Astley takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bickle pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bickle throws a looping overhand right but Astley ducks down to avoid it.
Bickle takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Henry Bickle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Astley misses with an uppercut. Bickle saw that one coming.
Astley walks into a straight right hand from Bickle.
Astley throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bickle cracks Astley with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bickle swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Astley counters with a thumping low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Astley lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bickle tests Astley's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bickle tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Astley was well out of range. Poor timing from Bickle.
Astley tries a quick counter leg kick but Bickle is wise to it.
Bickle misses with an uppercut.
Astley throws out a counter right but Bickle avoids it with no problem.
Bickle misses with a straight right.
Astley slips a jab from Bickle.
Astley throws out a counter right but Bickle avoids it with no problem.
Astley looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bickle appears to be looking for a big counter.
Bickle just misses with a punch to the body.
Astley walks into a straight right hand from Bickle.
Bickle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Astley looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bickle misses with a straight right.
Astley throws a big counter head kick but Bickle avoids it with no problem.
Bickle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Astley.
A jab from Astley misses.
A head kick misses from Astley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astley throws a head kick that misses.
Astley ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bickle moves away.
The fighters circling - Bickle throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Astley ducks under a wild hook from Bickle.
Astley feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bickles jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Jab, jab by Bickle - just one landing.
Astley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bickle throws out the jab.
Astley throws out a counter right but Bickle avoids it with no problem.
Astley misses with a jab, cross combination.
Astley moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Astley moves away from the strike by Bickle.
Astley feints the counter takedown.
Astley ducks right into an uppercut from Bickle.
Bickle stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bickle swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bickle sizes up Astley with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle cracks Astley with a good jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Astley throws a lazy body kick
and Bickle counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bickle fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Astley has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Astley throws a chopping leg kick but Bickle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Astley missing with a left hand there. Bickle was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bickle misses with a straight right.
A little jabbing left from Astley on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Astley.
Astley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bickle dips to his left and cracks Astley with an uppercut!
Bickle blocks a jab.
Bickle throws a big counter combination but Astley scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bickle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bickle moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromAstley.
Bickle waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Astley.
Bickle misses the shot to the body.
Astley tries to counter by closing the distance.
Astley moves forwards but Bickle connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Astley throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bickle was covering up waiting for the punch and Astley finishes the takedown easily into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Henry Bickle showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bickle 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Dean scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Bickle!
Henry Bickle seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.