PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tony Hibbert (ranked 748 p4p, 91 weight class) and Feihck Tiote (ranked 1372 p4p, 161 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hibbert
vs
Tiote

172 cm
23
160 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

181 cm
23
164 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tony Hibbert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Feihck Tiote!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tiote dodges the punch combination from Hibbert.
Hibbert works the jab nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tiote is defended easily by Hibbert.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hibbert looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hibbert throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tiote sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hibbert clobbers Tiote with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hibbert misses with a hook.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tiote or perhaps it was just good defense by Hibbert, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hibbert throws a series of punches but Tiote avoids them all with ease.
Tiote is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tiote moves out of range of the body kick.
Hibbert ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Hibbert tries a head kick but it misses.
Tiote shoots in but Hibbert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Tony Hibbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Feihck Tiote.

Tiote shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hibbert's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hibbert looking to control.
Hibbert seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Tiote avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tiote wants to control from the top but Hibbert keeps moving.

Hibbert is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tiote is aware though and is defending well.

Hibbert had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiote defends it easily.
Tiote trying to control but Hibbert is working from the bottom.
Tiote advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tiote wants to pass to mount but Hibbert is defending the position.
Hibbert is trying to maintain the position but Tiote is very close to passing his half guard.
Tiote passes to side control.
Tiote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hibbert keeps working.

Hibbert sneaks out the side door and pushes Tiote away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Tiote steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hibbert.
Tiote drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hibbert defends it well.
Tiote fails with a takedown attempt.
Tiote changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hibbert tries to avoid it but Tiote manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hibbert to the ground. Hibbert escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hibbert lands a jab to the head.
Hibbert stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hibbert wants it to stay on the feet.

Tiote pushes Hibbert up against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiote blocks an uppercut.
Hibbert lands a nice uppercut.

Tiote gets a trip takedown into half guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hibbert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hibbert is staying active underneath Tiote, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hibbert trying to control here.
Hibbert is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Hibbert is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Tiote pulls his head out easily.
Tiote wants to pass the guard but Hibbert is defending well.
Tiote trying to control the action but Hibbert is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert wants to get back to full guard.
Hibbert is refusing to be controlled, as Tiote sits in half guard.
Hibbert gets back to full guard.
Tiote wants to control from the top but Hibbert keeps moving.

Hibbert looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Tiote 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.
Hibbert is trying to keep Tiote in close.
Tiote trying to control the position from guard on top but Hibbert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hibbert gets tackled into the cage by Tiote. Tiote maintains the clinch.
Tiote is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hibbert to keep the fight standing.
Tiote tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tiote goes for a takedown attempt but Hibbert pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tony Hibbert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Feihck Tiote.
Hibbert scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hibbert lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hibbert throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tiote fails to land the takedown.
Donk. Hibbert catches Tiote right on the button with a cross.
Tiote tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hibbert sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tiote somewhat.
Tony Hibbert is winning the standup battle so far.
Hibbert tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hibbert leaves Tiote with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiote checks a leg kick.
Hibbert throws a shot to the body.
Hibbert misses with a two punch combination.
Hibbert waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tiote.
Tiote goes for a double leg but Hibbert avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hibbert continues to drive forward.

Hibbert tries to keep at a distance but Tiote has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hibbert throws a punch but it's blocked by Tiote.
Tiote goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hibbert prevents it.
Tiote looking for a takedown.
Hibbert fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hibbert lands a hook that snaps the head of Tiote backwards.
Tiote is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hibbert pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hibbert is looking to control Tiote's arms but Tiote gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hibbert has his back to the cage.
Tiote has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hibbert avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hibbert scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hibbert working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Tiote tries to pull guard but Hibbert forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert slows down the pace here.
Hibbert lands a shot to the body.
Hibbert scores with an uppercut up the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tiote is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hibbert gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hibbert misses with a punch to the body.
Tiote fails to pull guard.
Nice body punch from Hibbert.
Tiote is breathing heavily.
Hibbert lands a right hand.
Hibbert softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hibbert gets underhooks to prevent Tiote's takedown attempt.
Hibbert lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hibbert is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tiote can do to turn this around?
Hibbert working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hibbert lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tiote tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hibbert.
Good body shot from Hibbert.
Hibbert scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hibbert lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hibbert stalls.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tiote tries for a takedown but Hibbert manages to get underhooks.
Tiote has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hibbert is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Tiote drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hibbert pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hibbert lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hibbert connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Tiote keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tiote drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hibbert defends it well.
Hibbert rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tiote moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hibbert misses with a series of wild punches.
Hibbert swats away the attempt to clinch by Tiote.

Hibbert moves into the clinch.
Tiote takes a shot to the head.

Tiote manages to pull guard.
Hibbert looking to sit in guard and control but Tiote gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hibbert is trying to hold Tiote in close to prevent damage but Tiote has managed to pass into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hibbert regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tiote trying to control but Hibbert is working from the bottom.
Feihck Tiote has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tiote loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hibbert looking to control.
Hibbert keeping full guard, as Tiote tries to pass.
Tiote trying to control but Hibbert is working from the bottom.

Hibbert has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tiote can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Hibbert dominated that second round.
That's time! Hibbert's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hibbert takes a swing at Tiote's ribcage but misses.
A big right from Hibbert misses.
Tiote only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Tiote will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hibbert moves in looking to clinch but Tiote pushes him off.
Tiote fails to land the takedown.
Tony Hibbert is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tiote shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Tiote passes Hibbert's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tiote lands with a punch from half guard.
Hibbert is not content to let Tiote control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hibbert looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hibbert actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tiote is pressing down on Hibbert's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hibbert is holding on for now.
Tiote stalling.

Hibbert looking for submissions off his back.
Tiote is pressing down on Hibbert's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hibbert is holding on for now.
Hibbert wants to control but Tiote is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Hibbert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hibbert is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tiote controlling the action here.
Hibbert trying to control but Tiote postures up.
Tiote tries to pass to full mount but Hibbert defends it.
Hibbert gets back to full guard.
Hibbert keeping moving, preventing Tiote from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hibbert working for a triangle but Tiote defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tiote makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Hibbert had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tiote defends it easily.
Tiote looking to pass the guard.

Tiote avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hibbert can't keep his opponent in guard - Tiote advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tiote passes into side control, despite Hibbert's attempt to control the position.
Hibbert is looking to reverse the position.
Tiote wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hibbert keeps working.
Hibbert tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tiote wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Feihck Tiote has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Feihck Tiote comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hibbert 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tony Hibbert!