PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Henry Bickle (ranked 2303 p4p, 208 weight class) and Swagga Beats (ranked 1756 p4p, 174 weight class). Swagga Beats has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Henry Bickle's chin.

Bickle
vs
Beats

170 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

165 cm
28
147 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
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 5 - 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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Swagga Beats!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beats takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bickle looks to land a left hand but Beats moved out of range nicely.
Beats looks to score with a jab to the body but Bickle is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Bickle misses the target.
Bickle jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Beats throws a combination that misses
and Bickle counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
A jab from Bickle finds it's way through Beats's defenses.
Beats slips under a jab.
No luck for Beats with that takedown attempt.
Beats looks for a takedown but Bickle sprawls well.
Bickle bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Beats's head backwards.
Beats tries to clinch up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beats moves forwards but Bickle connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Bickle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Beats sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bickle's corner calls for a 1-2. Bickle obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Beats fails with a takedown attempt.
Henry Bickle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Swagga Beats.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Beats shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bickle defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle looks to land a right hand but Beats moved out of range.
Beats throws a body shot but no joy.
Bickle misses with a looping left.
Beats tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bickle manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bickle thuds his right hand into Beats's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Beats takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bickle is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Bickle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Beats connects with a right hand. Bickle shakes it off.
Beats gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bickle.
Beats throws a nice looking combination but Bickle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bickle misses with an uppercut. Beats saw that one coming.
Bickle swats away the attempt to clinch by Beats.
Beats scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bickle digs a good hook to Beats's body.
Beats throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bickle sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beats takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Henry Bickle is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Beats throws a combination. Bickle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bickle misses with a looping right.
Beats tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bickle manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bickle swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
No joy there for Beats, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Beats takes one to the side of the head.
Bickle slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Beats shoots in for a takedown but Bickle shows good takedown defense.
Beats misses with a series of wild punches.
Beats defending well as Bickle loads up on a big left hand.
Bickle misses with a left hand
and Beats counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bickle thinking.
Bickle missing with a left hand there. Beats was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Beats tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Beats moves in looking to clinch but Bickle pushes him off.
Bickle is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Beats closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Beats tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Beats goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bickle has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Beats but great work by Bickle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beats tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bickle wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Beats struggling a bit here.
Bickle tries to stand but Beats is controlling his head.
Bickle trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Beats is trying to improve his 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.
Beats manages to work his way to half guard, despite Bickle's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beats works his way to full guard. Good work.
Beats trying to keep a closed guard but Bickle is proving a slippery customer.
Bickle wanted to stand there but Beats had control of the position.
Beats trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Beats is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Bickle dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bickle paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bickle throws the left hand but Beats avoids the punch easily.
Beats avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bickle misses with a wild body shot.
Bickle is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Beats can do to turn this around?
Nice body punch from Bickle.
Beats tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bickle defends well and Beats ends up having to push Bickle into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Beats fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Beats throws a right hand that Bickle ducks under and follows up with a left that Bickle also avoids with ease.
A telegraphed right hand from Bickle misses the target.
Beats uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bickle.
Bickle scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bickle scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Beats lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bickle circles away quickly and effectively.
It looked like Bickle wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bickle misses with a looping left.
Bickle is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Beats.
Beats tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A big right from Bickle misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beats is looking to clinch but Bickle is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bickle keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bickle scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Beats doesn't seem bothered though.
Beats avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Beats moves away from the strike by Bickle.
Bickle swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Henry Bickle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bickle misses with a looping left.
Beats walks into a left hand.
Bickle scores with a jab to the body.
Beats ducks under a wild hook from Bickle.
Bickle misses with a looping left.
Beats misses with a series of wild punches.
Beats is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bickle jabs Beats right on the nose. Beats blinks but takes it well.
Bickle cracks Beats with a right hand to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Decent striking displayed by Beats there.
Beats misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beats throws a sloppy head kick and Bickle moves out of range easily.
Bickle throws a body punch but Beats moves out of range.

Beats clinches.
Bickle working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bickle lands with a right to the head.
Bickle swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bickle misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bickle working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Bickle's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bickle cracks Beats with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Beats.
Bickle scores with a nice head shot.
Beats slips a straight right by Bickle.
Beats throws out a counter right but Bickle avoids it with no problem.
Nice defenses there by Beats.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Beats sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nice defenses there by Beats.
Bickle connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Beats shoots for a takedown but Bickle saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Bickle misses the target.
Henry Bickle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Swagga Beats.
Beats scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Beats misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Bickle counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Beats tries to close the distance and clinch but Bickle swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Bickle misses the target.
Bickle gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Beats uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bickle.
Bickle scores with a jab to the head.
A punch lands to the side of Beats 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bickle scores with a shot to the body.
Beats tries to clinch there but Bickle circles away.
Bickle throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Beats closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Bickle did well to prevent Beats getting side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Beats is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bickle has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bickle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Beats.

Beats looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Beats is looking for a kimura but Bickle is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Beats to get the leverage.
Bickle is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at MMA Dojo, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Bickle wants to get back to his feet.
Beats is trying to control. Bickle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henry Bickle dominated that second round.
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!

Beats gets the takedown into side control.
Bickle wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Beats content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Beats is looking to take a break and control but Bickle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Beats content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Beats wants to control but Bickle is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beats tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Beats has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Beats wants to control but Bickle is keeping him busy.

Beats swings around for an armbar but Bickle sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Beats's guard.
Bickle stopping the sweep attempt from Beats.
Bickle has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Beats wants to improve his position but instead Bickle has moved into half guard.
Bickle wants to stand up but Beats has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beats wants to get back to full guard but Bickle has passed into side control.
Bickle tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Beats is trying to improve his position.
Beats trying his best to control but Bickle has mounted him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bickle avoids the attempt from Beats to control.
Beats is working to get back to half guard.
Beats is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Beats really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Henry Bickle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Beats sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Bickle has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Beats works to full guard.

Beats has his foot on Bickle's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bickle works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bickle got a little sloppy there for a moment and Beats has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bickle has managed to get both his arms back between Beats's legs - danger averted.
Beats wants to get back to his feet but Bickle is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Beats is trying to control the position but Bickle postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bickle won't allow Beats to sweep him here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Swagga Beats has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Beats misses with an uppercut. Bickle saw that one coming.

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 Henry Bickle.
Well Bickle has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:28
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Henry Bickle!
An out of breath Henry Bickle thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.