PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kiro Kirov (ranked 3408 p4p, 311 weight class) and Bobby Hickson (ranked 22875 p4p, 466 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kirov
vs
Hickson

205 cm
26
270 lbs
9 - 15 - 0

190 cm
29
250 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kiro Kirov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bobby Hickson!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kirov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hickson pushes Kirov off and scrambles back to his feet.

Kirov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hickson is looking to stand up but Kirov isn't so interested in that idea.
Hickson pulls Kirov in close to prevent any damage.
Hickson keeping moving, preventing Kirov from controlling successfully.
Hickson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hickson is keeping the position for now.
Hickson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kirov manages to get himself to full guard.

Kirov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Hickson wants to stand but Kirov is controlling the position.
Hickson controls Kirov momentarily but Kirov frees himself.
Hickson keeping moving, preventing Kirov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kirov actively working from the bottom here.
Kirov wants to control but Hickson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kirov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hickson pulls his head out easily.
Kirov controlling the position for now.
Kirov trying to control from the bottom.
Hickson lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirov wants to control but Hickson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kirov moves into full guard.
Hickson chips away with some ground and pound.
Kirov has momentary wrist control but Hickson slips an elbow through the middle.
Kirov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kirov working for a triangle but Hickson defends it easily.
Hickson forces his way into half guard.
Kirov is looking to control Hickson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kirov avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirov tries to get to full guard but Hickson has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kirov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kirov is trying to control but can't.
Kirov is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Hickson working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Hickson trying to control from half guard but Kirov is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kirov wants to improve his position but Hickson is controlling well.
Hickson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kirov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hickson tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kirov easily slips into full mount!

Kirov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hickson is surviving well by controlling Kirov's body position as best he can.
Kirov looking to finish with strikes here!
Hickson is looking to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirov looking to control but Hickson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kirov trying to control but Hickson is having none of it.
Hickson is desperately trying to improve his position but Kirov has a good base and remains in mount.
Kiro Kirov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kirov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Hickson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hickson in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

It looks like Bobby Hickson has been cut.
Kirov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hickson is looking to escape.

Kirov with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Kirov throwing strikes here but Hickson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Kirov is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hickson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hickson!
Hickson stands up over Kirov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kirov trying to control the position here.
Kirov seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Kirov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hickson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kirov is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hickson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kirov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hickson has managed to get both his arms back between Kirov's legs - danger averted.
Kirov working a defensive guard here.
Hickson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kirov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kirov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hickson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kirov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kirov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hickson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hickson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiro Kirov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bobby Hickson'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!

Kirov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hickson is looking to get back to his feet here but Kirov is keeping cool and he's managed to take Hickson's back.
Kirov tries to keep control of the position but Hickson is staying busy.

Kirov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Kirov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hickson can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirov tries to keep control of the position but Hickson is staying busy.
Hickson is really stuck here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hickson showing good submission defense here.

Kirov is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Hickson trying to control but not successfully.
Hickson tries to escape the position.
Hickson wants to control his opponent's hands but Kirov gets his hands free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kirov is keen to just control but Hickson is a slippery customer.

Kirov wants to work for an arm triangle but Hickson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kirov is trying to control. Hickson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kirov seems to be looking for submissions.
Kirov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirov wants to take a breather but Hickson is having none of it.
Hickson works his way to full guard. Good work.

Hickson isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kirov stacks Hickson on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kirov!
Hickson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kirov wants to control but Hickson is keeping him busy.
Hickson is looking to regain half guard here but Kirov keeps moving and retains side control.

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.
Kirov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Hickson parries the strikes from Kirov easily there. Kirov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hickson to escape.

Kirov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hickson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Hickson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirov trying to control from half guard but Hickson is working away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kiro Kirov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kirov 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kiro Kirov!