PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxwell Hillbrook (ranked 4208 p4p, 4179 weight class) and Fikayo Rice (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hillbrook
vs
Rice

192 cm
23
220
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
205
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maxwell Hillbrook!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Fikayo Rice!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rice gets a clinch.

Rice pulls guard successfully.

Rice looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Rice had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hillbrook defends it easily.
Hillbrook has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hillbrook postures up.
Hillbrook would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Rice is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hillbrook is aware though and is defending well.
Hillbrook is looking to stand up but Rice won't let him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rice fails with a takedown attempt.
Hillbrook swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Rice needs to keep his hands up - Hillbrook had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hillbrook blocks a low kick nicely.
Rice shoots in for a double leg but Hillbrook sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hillbrook swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hillbrook jabs Rice right on the nose. Rice blinks but takes it well.
Rice misses with a wild combination.
No luck for Rice with that takedown attempt.
Maxwell Hillbrook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fikayo Rice.
Rice misses with a takedown
and Rice takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rice tries to clinch there but Hillbrook circles away.
Hillbrook throws a right and a left that both miss.
Despite the aggression on Rice's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Hillbrook misses with an uppercut. Rice saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hillbrook defends well and Rice ends up having to push Hillbrook into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Rice looks winded!
Hillbrook lands a nice shot that snaps Rice's head back.
Hillbrook misses with a hook.
Good exchange - Hillbrook coming out on top.
Hillbrook throws a hook to the side of Rice's head but Rice sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hillbrook takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rice ducks right into an uppercut from Hillbrook.
Rice has his takedown stuffed
and Hillbrook counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hillbrook is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Hillbrook throws a series of punches but Rice moves out of range.
Rice slips under a jab.
Rice takes one to the side of the head.
Hillbrook misses with a looping left.
Rice wants to counter the offense by Hillbrook and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hillbrook lands a jab to the head.
Hillbrook swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hillbrook avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rice uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hillbrook.
Hillbrook jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rice tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hillbrook paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rice closes the distance and clinches up with Hillbrook, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes Hillbrook against the cage but Hillbrook circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hillbrook misses with a looping right.
Hillbrook works over Rice's head and body with a nice combination.

Rice clinches with his opponent.

Hillbrook escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hillbrook takes a swing at Rice's ribcage but misses.
Hillbrook misses with a hook. Rice ducked under it nicely.
Hillbrook bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rice's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hillbrook connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hillbrook lands a jab.
Rice moves out of range as Hillbrook strikes.
Rice changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Rice bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hillbrook displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rice.
Hillbrook uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rice.
Hillbrook throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hillbrook missing with a left hand there. Rice was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rice wants to counter with a clinch but Hillbrook pushes him away.
Rice tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hillbrook sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Rice somewhat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Hillbrook dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hillbrook uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hillbrook leaves Rice with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hillbrook feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Rices jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Rice tries to clinch there but Hillbrook circles away.
Hillbrook went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A punch lands to the side of Rice 's head but he takes it in his stride.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rice shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hillbrook as he avoids it easily.
Rice wants to clinch.
Jab, jab by Hillbrook - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rice throws a body punch but Hillbrook moves out of range.
Hillbrook connects with a good right hand that stumbles Rice. Rice circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rice darts in looking for a takedown but Hillbrook gets double underhooks and turns Rice into the cage.
Maxwell Hillbrook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fikayo Rice.
Hillbrook looks to throw the jab but Rice is out of range.
Rice defending well as Hillbrook loads up on a big left hand.
Hillbrook misses with a looping left.
Hillbrook misses with a straight right.
Hillbrook throws a jab but it's blocked by Rice.
Hillbrook leaves Rice with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Maxwell Hillbrook is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hillbrook swinging wildly here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Hillbrook misses.
Rice walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rice gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hillbrook counters with a one-two to the body.
Rice is breathing heavily.
Hillbrook looks to land a left hand but Rice moved out of range nicely.
Rice gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hillbrook counters with a nice uppercut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hillbrook slaps away a takedown attempt from Rice, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch lands to the side of Rice 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rice slips under a jab.
Fikayo Rice is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hillbrook pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hillbrook lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Rice staying out of range there.
Rice misses with a takedown
and Hillbrook cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hillbrook fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rice wants to clinch
and Hillbrook counters with a stiff right hand.
Hillbrook throws out a powerful jab.
Hillbrook swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Maxwell Hillbrook is winning the standup battle so far.
Rice looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hillbrook throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Rice sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rice looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hillbrook is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rice can do to turn this around?
Hillbrook throws a jab but it's blocked by Rice.
As Hillbrook backs off Rice throws a huge counter combo but Hillbrook manages to avoid it all.
Rice shoots in looking for a takedown but Hillbrook manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rice's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rice has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hillbrook misses with a hook. Rice ducked under it nicely.
Rice checks a low kick from Hillbrook.
Rice avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rice ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rice walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hillbrook throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hillbrook throws a jab but it's blocked by Rice.
Rice tries to counter by closing the distance.
Hillbrook takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maxwell Hillbrook dominated that second round.
That's time! Hillbrook's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hillbrook lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rice avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hillbrook misses with a series of wild punches.
Hillbrook misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rice is looking for the big counter here.
Rice closes the distance and clinches up with Hillbrook, looking for a takedown. Rice pushes Hillbrook against the cage but Hillbrook circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hillbrook cracks Rice with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hillbrook throws a jab when Rice was well out of range.
Rice needs to keep his hands up - Hillbrook had a free shot at his head there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hillbrook keeps the fight on the outside.
Hillbrook looks to land a combination but Rice avoids it well.
Rice tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rice shoots in looking for a takedown but Hillbrook manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rice's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rice misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Maxwell Hillbrook has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fikayo Rice.
Rice takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hillbrook is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rice.
Hillbrook loads up on a big right hand but Rice slips the punch.
Rice throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hillbrook misses with a looping right.
Rice keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rice looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hillbrook swats away the attempt to clinch by Rice.
An attempted straight right counter from Hillbrook misses the target.
Rice steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hillbrook.
Hillbrook scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rice tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hillbrook swivels and escapes.
Rice slips a jab from Hillbrook.
Rice takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A telegraphed right hand from Hillbrook misses the target.
Hillbrook misses with a series of wild punches.
Hillbrook thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hillbrook walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Rice checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Hillbrook jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hillbrook throws out a loose jab but Rice uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rice tries to counter by closing the distance.
Rice will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hillbrook jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rice tries to counter by closing the distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Hillbrook.
Rice scores with a nice body kick.
Hillbrook misses with a looping right.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rice is defended easily by Hillbrook.
Hillbrook looks to throw the jab but Rice is out of range.
Rice moves out of range as Hillbrook strikes.
Hillbrook throws a big shot that misses.
Rice on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Rice has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hillbrook finds it's way round the side to connect with Rice's head.
Rice darts in trying to clinch
and Hillbrook counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rice ducks under a wild hook from Hillbrook.
Rice wants to counter the offense by Hillbrook and move into the clinch position.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Hillbrook, as that shot connected.
Rice dodges the punch combination from Hillbrook.
Hillbrook throws a lazy right hand but Rice sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hillbrook misses with a looping right.
Hillbrook keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rice fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hillbrook checks it well.
Hillbrook stuffs the takedown attempt from Rice. Rice gets slowly back to his feet.
Hillbrook is looking to counter punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maxwell Hillbrook showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hillbrook, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:25
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:25
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maxwell Hillbrook!