PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mark Hickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Batton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Batton is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Boga Boga. Mark Hickens is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hickens
vs
Batton

180 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

157 cm
19
132 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hickens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jack Batton!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Batton lands a jab-cross combination.
Hickens looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Batton misses with a head kick.
Hickens misses with a wild combination.
Hickens fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hickens throws a body punch but Batton moves out of range.
Batton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Batton has managed to clinch.
Hickens tries for a takedown. No joy.
Knees to the body from Batton.
Batton is leaning against Hickens and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Hickens tries to break free but Batton pushes him back against the cage.

Batton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Batton breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Batton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Batton misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens throws a left and a right that both miss

and Batton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A frustrated look appears on Hickens's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Batton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Come on Batton - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Batton breaks the clinch.
Hickens throws and low kick but Batton moves out of range easily.

Batton clinches.

Batton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Batton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Batton has closed the distance and engaged Hickens in a clinch.
Batton's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Batton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Batton tries to clinch up but Hickens circles away and keeps his distance.
Batton tries to clinch there but Hickens circles away.
Hickens fails with the takedown
and Batton counters with a body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Hickens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Batton closes the distance and pushes Hickens back into the cage.
Batton is struggling to control the position.

Batton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Batton takes the fight into the clinch.
Batton goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hickens prevents it.
Hickens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hickens is working for takedown but Batton is calmly controlling the position for now.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Batton.
Hickens takes a knee to the side of the body.

Batton manages to break the clinch.
Batton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hickens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mark Hickens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Batton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Batton throws a nice looking combination but Hickens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Batton takes the fight into the clinch.
Hickens is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Batton jumps into guard, dragging Hickens to the mat.
Hickens controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Batton is trying to control the position but Hickens postures up.
Batton keeping moving, preventing Hickens from controlling successfully.
Batton is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hickens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Batton is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Batton is trying to keep Hickens in close.
Hickens throws a strike but Batton rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hickens trying to keep a closed guard but Batton is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Batton misses with a body shot.
Hickens misses with a head kick.
Hickens misses the jab.
A nice combination there by Hickens.
Hickens misses with a low kick.
Batton lands with a thumping leg kick.
Batton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hickens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A nice leg kick lands there from Batton.
Hickens takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Batton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Batton moves into range and clinches up with Hickens.
Batton lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Hickens backwards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hickens takes a knee to the side of the body.

Batton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Batton tries to clinch but Hickens is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens stuffs the takedown.

Batton clinches with his opponent.

Batton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hickens swats away the attempt to clinch by Batton.
Hickens is looking to score with low kicks.

Batton rushes Hickens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Batton.
Batton lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Batton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Batton closes the distance and pushes Hickens back into the cage.

Batton manages to break the clinch.
Batton doesn't manage to clinch there - Hickens circles away.
Batton misses with a wild combination.
Hickens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Batton is fending him off so far but Hickens persists. Nope, Batton circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Batton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Batton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Batton misses with a two punch combination.
A punch combination from Hickens misses.
Batton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice combination there by Hickens.
Hickens has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hickens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickens connects with a crisp jab.
Hickens swinging wildly here.
Hickens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Batton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hickens takes an elbow to the forehead.
Batton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hickens's defenses.
Batton pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batton working Hickens over with knees to the body.
Hickens jumps guard but Batton stands there with Hickens around his waist. Hickens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Batton obliges.
Hickens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Hickens. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Batton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Batton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Batton leaves Hickens with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Batton tries to clinch up but Hickens circles away and keeps his distance.
Hickens tries for a takedown but Batton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Batton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Batton moves into range and clinches up with Hickens.

Batton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Batton on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickens tries a head kick but it misses.
Hickens throws a nice looking combination but Batton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Batton tries to close the distance and clinch but Hickens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Batton moves in looking to clinch but Hickens pushes him off.
Hickens throws a head kick that half lands.
Hickens is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Hickens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Batton holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Batton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hickens jumps guard but Batton stands there with Hickens around his waist. Hickens gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hickens tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Batton just stands there and leans against the cage.
Batton misses with a knee to the head.
Batton missing with knees to the body.
Hickens tries to throw a body punch but Batton avoids it by throwing Hickens back against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Batton.
Hickens can't get the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jack Batton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hickens'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!

Batton decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Batton is trying to control. Hickens wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hickens avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Batton.
Hickens is trying to maintain the position but Batton is very close to passing his half guard.

Batton stands up and beckons Hickens to join him on the feet.
Hickens lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Batton connects with a body shot.
Hickens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A shot to de liver by Batton. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens tries to score with a low kick but Batton moves his leg out of the way.
The fight stays on the outside here - Batton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hickens takes a kick to the side of the head.
Batton misses with the combination.
Hickens thuds his right hand into Batton's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Batton's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Batton duly obliges.
Batton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hickens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hickens throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A head kick by Hickens misses
and Batton counters with an inside leg kick.
Hickens gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Batton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Batton.

Batton manages to break the clinch.
Hickens is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hickens cracks Batton with a good jab.
Batton is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hickens rather than just go for the knockout.
Batton tries to clinch but Hickens is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Batton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Batton tries to clinch but Hickens moves out of range.
Hickens shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Batton pinned against the cage. Batton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Batton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hickens sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hickens fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Hickens. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hickens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickens takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Batton throws a right and a left that Hickens avoids nicely.
Hickens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Batton clinches up with Hickens and pushes him back against the cage.
Batton is looking to control Hickens's arms but Hickens gets an underhook and turns him. Now Batton has his back to the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Batton is trying to break the clinch but Hickens is controlling him.
Batton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hickens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Batton smiles and moves away.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Batton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hickens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Batton as he avoids it easily.
Batton tries to clinch up but Hickens circles away and keeps his distance.
Batton looks to land a combination but Hickens avoids it well.
Batton tries to clinch up but Hickens circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Batton.
Hickens connects with a high kick.
Hickens throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Batton.
Batton moves in looking to clinch but Hickens pushes him off.
Batton fails with the takedown.
Hickens throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hickens throws a sloppy head kick and Batton moves out of range easily.
Batton misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Batton looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hickens shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Batton counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Batton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hickens avoids it.
Hickens changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Batton fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hickens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Batton tries to clinch up but Hickens circles away and keeps his distance.
Jack Batton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hickens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Batton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hickens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Batton!
Mark Hickens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Batton pulls out of a head kick attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jack Batton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Batton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jack Batton!