PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earl Hickey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Koben (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hickey comes to the cage accompanied by I Get Mad . Kurt Koben will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Hickey
vs
Koben

190 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

202 cm
20
260 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Earl Hickey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kurt Koben!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hickey gets a takedown into half guard.
Koben wants to improve his position but Hickey is controlling well.
Hickey could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hickey looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hickey wants to take a breather but Koben is having none of it.

Koben is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hickey pulls his head out easily.
Hickey is looking to take a break and control but Koben is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koben wants to improve his position but Hickey is controlling well.
Hickey is looking to take a break and control but Koben is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hickey works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hickey lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

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.

Hickey is working for a guillotine from mount but Koben frees his head quite easily.
Hickey tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hickey unloading with bombs!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickey wants to control the action but instead Koben gets a body lock and reverses into Hickey's guard! Nice work!
Hickey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hickey seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Koben slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hickey tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Koben wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Koben trying to control the position but Hickey is working away.
Hickey can't do much from the bottom here.

Koben has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Koben looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickey tries to clinch up but Koben circles away and keeps his distance.
Koben stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Koben wants it to stay on the feet.
Koben tries for a takedown but Hickey circles away easily

and Hickey counters with a shoot takedown. Koben fights it but they end up in guard.
Hickey throwing strikes but missing.
Koben keeping full guard, as Hickey tries to pass.
Hickey might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hickey throws a strike but Koben rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Earl Hickey 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.

Koben gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hickey counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Hickey is working for a submission of some sort.
Hickey is taking a breather. Koben says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Koben is staying active underneath Hickey, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Koben is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickey controlling the pace.
Koben blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hickey.
Hickey wants to take a breather but Koben is having none of it.
Koben trying to control from the bottom.
Koben is refusing to be controlled, as Hickey sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hickey shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Koben counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hickey won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickey gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koben looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hickey sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Koben tries to stand but can't do so whilst Hickey controls his leg.
Hickey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koben performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hickey is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koben throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Earl Hickey overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hickey looking for submissions off his back.
Koben is trying to control. Hickey wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hickey keeping control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hickey misses with a takedown attempt

and Koben counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Koben postures up.
Hickey trying to strike off his back.
Hickey keeping moving, preventing Koben from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickey controls Koben momentarily but Koben frees himself.
Koben is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Koben trying to control the position from guard on top but Hickey is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hickey is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hickey doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Koben moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Earl Hickey. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hickey jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koben walks away with a smile on his face. Hickey gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Koben misses with a takedown attempt

and Hickey counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurt Koben will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Koben fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hickey shoots and misses

and Koben counters by moving into the clinch.
Hickey jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koben walks away with a smile on his face. Hickey gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hickey tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Koben counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hickey!
Koben looking to control and managing it successfully.
Koben looking to finish with strikes here!
Koben takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hickey working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koben takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hickey working to try and regain half guard.
Hickey is working hard here to advance position.
Koben in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Koben controlling his opponent.
Koben wants to take his opponent's back but Hickey doesn't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hickey wants to hold on but Koben pushes him away.
Koben sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hickey tries to hold on but Koben postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koben throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hickey because Koben loaded up on that one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickey is working to get back to half guard.
Hickey wants to hold on but Koben pushes him away.
Koben sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hickey tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hickey tries to lock up and control but Koben gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hickey working to try and regain half guard.
Koben sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

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.
Hickey tries to lock up and control but Koben gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hickey regains half guard.
Koben performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hickey wants to control but Koben is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hickey works his way to full guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurt Koben comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Koben has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Koben!