PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aoio Uwukiwe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aoio Uwukiwe has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Uwukiwe
vs
Hickens

165 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

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, Aoio Uwukiwe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hickens!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hickens throws a head kick but Uwukiwe moves out of range.
Uwukiwe is looking to land body kicks.
Uwukiwe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickens throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Uwukiwe on the side of the head.
Hickens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickens avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hickens leaves Uwukiwe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hickens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hickens wants it to stay on the feet.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Uwukiwe counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Uwukiwe throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Uwukiwe connects with a high kick.
Uwukiwe throws a right hand that Hickens ducks under and follows up with a left that Hickens also avoids with ease.
Hickens misses with a head kick.
Uwukiwe goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uwukiwe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickens misses with a two punch combination.
Hickens misses with a double jab.
Uwukiwe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Uwukiwe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickens tries to bum rush Uwukiwe with a series of wild strikes but Uwukiwe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hickens throws a head kick that misses

and Uwukiwe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hickens won't be happy with that.
Hickens wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Uwukiwe tries to stand but Hickens controls the position and pulls Uwukiwe into his guard.

Uwukiwe stands up from Hickens's guard - Uwukiwe perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickens throws a series of punches but Uwukiwe moves out of range.
Uwukiwe keeps Hickens at a distance using the push kick.
Uwukiwe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Hickens counter with a right hand.
Hickens swats away the attempt to clinch by Uwukiwe.
Uwukiwe lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uwukiwe lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Uwukiwe forces Hickens back against the cage and clinches.
Uwukiwe is working for takedown but Hickens is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoio Uwukiwe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Uwukiwe manages to break the clinch.
Hickens throws a right and a left that Uwukiwe avoids nicely.
Uwukiwe throws a combination that misses
and Hickens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hickens throws a nice looking combination but Uwukiwe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Uwukiwe shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Uwukiwe feints and then cracks Hickens's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hickens down.
Hickens is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hickens throws a combination that misses

and Uwukiwe counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hickens tries to kick Uwukiwe off but Uwukiwe keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hickens looks gassed!
Uwukiwe wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Hickens uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hickens manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hickens throws a right and a left that Uwukiwe avoids nicely.

Uwukiwe has Hickens up against the cage in a clinch.
Hickens takes a knee to the side of the body.
Uwukiwe holding his opponent close, against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hickens wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Uwukiwe escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Uwukiwe.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aoio Uwukiwe dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hickens misses with a wild combination.
A leg kick checked by Uwukiwe.
Hickens looks to land a combination but Uwukiwe avoids it well.
Hickens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Uwukiwe moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Uwukiwe shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hickens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Hickens pushes Uwukiwe off and gets back to his feet.
Hickens is breathing heavily.
Hickens lands an overhand right.
Hickens leaves Uwukiwe with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uwukiwe throws a quick inside leg kick.
Hickens throws a head kick that misses.
Uwukiwe misses with a double jab
and Hickens counters with a body kick.

Uwukiwe forces Hickens back against the cage and clinches.
Hickens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Uwukiwe.

Uwukiwe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hickens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Uwukiwe counters with a one-two to the body.
Hickens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uwukiwe throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hickens counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uwukiwe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hickens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hickens misses with a double jab
and Uwukiwe counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Uwukiwe slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hickens tries to bum rush Uwukiwe with a series of wild strikes but Uwukiwe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Uwukiwe throws a head kick but Hickens moves out of range.
Uwukiwe throws a sloppy head kick and Hickens moves out of range easily.
Hickens avoids the head kick by Uwukiwe.
Uwukiwe throws a body kick that misses.
Jab by Hickens.
Hickens swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickens throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A head kick misses from Hickens.
A head kick from Uwukiwe lands but Hickens takes it in his stride.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Uwukiwe.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aoio Uwukiwe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Uwukiwe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Hickens!
Hickens throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Some wild striking there from Uwukiwe.
A cross from Hickens lands.
Mark Hickens seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickens tries to bum rush Uwukiwe with a series of wild strikes but Uwukiwe uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hickens throws a sloppy head kick
and Uwukiwe counters with a head kick.
Uwukiwe swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Hickens counters with a one-two to the body.
Hickens takes a kick to the side of the head.
Uwukiwe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickens lands a front kick.
Uwukiwe pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickens throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Uwukiwe connects with a high kick.
Uwukiwe throws a right and a left that Hickens avoids nicely.
Hickens misses with a few strikes there.
A punch lands to the side of Uwukiwe 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Uwukiwe throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hickens's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Hickens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Uwukiwe darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Uwukiwe rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hickens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hickens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Uwukiwe counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Uwukiwe throws a head kick that Hickens semi-blocks.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Uwukiwe.
Hickens misses with a straight left.
Hickens clobbers Uwukiwe with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hickens thows a leg kick but Uwukiwe checks it
and Uwukiwe counters with a head kick.
No joy there for Uwukiwe, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hickens looks to land a combination but Uwukiwe avoids it well.
Hickens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Uwukiwe shoots for a double leg takedown but Hickens sprawls well. He's pushed Uwukiwe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hickens throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uwukiwe lands with a kick to the temple. Hickens shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Aoio Uwukiwe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Uwukiwe tries a head kick but it misses.
Hickens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Uwukiwe counters with a big head kick but Hickens shrugs it off.
Uwukiwe throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Uwukiwe tries a head kick but it misses.
Mark Hickens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Uwukiwe falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hickens counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hickens closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Uwukiwe is looking to clinch but Hickens is avoiding it.
Uwukiwe throws a sloppy head kick and Hickens moves out of range easily.
A punch combination from Hickens misses.
Uwukiwe lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Uwukiwe.
Hickens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uwukiwe throws a sloppy head kick and Hickens moves out of range easily.
Uwukiwe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Uwukiwe counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hickens's knee momentarily.
Hickens has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hickens misses with a two punch combination.
Hickens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Uwukiwe throws a head kick that Hickens semi-blocks.

Uwukiwe moves into range and clinches up with Hickens.

Uwukiwe breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hickens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Uwukiwe connects with a high kick.
Uwukiwe looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickens misses with a series of wild punches.
Left hook, right uppercut from Uwukiwe.
Hickens falls off balance throwing a combination
and Uwukiwe makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hickens really felt that one!
Hickens throws a head kick that misses

and Uwukiwe counters by clinching up.

Uwukiwe breaks from the clinch.
Uwukiwe misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hickens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Uwukiwe misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Uwukiwe tries to clinch up.
Uwukiwe throws a series of punches but Hickens moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hickens showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Uwukiwe.
Hickens throws a front kick aimed at Uwukiwe's knee but Uwukiwe avoids it well.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Uwukiwe counters with a leg kick.
Uwukiwe throws a right hand that Hickens ducks under and follows up with a left that Hickens also avoids with ease.
A big left from Hickens misses.
Hickens keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hickens misses with a series of wild punches.
Uwukiwe comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Uwukiwe throws a right hand that Hickens ducks under and follows up with a left that Hickens also avoids with ease.
Uwukiwe lands a high kick!

And that's the end of the fight!
Aoio Uwukiwe showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Uwukiwe has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 29:28
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aoio Uwukiwe!