PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mathew Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Johnson
vs
Hickens

175 cm
23
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very strong

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mathew Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hickens!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Summer Carpenter and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Johnson misses with the combination.
Johnson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hickens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hickens keeps the fight on the outside.
Johnson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hickens lands with an uppercut that bounces Johnson off the cage and back into rage.
Hickens takes one to the side of the head.
Johnson tries to clinch up but Hickens circles away and keeps his distance.
Johnson misses with a double jab.

A jab-cross combination lands for Johnson and sends Hickens crashing to the mat! Johnson follows him down to the mat - Hickens regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Hickens is rocked!
Johnson content to control rather than advance.
Hickens is still in real trouble! Can Johnson finish him?
Johnson 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 refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.
Hickens seems to have recovered his senses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Johnson thows a huge punch but Hickens dodges it nicely.
Johnson throwing shots but Hickens is blocking nicely.
Hickens wants to get back to his feet.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Hickens defending well.
Johnson lands with a punch from half guard.

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.
Johnson is controlling the pace.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hickens throws a head kick that misses.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Hickens.
Hickens displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Johnson.

Johnson rushes Hickens and presses him up against the cage.
Johnson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Hickens pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Johnson instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Johnson on the inside.
Hickens tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.

Johnson gets control of Hickens's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Johnson is trying to control the position but Hickens postures up.
Hickens is looking to stand up but Johnson won't let him.
Johnson wants to stand up but Hickens is controlling him.
Johnson wants to sweep here but Hickens controlling him for the moment.
Hickens trying to stand up but can't free himself from Johnson's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Johnson working for a triangle but Hickens defends it easily.
Hickens would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Johnson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Johnson dominated that round.
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.

Johnson dodges the punch combination from Hickens.
Hickens misses with the combination.
Hickens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Johnson moves into the clinch successfully.

Johnson gets control of Hickens's arms and successfully pulls guard. Johnson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Johnson pushes Hickens off and scrambles back to his feet.
Johnson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hickens is fending him off so far but Johnson persists. Nope, Hickens circles away and we're back to standing.
Hickens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Johnson misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens ducks under a wild hook from Johnson.
Johnson tries to clinch but Hickens is having none of it.
Johnson misses with a wild body shot.
Johnson dodges the punch combination from Hickens.
Hickens throws a combination that misses
and Johnson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Hickens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Johnson swings for the body but Hickens moves out of range.
Johnson swinging wildly here.
Hickens slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Mark Hickens is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Johnson lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Hickens throws a head kick but Johnson moves out of range.
Johnson lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Johnson fails with a takedown attempt.
Johnson avoids the head kick by Hickens.
Hickens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickens is breathing heavily.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hickens makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Johnson really felt that one!
Johnson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Hickens but Hickens pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hickens stuffs the takedown.
Hickens misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Left hook, right uppercut from Hickens.
Hickens lands a head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickens throws a right and a left that both miss.
Johnson looks for a takedown but Hickens sprawls well.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Hickens moves out of range.
Johnson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Hickens counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Johnson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Johnson moves in looking to clinch but Hickens pushes him off.
Hickens connects with a crisp jab.
Mathew Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hickens misses with a wild combination.
Hickens lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hickens throws a combination that misses
and Johnson counters with a two punch combo.
Johnson misses with a jab to the body
and Hickens counters with a big head kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Hickens misses with a head kick.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Hickens.
Johnson digs a good body shot into Hickens's ribs.
Hickens throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hickens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Johnson lands with an uppercut that bounces Hickens off the cage and back into rage.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hickens sprawls well. Hickens wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
Johnson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hickens throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Johnson dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Johnson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Johnson blocks a head kick by Hickens.
Johnson misses with a jab to the body
and Hickens counters with a big head kick but Johnson shrugs it off.
Johnson throws a lazy right hand but Hickens sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Johnson takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Johnson pushes Hickens up against the cage in a clinch.
Hickens tries to break free but Johnson pushes him back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Johnson.
Hickens has had enough of the clinch but Johnson keeps him there for the moment.
Johnson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hickens's efforts to push away.
Johnson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Johnson lands with a short shot to the head.
Johnson avoiding damage.
Hickens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Johnson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Johnson manages to pull guard.
Johnson looking for a sweep. Not yet Johnson, not yet.
Hickens prevents Johnson from getting back to his feet.
Hickens tries to stand but Johnson is controlling from the bottom.
Johnson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Johnson pushes Hickens off and gets back to his feet.
Hickens bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Johnson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hickens scores with a three punch combo!
Hickens throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Johnson's head.
Hickens dodges the punch combination from Johnson.
A slow jab from Johnson misses its intended target.
Johnson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hickens misses with a series of wild punches.
Hickens doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hickens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hickens throws a left and a right that both miss
and Johnson counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hickens paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johnson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hickens moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Johnson fails to land with a series of punches.
Johnson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hickens tries to avoid it but Johnson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hickens to the ground. Hickens escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hickens plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Hickens scores with a jab.
Hickens looks to throw the jab but Johnson is out of range.
Johnson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hickens.
Johnson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hickens swinging wildly here.
Johnson tries to close the distance and clinch but Hickens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A combination from Johnson does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Johnson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Johnson doesn't manage to clinch there - Hickens circles away.
Johnson is looking to clinch but Hickens is avoiding it.
A left and a right from Hickens both land. Nice combination.
Mathew Johnson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Johnson throws a series of punches but Hickens avoids them all with ease.
Hickens misses with a double jab
and Johnson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hickens throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Johnson looks to land a combination. Hickens sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Johnson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hickens circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mathew Johnson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Johnson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hickens counters with a lovely shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mathew Johnson.
Well Johnson 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathew Johnson!