PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick De La Rossa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). De La Rossa has chosen DJ Khaled - Go Hard as his entrance music. Dwayne Hicks has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hicks
vs
De La Rossa

170 cm
22
146 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dwayne Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick De La Rossa!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Sosuke Kotani and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Rossa doesn't manage to clinch there - Hicks circles away.
Hicks defends well against a solid takedown attempt from De La Rossa.
De La Rossa swings for the body but Hicks moves out of range.
De La Rossa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hicks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hicks misses with a looping right.

Hicks forces De La Rossa back against the ropes and clinches.
Hicks goes for a takedown in the clinch but De La Rossa prevents it.
De La Rossa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hicks gets the underhooks and prevents it.
De La Rossa throws an elbow that misses.
Hicks working aggressively here.
De La Rossa trying to stall but Hicks improves his position.

Hicks is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. De La Rossa can't fight it off and eventually Hicks manages to take the fight to the floor. De La Rossa looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
De La Rossa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hicks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hicks throws a big right hand that misses.
Hicks looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks throws and elbow that misses. De La Rossa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hicks's guard. Nice move by De La Rossa!
De La Rossa throws and elbow that misses. Hicks uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in De La Rossa's guard. Nice move by Hicks!
De La Rossa has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Hicks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
De La Rossa working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hicks.
De La Rossa keeping full guard, as Hicks tries to pass.
Hicks postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to work some ground and pound but De La Rossa has wrist control.
Hicks cracks De La Rossa with a solid left hand.
Hicks distracts De La Rossa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hicks throws a big right hand that misses.
De La Rossa is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

De La Rossa has his foot on Hicks's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hicks works his way back into a safe position though.

De La Rossa is working an open guard so Hicks takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Hicks moves into range and clinches up with De La Rossa.
Hicks pushes De La Rossa back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Hicks is trying to stall.
De La Rossa's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Rossa trying to control the position but instead, Hicks has worked for underhooks and has pushed De La Rossa into the ropes.
De La Rossa is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Hicks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dwayne Hicks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick De La Rossa.
A shot in the inside from Hicks.
Hicks controlling the action here for a moment.

Hicks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
De La Rossa slaps away a takedown attempt from Hicks, before circling back to the center of the mat.
De La Rossa tries to clinch but Hicks moves out of range.
De La Rossa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hicks takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hicks fails with a takedown attempt.

Hicks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hicks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A short right from Hicks.
De La Rossa jumps guard but Hicks stands there with De La Rossa around his waist. De La Rossa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hicks lands on the inside with an uppercut.
De La Rossa missing with knees to the body.
De La Rossa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hicks has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Hicks breaks from the clinch.
Hicks fails in his attempt to clinch.
De La Rossa moves forwards but Hicks connects with a nice, crisp jab.
De La Rossa tries to clinch up

and Hicks counters with a takedown into side control.
Hicks is chipping away with strikes.
Hicks working the head with strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicks scores with punches from side control.
De La Rossa is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Hicks dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Hicks tries to clinch

and De La Rossa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by De La Rossa.
Hicks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
De La Rossa throws an elbow but it misses.
Hicks lands with a short shot to the head.
De La Rossa is working for takedown but Hicks is calmly controlling the position for now.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.
De La Rossa missing with knees to the body.
Hicks wants to stall.
De La Rossa prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hicks.
Nice body punch from Hicks - that landed with a thud.
De La Rossa pushes off an throws an elbow but Hicks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
A hook to the body from Hicks.

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

De La Rossa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

De La Rossa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hicks is just riding it out for now. De La Rossa eventually gives up the hold.

De La Rossa looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
De La Rossa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks wants to control but De La Rossa is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hicks works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hicks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
De La Rossa thows a big elbow that misses.
De La Rossa throwing strikes from guard but Hicks blocks nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
De La Rossa ducks under a wild hook from Hicks.
Hicks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and De La Rossa counters by moving into the clinch.
De La Rossa has Hicks pressed against the ropes, preventing Hicks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
De La Rossa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hicks blocks an uppercut.

Hicks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dwayne Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks cracks De La Rossa with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
De La Rossa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and De La Rossa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hicks pushes De La Rossa up against the ropes in a clinch.
De La Rossa struggles to land a body shot inside as Hicks controls his hands.
Hicks lands a right hand that snaps the head of De La Rossa backwards.
Hicks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hicks lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hicks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Hicks lands a shot to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hicks.
De La Rossa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hicks throws an elbow but it's blocked.
De La Rossa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hicks prevents it.
De La Rossa throws a knee to the head but misses.
De La Rossa misses with a shot to the kidneys.
De La Rossa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hicks is keeping busy.
Hicks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hicks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
De La Rossa prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hicks lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hicks working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks working the head and body with strikes.
Hicks looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks De La Rossa with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

De La Rossa looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hicks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hicks connects with a nice short shot to De La Rossa's temple.
Hicks scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hicks landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

De La Rossa is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hicks pulls his head out easily.
De La Rossa slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Hicks dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hicks catches De La Rossa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Hicks shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. De La Rossa defends it nicely.
De La Rossa tries to clinch but Hicks moves out of range.
A jab from De La Rossa misses.

Hicks decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Hicks working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
De La Rossa tries to get to full guard but Hicks has control of the leg.
Hicks lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hicks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De La Rossa looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
De La Rossa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hicks lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dwayne Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
De La Rossa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hicks scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hicks lands with a punch from half guard.
Dwayne Hicks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De La Rossa is looking to improve his position.
Hicks slows the pace down in half guard.
Hicks throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hicks wants to lay and pray for a moment but De La Rossa keeps working.
De La Rossa tries to roll over but Hicks keeps him under control.
Hicks sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De La Rossa wants to get back to full guard.
Hicks missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hicks gets in close and instigates a clinch.
De La Rossa lands an elbow inside.

Hicks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hicks misses the shot to the body.
Hicks tries for a takedown but De La Rossa circles away easily

and De La Rossa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
De La Rossa connects with a couple of short punches.
Nick De La Rossa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De La Rossa throws a strike but Hicks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
De La Rossa wants to improve his position but instead Hicks has moved into half guard.
De La Rossa has hold of Hicks's hands but Hicks slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
De La Rossa is looking for a sweep. Hicks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hicks performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
De La Rossa is staying active underneath Hicks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dwayne Hicks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hicks 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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dwayne Hicks!