PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dick Hickman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manu Speziale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Hickman
vs
Speziale

183 cm
25
171 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
181 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great low kicks
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
Granite chin

Punishment Nutrition - New products in stock!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Hickman!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Manu Speziale!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Paul Aken and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Speziale lands a nice looking body shot.

Hickman moves into the clinch.
Hickman misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hickman working hard to break the clinch.

Hickman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hickman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hickman throws a sloppy head kick and Speziale moves out of range easily.
Speziale lands with a kick to the ribs.
Speziale keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Speziale scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Hickman is looking to clinch but Speziale is avoiding it.
Speziale blocks a head kick by Hickman.
Hickman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickman throws a head kick but Speziale moves out of range.
Hickman tries to close the distance and clinch but Speziale swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Speziale throws a head kick that Hickman semi-blocks.
Hickman tries to clinch up.
Hickman misses with a body kick.
Hickman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hickman throws a right and a left that both miss.
A nice leg kick lands there from Speziale.
Speziale connects with the punch.
Hickman misses with a body kick.
Hickman tries to clinch but Speziale is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hickman wants it to stay on the feet.
Hickman moves out of range as Speziale throws a body kick.
Hickman is looking to clinch.
Dick Hickman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A leg kick checked by Hickman.
Hickman throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Speziale.
Hickman throws a wild body kick that Speziale sees coming a mile off.
Hickman throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Speziale.

It looks like Manu Speziale has been cut.
A combination from Hickman does no damage.
Hickman tries to clinch up but Speziale circles away and keeps his distance.

Speziale has closed the distance and engaged Hickman in a clinch.
Speziale lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Dick Hickman has been cut.
Speziale lands an elbow inside that Hickman shrugs off.
Hickman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Hickman's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Speziale crunches a lovely knee into Hickman's ribcage.
Speziale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hickman is defending well for now.
Speziale stalls.
Speziale throws a knee to the head but misses.
Speziale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hickman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hickman struggles to land a body shot inside as Speziale controls his hands.
Stalling in the clinch from Speziale.
Speziale changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hickman fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Speziale gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickman wants to get back to striking at distance but Speziale won't allow it.
Hickman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Speziale using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hickman has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hickman misses with a punch on the inside.
Speziale blocking some punches.
Speziale putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hickman in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Speziale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hickman blocks it with crossed arms.

Hickman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Speziale tests Hickman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hickman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickman swinging wildly here.
Speziale is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hickman throws a sloppy head kick and Speziale moves out of range easily.
Speziale connects with a high kick.
Speziale shoots in looking for a takedown. Hickman tries to sprawl out of it but Speziale keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hickman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dick Hickman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manu Speziale.
Speziale moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hickman throws a sloppy head kick
and Speziale counters with a thumping low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Speziale gets a clinch.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the head but Hickman blocks with his arms.
Hickman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Speziale lands a good knee to the midsection. Hickman won't want to take too many of those.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Hickman takes an elbow to the temple.
Hickman wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hickman lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Speziale or not.
Speziale missing with knees to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Hickman.
Speziale looks gassed!
Speziale has Hickman pressed against the cage, preventing Hickman from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Speziale tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Speziale landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hickman gets through Speziale's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Hickman breaks the clinch.
Hickman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hickman scores with a nice head shot.
Speziale keeps the fight on the outside.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Hickman crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Speziale - the referee stops the clock and Hickman gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Speziale. Hickman manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hickman tries to clinch but Speziale moves away
and Speziale counters with a low kick, right behind Hickman 's knee.
Hickman darts in trying to clinch
and Speziale counters with a solid body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickman tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Speziale counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Speziale.
Hickman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hickman blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Hickman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hickman tries to clinch there but Speziale circles away.
Speziale dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hickman keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Speziale moves into range and clinches up with Hickman.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Speziale just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hickman's brow.
Speziale misses with a knee strike.
Hickman is looking to break free of the clinch but Speziale has double underhooks.
Knees to the body from Speziale.
Hickman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Speziale keeps control of Hickman as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Speziale throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hickman blocks it with crossed arms.
Hickman avoiding damage as Speziale throws knees to the body.
Speziale lands an elbow inside that Hickman shrugs off.
A right hook to the body lands for Hickman.
Hickman managing to block the knees to the body from Speziale.

Hickman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Hickman rushes Speziale and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Speziale dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hickman tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Speziale counters with a good low kick that Hickman was not able to check.
Hickman tries to close the distance and clinch but Speziale swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hickman lands a glancing blow to the side of Speziale's head.
Hickman stuns Speziale with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hickman swings away with a body shot that misses
and Speziale counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hickman wants to clinch but Speziale slips to the side
letting Speziale counter with a right hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Speziale.
Hickman throws a head kick that misses
and Speziale counters with a nice leg kick.
Hickman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Speziale looks to throw the jab but Hickman is out of range.
Speziale misses with a low kick.
Hickman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Speziale. Speziale circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Hickman avoids the head kick by Speziale.
Speziale avoids the body shot from Hickman.
Hickman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Speziale. Speziale obviously looking to wear him down.
Speziale tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hickman swivels and escapes.
Hickman lands a head kick!
Hickman tries to clinch there but Speziale circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale thuds his shin into the meat of Hickman's side.
Speziale swings away with a body shot that misses

and Hickman counters by clinching up.
Hickman wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Speziale has him pressed against the cage.
Speziale trying to land knees to the body.
Hickman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Speziale.
Speziale is breathing heavily.
Hickman works on Speziale's body with a couple of short punches.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Speziale obliges.
Hickman avoids a wild elbow strike from Speziale.
Hickman is trying to break free.
Hickman has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hickman is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Speziale pushes off an throws an elbow but Hickman leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Speziale misses with a knee strike.
Hickman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Hickman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hickman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickman misses with a combination

and Speziale counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hickman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hickman tries to get out of the position.

Hickman manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speziale keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hickman misses with a combination
and Speziale counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hickman's knee momentarily.
Hickman throws a wild body kick that Speziale sees coming a mile off.
Speziale throws a leg kick but Hickman sees it coming and moves out of range.
Speziale thows a body kick. Hickman tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Speziale bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Hickman's head.
Hickman throws a chopping leg kick but Speziale manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dick Hickman is winning the standup battle so far.
Speziale misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A head kick misses from Hickman.

Hickman takes the fight into the clinch.
Speziale tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hickman avoids it.
Speziale works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

Speziale lands a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Speziale is looking to work some ground and pound but Hickman has wrist control.
Speziale in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hickman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickman wants to stand and escape but Speziale is having none of it.
Speziale has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Speziale throwing strikes from guard but Hickman blocks nicely.
Speziale working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Speziale distracts Hickman with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hickman is looking to stand up but Speziale isn't so interested in that idea.
Speziale tries to free his leg and advance position but Hickman is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hickman is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Speziale dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Speziale tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

Speziale is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hickman has escaped the position, nice work there.
Speziale misses with the ground and pound.
Speziale postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Speziale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hickman keeps working.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Hickman lands a head kick. Speziale smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Hickman clinches up with Speziale and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dick Hickman will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Speziale forces Hickman back against the cage and clinches.
Speziale lands a nice uppercut.
Speziale unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hickman's efforts to push away.
Hickman lands an uppercut.
A frustrated look appears on Hickman's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Speziale is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hickman is defending well for now.
Speziale creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hickman's defenses.
Knees to the body from Speziale.
Speziale throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hickman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Hickman manages to break the clinch.
Speziale dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Speziale is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Speziale closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hickman circles away.
Speziale avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Speziale is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hickman.
Speziale loads up on a big right hand but Hickman slips the punch.
Hickman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Speziale lands the left hand.
Speziale takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Speziale.
Hickman takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Speziale has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hickman moves in looking to clinch but Speziale pushes him off.
Hickman is looking to wear down Speziale with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Speziale cracks the inside of Hickman's front leg.
Speziale throws a leg kick that is checked

and Hickman counters by clinching up.
A knee to the head by Speziale.
Hickman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hickman tries to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling the position.
Speziale tries to land knees in the clinch but Hickman avoids the damage to the body.
Manu Speziale seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hickman is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Hickman lands a left hand.
Speziale using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Speziale with a knee to the head.
Hickman avoiding damage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Hickman as Speziale tries to tie him up.
Hickman is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Speziale unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hickman lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hickman lands an uppercut.
Speziale prevents Hickman from breaking the clinch.
Hickman on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hickman breaks from the clinch.
Hickman looks to throw a body kick
and Speziale counters with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Speziale.
Hickman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Speziale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hickman as he jumps to the side.
Hickman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Speziale is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hickman.
A head kick misses from Hickman.
Hickman throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Speziale gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hickman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dick Hickman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Manu Speziale.
Hickman throws a right and a left that Speziale avoids nicely.
Speziale avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hickman looks for the body kick but Speziale saw that one coming.
Hickman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hickman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Hickman fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hickman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hickman on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Speziale. Speziale obviously looking to wear him down.
A low kick from Hickman is predictable there

and Speziale counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hickman won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hickman managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Speziale.
Speziale throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Hickman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Dick Hickman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A punch combination from Speziale misses.
Hickman throws a leg kick but Speziale sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Speziale misses with a two punch combination.
A solid leg kick lands there for Speziale.
Hickman will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Hickman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Speziale counters with a body kick that stops Hickman in his tracks momentarily.
Hickman misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Speziale takes the fight into the clinch.
Hickman is trying to break the clinch but Speziale is controlling him.
Hickman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hickman wants to break the clinch but can't.
Speziale lands a good knee to the midsection. Hickman won't want to take too many of those.

Speziale turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Speziale manages to end up in side control.
Hickman is trying to buck Speziale off.
Speziale in side control lands a decent elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Speziale tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Speziale has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Hickman is not content to let Speziale control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manu Speziale really dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hickman throws a head kick that misses.
Hickman is looking to land body kicks.
Hickman tries to land a front kick but Speziale steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Hickman has managed to clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Hickman.
Speziale tries to land knees in the clinch but Hickman avoids the damage to the body.
Speziale misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Hickman.
Hickman is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Hickman lands an uppercut.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Speziale obliges.
Hickman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hickman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Hickman can't break the clinch.
Speziale keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hickman's efforts to push away.
Hickman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speziale's elbow.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Hickman managing to block the knees to the body from Speziale.
Hickman avoiding damage as Speziale throws knees to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Hickman.
Knees in the clinch landing for Speziale.
Speziale wants a takedown but no success here.

Hickman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hickman tries to bum rush Speziale with a series of wild strikes but Speziale uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hickman.
Speziale shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hickman as he jumps to the side.
Hickman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickman throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Speziale counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hickman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hickman throws the left hand but Speziale avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Speziale misses the target.
Hickman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hickman goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Speziale looks to land a combination. Hickman sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hickman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Speziale.
A good leg kick by Speziale.
Hickman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Speziale manages to avoid it.

Speziale closes the distance and clinches.
Speziale missing with knees to the body.

Hickman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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.
Hickman ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hickman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Speziale.
Hickman misses with a looping left.
Hickman throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Hickman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
An inside leg kick from Speziale misses.
Hickman throws a body kick that misses.
Hickman walks into a jab.
Speziale circles away from the clinch attempt
and Speziale counters with a nice body kick.
Hickman pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hickman moves in looking to clinch but Speziale pushes him off.
Hickman closes the distance but Speziale moves to the side
and Speziale counters with a straight right hand.
Speziale wants to slow Hickman down by chopping away at his legs.
Speziale avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Speziale's calf.
Hickman has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Speziale.
Hickman looks to land a right hand but Speziale moved out of range.
Speziale throws a leg kick that misses.
Hickman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Hickman finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Speziale takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A head kick misses from Speziale.
Speziale is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hickman.
Speziale slips a jab and a cross from Hickman.
Hickman misses with a head kick.

Hickman gets caught flat footed, as Speziale shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Speziale postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hickman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Speziale is controlling him.
Hickman keeping moving, preventing Speziale from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speziale stops Hickman from standing up.
Speziale working some strikes from top position.
Speziale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Speziale throws and elbow that misses. Hickman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Speziale's guard. Nice move by Hickman!
Speziale bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hickman's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Dick Hickman will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Speziale throws a wild body kick that Hickman sees coming a mile off.
Speziale moves out of range of the body kick from Hickman.
Hickman tries to clinch up but Speziale circles away and keeps his distance.
Speziale with a nice cross.
Hickman checks a low kick from Speziale.
Hickman throws a head kick that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Speziale swings for the body but Hickman moves out of range.
Hickman throws a sloppy head kick
and Speziale counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hickman misses with a head kick.
Speziale tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hickman swivels and escapes.
Speziale misses with a leg kick
and Hickman counters with a two punch combo.
Speziale scores with a kick to the body.
Hickman closes the distance looking to clinch

and Speziale counters with a takedown into side control.
Manu Speziale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hickman defending against the ground and pound.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Speziale in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Speziale throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Speziale in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Speziale throws an elbow but Hickman slips to the side and avoids it well.
Speziale taking a break here but Hickman is having none of it and regains half guard.
Hickman is trying to stand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Speziale is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Speziale fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Speziale checks the leg kick nicely there.
Speziale throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hickman's head.
Hickman clinches but Speziale breaks the clinch
and Speziale counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hickman's knee momentarily.
Hickman misses with a head kick.
Speziale lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hickman circles away quickly and effectively.
Speziale throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Hickman.
Nice body kick from Speziale.
Hickman looks to clinch

and Speziale counters with a shoot takedown. Hickman fights it but they end up in guard.
Speziale throws a strike but Hickman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Speziale looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hickman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speziale tries to roll over but Hickman keeps him under control.
Speziale is looking to get back to full guard here but Hickman has managed to pass to side control instead.
Hickman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Speziale is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Speziale is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hickman tries to control but Speziale wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manu Speziale comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Speziale 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 47:49
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 47:48
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manu Speziale!
Manu Speziale is the new welterweight champion!