PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dwayne Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Constantine Markakis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Hicks
vs
Markakis

186 cm
25
189 lbs
11 - 5 - 1

186 cm
27
192 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dwayne Hicks !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Constantine Markakis!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markakis wants to clinch up but Hicks keeps it at a distance.
Hicks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Markakis wants to clinch up but Hicks keeps it at a distance.

Hicks changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Markakis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Hicks is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Markakis's shoulder. That is not cool.
Markakis is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hicks 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Markakis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hicks 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hicks 's back!
Hicks looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Markakis is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Markakis punches the canvas rather than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markakis has good solid back control here.
Even with his hooks in, Markakis manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Markakis throwing sloppy strikes.
Hicks tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Hicks on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Hicks tries to get out of the position.
Hicks is squirming around, avoiding Markakis's attempts to control the action.
Markakis with good strikes from the mount here!

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.
Markakis punching from mount but Hicks doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hicks is squirming around, avoiding Markakis's attempts to control the action.
Hicks wants to control but Markakis is having none of it.
Markakis misses with a head shot.
Hicks wants to hold on but Markakis pushes him away.
Hicks is looking to get to half guard.
Markakis throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Markakis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks tries to reverse the position but Markakis maintains control.
Markakis controlling his opponent.

Markakis swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Hicks is now in Markakis's guard. A big mistake from Markakis there, giving up the dominant position!

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.
Markakis pulls Hicks in close to his closed guard and prevents Hicks from doing any damage or advancing position.
Markakis wants to sweep here but Hicks controlling him for the moment.
Hicks is fighting to break Markakis's control of his arms but Markakis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Constantine Markakis will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hicks closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Markakis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hicks .
Markakis gets back to full guard.
Hicks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hicks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Markakis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hicks postures up in Markakis's guard and throws a big left but Markakis blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Markakis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Markakis is adopting a defensive guard.
Markakis wants to sweep here but Hicks controlling him for the moment.
Markakis managing to control the position.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Markakis wants to clinch.
Hicks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Markakis avoids it really well and circles away.
Markakis fails in his attempt to clinch.
Markakis throws a push kick but Hicks slaps the foot to one side.
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt - Markakis sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Markakis fails with an attempt to clinch.
Constantine Markakis is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hicks fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Markakis avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dwayne Hicks . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Markakis tries to clinch but Hicks moves out of range.
Markakis fails in his attempt to clinch.

Hicks shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hicks trying to control from Markakis's half guard. Markakis has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markakis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hicks is one step ahead there.
Markakis keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.
Hicks throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Markakis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hicks is one step ahead there.
Hicks wants to pass the guard but Markakis is keeping the position.
Markakis pulls Hicks in close to prevent any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hicks avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Hicks does it's job there.
Hicks shoots in but no luck this time.
Hicks takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dwayne Hicks dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Hicks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Markakis is trying to defend but Hicks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Markakis trying to hold on to Hicks 's head to control him but Hicks postures up.
Markakis tries to roll over but Hicks keeps him under control.
Markakis is refusing to be controlled, as Hicks sits in half guard.
Markakis is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks is just content to waste time from the top position. Markakis takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Hicks throws a strike but Markakis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Markakis wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hicks swats away the attempt to clinch by Markakis.
Markakis fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hicks manages to avoid it.

Markakis moves into the clinch.
Hicks is looking to break free of the clinch but Markakis has double underhooks.
Markakis lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Markakis lands an elbow inside.

It looks like Dwayne Hicks has been cut.
Hicks has had enough of the clinch but Markakis keeps him there for the moment.
Hicks working hard to break the clinch.
Markakis pushes off an throws an elbow but Hicks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Hicks wants to get back to striking at distance but Markakis won't allow it.
Markakis landing knees to the head.
Markakis is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hicks is defending well for now.
Hicks on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Markakis unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hicks lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hicks takes a shot to the head.
Hicks takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markakis tries to land a knee to the head but Hicks blocks with his arms.
Markakis dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Markakis comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hicks is trying to break free.
Markakis misses with a knee to the head.
Markakis tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hicks avoids it.
Markakis lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Markakis lands an elbow just above Hicks 's eye.
Markakis misses with the head strike.
Markakis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Markakis working Hicks over with knees to the body.
Markakis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hicks blocks it with crossed arms.
A bit of stalling here from Markakis.
Markakis looking to throw knees to the head but Hicks is blocking nicely.
Markakis has Hicks pressed against the cage, preventing Hicks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hicks is trying to force a seperation but Markakis has the dominant position.
Hicks looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Markakis tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

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.
Hicks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Markakis has Hicks pressed against the cage, preventing Hicks from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hicks wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Markakis has him pressed against the cage.
Markakis misses with a hook from the clinch.
Markakis connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hicks 's face.
Hicks blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hicks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A frustrated look appears on Hicks 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Markakis tries to stall but Hicks uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Markakis with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hicks wants to break the clinch but can't.
Markakis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hicks wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Markakis throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hicks blocks it with crossed arms.
Markakis prevents Hicks from breaking the clinch.
Hicks tries to break free but Markakis pushes him back against the cage.
Markakis trying to land knees to the body.
Hicks blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hicks wants to get back to striking at distance but Markakis won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Constantine Markakis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Markakis 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!