PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nick Rickert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Issa Locke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Locke has chosen The Clash - London Calling as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Rickert
vs
Locke

193 cm
18
224 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

208 cm
25
287 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Good knees
Prefers standup

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

[AIM] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

[AIM] Hilton Supplements *NYC*
[AIM] Hilton Supplements *NYC*

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nick Rickert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Issa Locke!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Dean Styles and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Locke scores with a jab to the jaw.
Locke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rickert circles away quickly and effectively.
Rickert throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Locke looks to land a combination. Rickert sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rickert throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Locke throws a low kick, looking for Rickert's leg but Rickert calmly moves out of range.
Locke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Locke closes the distance and clinches.
Locke drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rickert gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Locke is trying to trip Rickert. He has hold of a leg but Rickert is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Locke persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Locke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Locke's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke stopping the sweep attempt from Rickert.
Rickert being controlled here, momentarily.

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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
I looks like Locke might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Locke must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Issa Locke.
A right-left combo lands from Locke.
Locke shoots in looking for a takedown. Rickert tries to sprawl out of it but Locke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rickert manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Rickert darts in trying to clinch

and Locke counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Locke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rickert pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nick Rickert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Issa Locke.
Locke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck for Locke with that takedown attempt.
Rickert pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Locke scores with a shot to the body.
Rickert lands with a kick to the temple. Locke shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Locke throws a series of punches but Rickert moves out of range.
Locke blocks a head kick by Rickert.
Locke connects with a body shot.
Rickert ducks right into an uppercut from Locke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Locke moves into range and clinches up with Rickert.
Locke tries for a takedown but Rickert manages to get underhooks.
Rickert wants to break the clinch but can't.
Locke drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rickert gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Locke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nick Rickert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Issa Locke.

Locke gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rickert utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Locke advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rickert is trying to get back to half guard.
Locke controls the position.

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.
Locke working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Locke tries to move to mount but Rickert blocks the move with his legs.
Rickert might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Locke goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rickert has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Locke but great work by Rickert.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four 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.

Rickert decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Nick Rickert seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rickert throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rickert tries to move into range but Locke moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Locke has Rickert pressed against the cage, preventing Rickert from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rickert is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Locke is keeping busy.
Rickert is pressed up against the cage. Locke has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Rickert down to the mat. Rickert avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Issa Locke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rickert's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Locke.
Locke lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rickert circles away quickly and effectively.

Locke shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Locke stalling.
Locke uses his free foot to push down on Rickert's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rickert.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Locke throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Issa Locke is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Locke content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Issa Locke comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Locke has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Issa Locke!