PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Akira Ishikawa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ishikawa kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is mindshift genki sudo. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ishikawa
vs
Hickens

150 cm
21
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
24
140 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Akira Ishikawa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hickens!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Damien Edna and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hickens rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ishikawa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ishikawa dives in and grabs Hickens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hickens pushes down on Ishikawa's head and hops out.

Ishikawa shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ishikawa showed some decent athleticism there.

Ishikawa is looking for a kimura but Hickens is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ishikawa to get the leverage.
Hickens tries to kick Ishikawa off but Ishikawa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hickens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Ishikawa missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ishikawa with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ishikawa is keen to just control but Hickens is a slippery customer.
Ishikawa throwing shots but Hickens is blocking nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hickens can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ishikawa is looking to advance position but Hickens won't allow it.

Ishikawa seems to be working for a kimura but Hickens defends the submission attempt.

Ishikawa is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

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.
Ishikawa wants to take a breather but Hickens is having none of it.

Ishikawa decides to stand and escape the position.
A head kick misses from Ishikawa.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Hickens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Ishikawa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hickens is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Ishikawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Hickens sprawls well. He's pushed Ishikawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hickens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ishikawa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hickens gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ishikawa.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Akira Ishikawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ishikawa breaks the clinch.
Ishikawa tries to clinch up.
Hickens throws a sloppy head kick and Ishikawa moves out of range easily.
Hickens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickens throws a leg kick

and Ishikawa counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ishikawa.
Hickens looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ishikawa wants to control from the top but Hickens keeps moving.
Ishikawa is stalling in the full guard.
Hickens keeping full guard, as Ishikawa tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hickens is looking to stand up but Ishikawa isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Ishikawa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Ishikawa counters with a head kick.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Ishikawa counters with a nice leg kick.
Ishikawa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hickens throws out the jab.
Ishikawa throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ishikawa tries to close the distance and clinch but Hickens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mark Hickens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ishikawa tries to clinch there but Hickens circles away.
Hickens misses with a double jab
and Ishikawa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Hickens is breathing heavily.

Ishikawa rushes Hickens and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ishikawa prevents Hickens from breaking the clinch.
Hickens prevents the takedown attempt.
Ishikawa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Hickens prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens wants to break free but Ishikawa has control.
Ishikawa 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 Akira Ishikawa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Ishikawa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Akira Ishikawa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ishikawa wants to clinch up but Hickens keeps it at a distance.
Ishikawa shoots for a double leg takedown but Hickens sprawls well. He's pushed Ishikawa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ishikawa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hickens falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ishikawa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hickens won't be happy with that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ishikawa stands up and beckons Hickens to his feet.
A head kick by Hickens misses

and Ishikawa counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hickens!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ishikawa working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Ishikawa throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Hickens has his hands clasped together but Ishikawa breaks the hold and Hickens is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Ishikawa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:45 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Akira Ishikawa!