PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Luke Freedman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freedman kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Power . Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Freedman
vs
Hicks

188 cm
25
206 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Luke Freedman !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bill Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks misses with a looping left.
Freedman misses with a takedown attempt - Hicks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Freedman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hicks.
A punch combination from Freedman misses.
Hicks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hicks swinging wildly here.
Hicks leaves Freedman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hicks throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Freedman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hicks is trying to defend but Freedman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Freedman wants to take a breather but Hicks is having none of it.
Freedman is breathing heavily.
Hicks looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freedman slows the pace down in half guard.
Hicks looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Freedman with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luke Freedman wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Good work by Freedman as he checks the leg kick.
Hicks showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Freedman .
Hicks throws the kick towards the body but Freedman avoids it.

That's two 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.
Hicks connects with a jab.
Hicks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Freedman stuffs the takedown.
Luke Freedman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freedman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hicks.
Freedman shoots for a double leg takedown but Hicks sprawls well. He's pushed Freedman 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Freedman . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freedman dodges the punch combination from Hicks.
Freedman throws a series of punches but Hicks avoids them all with ease.
Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Freedman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Freedman thows a big elbow that misses.
Hicks wants to stand and escape but Freedman is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hicks can do anything to dispel that myth.
Freedman is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks wants to sweep but no luck.
Freedman controlling from the top position.
Hicks wants to stand up but Freedman is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luke Freedman wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hicks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Freedman shoots in for a double leg but Hicks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four 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.
Hicks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Freedman shoots in looking for a takedown. Hicks tries to sprawl out of it but Freedman keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hicks manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Freedman walks into a stiff left hand from Hicks.

Hicks drives through and clinches with Freedman against the cage.
Freedman keeps control of Hicks as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A short left from Hicks.
Hicks has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Freedman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hicks is pressed up against the cage. Freedman has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hicks down to the mat. Hicks avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hicks gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Freedman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hicks's guard.
Freedman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luke Freedman dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Freedman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hicks counters by clinching up.
Hicks has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Freedman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Freedman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Freedman . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Hicks pulls guard successfully.
Freedman trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freedman thows a big elbow that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Freedman wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Hicks wants to get back to his feet but Freedman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

We're going to have a standup here because Luke Freedman wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Hicks misses with the combination.
Freedman misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Hicks to counter with a crisp jab.
Freedman with a poor takedown
and Hicks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Freedman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Luke Freedman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Freedman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Hicks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Freedman staying out of range there.
Hicks might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Hicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Freedman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hicks.
Freedman throws a left and a right that both miss
and Hicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hicks connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Freedman throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A left and a right from Hicks both land. Nice combination.
Hicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Freedman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hicks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Freedman takes the fight into the clinch.
Freedman has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hicks is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Freedman breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks misses with a series of wild punches.
Hicks doesn't manage to clinch there - Freedman circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Freedman is defended easily by Hicks.
Freedman checks a leg kick nicely.
Hicks throws a nice looking combination but Freedman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Freedman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Freedman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to escape.
Freedman stalling.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Freedman moves into full mount! Hicks won't be happy about that!
BOOM! Freedman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Freedman unloading with bombs!
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 Luke Freedman 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. And we move into the final round!

Freedman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hicks tries to bum rush Freedman with a series of wild strikes but Freedman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hicks misses with a wild combination.
Hicks throws a head kick but Freedman moves out of range.
Hicks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Freedman .
Freedman fails with the takedown

and Hicks counters with a nice double leg into side control. Freedman won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Luke Freedman . That's going to take a lot out of him.

Freedman throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Freedman tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hicks misses with a two punch combination.
Freedman lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hicks connects with a crisp jab.
Freedman with a poor takedown
and Hicks counters with a three punch combo that has Freedman backing up. Freedman nods at Hicks to acknowledge the strikes.
Freedman misses with a takedown attempt
and Hicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hicks throws a combination that misses

and Freedman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hicks's guard.
Freedman scoring with some ground and pound.
Freedman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Freedman gets to his feet. Hicks looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks throws a lazy head kick

and Freedman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hicks's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Freedman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Freedman works over Hicks with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freedman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Freedman wants to pass the guard but Hicks is keeping the position.
Hicks is looking to stand up but Freedman isn't so interested in that idea.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Luke Freedman wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Freedman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Freedman seems content to control.
Freedman working the head and body with strikes.
Freedman looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freedman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Luke Freedman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hicks is in trouble now - Freedman has advanced to mount!
Freedman controlling from the full mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Poor strikes thrown by Freedman there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

And that's the end of the fight!
Luke Freedman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Freedman , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luke Freedman !