PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Willy Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Byron Bledsoe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hicks
vs
Bledsoe

199 cm
22
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
139 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Self confident

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Alpha-Male Nutritional Supplements (q160)

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Willy Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Byron Bledsoe!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Paul Gruel and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Hicks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Bledsoe clinches.
Bledsoe holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Bledsoe scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hicks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bledsoe just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hicks really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bledsoe content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Bledsoe is trying to trip Hicks. He has hold of a leg but Hicks is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bledsoe persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bledsoe looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bledsoe tries to stand but Hicks is controlling from the bottom.
Hicks is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bledsoe is looking for a sweep. Hicks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hicks is working for a submission of some sort.

Hicks is looking for a kimura here.

Hicks is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bledsoe is just riding it out for now. Hicks eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bledsoe preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hicks is thwarting Bledsoe's attempts to control the position.

Hicks seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bledsoe wants to get back to full guard.
Bledsoe controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bledsoe is trying to control but can't.
Hicks will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bledsoe controlling the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Byron Bledsoe hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bledsoe counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bledsoe.
Bledsoe sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Byron Bledsoe hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bledsoe counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bledsoe clinches with his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bledsoe stalling against the cage.
Hicks tries to pull guard but Bledsoe holds him up against the cage and eventually Hicks drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Bledsoe dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bledsoe counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hicks won't be happy with that.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Let's hope that Bledsoe has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Byron Bledsoe.
A slow jab from Bledsoe misses its intended target.
A jab from Hicks finds it's way through Bledsoe's defenses.
Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bledsoe counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Still in half guard, Bledsoe seems content to control.
Hicks wants to improve his position but Bledsoe is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bledsoe works his way into side control.
Bledsoe taking a break here but Hicks is having none of it and regains half guard.
Bledsoe content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Byron Bledsoe wasn't active enough on the ground.
A combination from Hicks does no damage.
Hicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bledsoe slips a jab from Hicks.
Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bledsoe moves into the clinch.
Good body shot from Bledsoe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bledsoe to keep the fight standing.
Bledsoe digs a right hand into Hicks's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Hicks's gas tank.
Bledsoe lands a nice shot to the body.
Hicks fails to pull guard.
Bledsoe leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hicks tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bledsoe just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Willy Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bledsoe has Hicks pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Byron Bledsoe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hicks connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hicks throws a body punch but Bledsoe moves out of range.
Bledsoe blocks a jab.
Bledsoe thows a body shot but no joy.
Bledsoe slips under a jab.

Bledsoe rushes Hicks and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bledsoe pushes Hicks back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Bledsoe.
Bledsoe works on Hicks's body with a couple of short punches.

Bledsoe breaks from the clinch.
Hicks misses with the combination.
Bledsoe showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hicks.
Hicks digs a good body shot into Bledsoe's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hicks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Bledsoe scores with a takedown into Hicks's guard.
Bledsoe stopping the sweep attempt from Hicks.
Bledsoe not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bledsoe works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to improve his position.
Bledsoe not doing much here.
Hicks tries to get to full guard but Bledsoe has control of the leg.
Bledsoe controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Byron Bledsoe was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hicks misses with a two punch combination.

Hicks tries to keep at a distance but Bledsoe has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bledsoe slows down the pace here.
Byron Bledsoe is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hicks fails to pull guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Byron Bledsoe comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bledsoe winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Byron Bledsoe!
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight for Byron Bledsoe!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Byron Bledsoe!

Byron Bledsoe wins by unanimous decision!