PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Son Hickman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harald Mueller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hickman
vs
Mueller

207 cm
19
177 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
24
167 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Son Hickman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harald Mueller!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Mueller closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hickman did well to prevent Mueller getting side control.

Mueller is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hickman defends it well.
Mueller is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Hickman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Mueller.
Mueller content to control rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mueller is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hickman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mueller.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman wants to improve his position but Mueller is controlling well.

Mueller is working for a kimura but Hickman is defending it quite comfortably.
Mueller throws a strike but Hickman avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

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.

Mueller has gone for a leg lock! Hickman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Mueller's guard.

Hickman stopping the sweep attempt from Mueller.
Hickman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mueller is proving hard to escape from.
Mueller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hickman wants to stand but Mueller is controlling his posture from full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hickman swings for the body but Mueller moves out of range.
Mueller raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Mueller looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hickman!
Hickman wants to get back to his feet but Mueller is dominant here and he's now got Hickman's back!
Mueller avoiding Hickman 's attempts to control his hands.
Hickman avoids the strikes from Mueller.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mueller is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Hickman is defending well though. Mueller let's go of the attempt for now.

Mueller is looking for a choke. Hickman gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Hickman manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Hickman is working Mueller over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hickman wants to get up but he can't break Mueller's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Son Hickman will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mueller is defended easily by Hickman.
Hickman wants to land a leg kick but Mueller is out of range.
Mueller blocks a head kick by Hickman.
Hickman takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mueller goes for a double leg but Hickman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Hickman continues to drive forward.

Mueller shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mueller was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller tries to move to mount but Hickman blocks the move with his legs.
Harald Mueller has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mueller throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman tries to improve position but can't.

Mueller working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Mueller decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hickman to his feet.

Hickman moves into the clinch.
Hickman jumps guard but Mueller stands there with Hickman around his waist. Hickman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hickman is trying to pull guard but Mueller has him pressed against the cage.
Hickman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Son Hickman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hickman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mueller walks away with a smile on his face. Hickman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hickman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Mueller manages to break the clinch.

Hickman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mueller is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Mueller trying to hold on to Hickman's head to control him but Hickman postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller is trying is best to control the position here.
Hickman wants to get back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hickman lands a nice short elbow.
Mueller trying to hold on to Hickman's head to control him but Hickman postures up.
Hickman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hickman lands a nice short elbow.

That's four 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.
Hickman is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Mueller has closed the distance and engaged Hickman in a clinch.

Mueller breaks the clinch.
Hickman is looking to clinch but Mueller is avoiding it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mueller lands with a short shot to the head.
Hickman tries to pull guard but Mueller won't allow it.

Mueller lands a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hickman keeping moving, preventing Mueller from controlling successfully.
Mueller throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harald Mueller showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Mueller rushes Hickman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hickman jumps guard and drags Mueller to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mueller controlling from the top position.

Mueller avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Mueller gets to his feet - Hickman follows without any prompting.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mueller dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mueller takes the fight into the clinch.

Hickman jumps into guard, dragging Mueller to the mat.
Mueller trying to control but Hickman is working from the bottom.

Mueller gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hickman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mueller throws a head kick but Hickman moves out of range.
Hickman swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mueller.

Hickman shoots in and gets a takedown into Mueller's guard.

Mueller wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hickman darts in and clinches Mueller up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hickman is trying to pull guard but Mueller has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Mueller has picked Hickman up - he's going for a ride! Mueller dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Hickman has one foot on Mueller's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Mueller is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hickman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hickman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Mueller shoots in but Hickman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Son Hickman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Harald Mueller.

Mueller gets a double leg takedown into Hickman's guard.

Hickman pushes Mueller off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hickman swivels and escapes.
A head kick misses from Hickman.
Son Hickman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mueller falls off balance throwing a combination
and Hickman counters with a left to the body.
Mueller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hickman throws a nice looking combination but Mueller bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Mueller rushes Hickman and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Mueller manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hickman stands up and waves to Mueller to follow him.
A combination from Hickman does no damage.
Mueller misses with a double jab.

Hickman dives in and scores a takedown into Mueller's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mueller working a defensive guard here.
Hickman won't allow Mueller to sweep him here.

Hickman gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Hickman throws a push kick but Mueller slaps the foot to one side.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Son Hickman.
I think Hickman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Son Hickman!