PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ball Licker (ranked 5360 p4p, 486 weight class) and Tracy Minaj (ranked 5328 p4p, 482 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Licker
vs
Minaj

175 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
181 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ball Licker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tracy Minaj!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Sandra Marshall and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Minaj lunges at Licker with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Licker's hand.
Minaj throws a shot from downtown. Licker moves away and avoids it.
As Minaj tries to get set, Licker tries to push him back and clinch up but Minaj manages to avoid the attempt.
Licker gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jab by Minaj.
Minaj lands a nice shot that snaps Licker's head back.
Minaj lands with a cross.
Minaj throws out a powerful jab.
Minaj ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Licker moves away.

Licker gets tackled into the cage by Minaj. Minaj maintains the clinch.
Licker blocking some punches.
Minaj lands a body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Minaj.
Licker prevents a body shot from Minaj.
The referee is keeping an eye on Licker - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Minaj swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Minaj can't find room to land a body shot as Licker controls the action.
Minaj misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licker is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Licker works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Licker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Licker seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Minaj for as long as he can get away with.
Minaj wants to sweep here but Licker controlling him for the moment.

Licker decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Minaj, up you get!
Tracy Minaj seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Licker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Minaj avoids it really well and circles away.
Minaj cracks Licker with an open hand slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minaj looks to land a left hand but Licker moved out of range nicely.
Licker drops his hands momentarily and Minaj takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Licker gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Licker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Minaj throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Licker shoots in and gets a takedown into Minaj's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Licker's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Licker tries to free his leg and advance position but Minaj is retaining full guard.
Licker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minaj keeping full guard, as Licker tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minaj is looking to sweep but instead, Licker has passed into half guard.
Minaj tries to get to full guard but Licker has control of the leg.

Licker gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Minaj has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Licker goes for a double leg but Minaj avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Minaj continues to drive forward.
Tracy Minaj is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Minaj scores with a jab. Licker acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Minaj throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Licker stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Minaj lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Licker shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Minaj as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ball Licker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Minaj misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Licker.
Minaj tries to clinch up but Licker circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minaj lands with an uppercut that bounces Licker off the cage and back into range.
Minaj throws a right and a left that both miss.
Minaj lands a glancing blow to the side of Licker's head.

Licker shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Licker seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Minaj is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Licker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Licker connects with a couple of short punches.

Licker stands up and waves to Minaj to follow him.

Licker has Minaj up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tracy Minaj dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Licker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Minaj but Minaj pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Minaj! But no joy.
Tracy Minaj seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Minaj cracks Licker with an open hand slap.
Minaj tries to clinch up.

Minaj tries to keep at a distance but Licker has taken the fight into the clinch.

Licker jumps into guard, dragging Minaj to the mat.
Minaj stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Licker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Licker wants to stand and escape but Minaj is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minaj postures up in Licker's guard and throws a big left but Licker blocks it.
Minaj postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Licker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Minaj.
Licker striking off his back but it's not causing Minaj any problems.
Licker will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licker has Minaj pulled in close to control his posture.
Licker lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Minaj keeping moving, preventing Licker from controlling successfully.
Minaj wants to stand but Licker is controlling the position.
Licker passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Licker tries to move into full mount but can't pass Minaj's legs.
Minaj is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Licker is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licker works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Minaj has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minaj is looking to reverse the position.
Licker slows the pace down.
Minaj is trying to control Licker's posture but Licker avoids it.
Minaj misses with a strike from the bottom.
Minaj is looking to reverse the position.
Licker scores with a couple of short elbows.

Licker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Licker decides to stand back up.

Licker clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Licker pulls guard effortlessly.

Minaj got a little sloppy there for a moment and Licker has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Minaj has managed to get both his arms back between Licker's legs - danger averted.

Licker has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Minaj can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Licker is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Licker is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Minaj defends well.
Minaj postures up.
Minaj throws a strike but Licker rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Minaj is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minaj keeps trying to improve his position.
Licker is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Minaj is trying to control the position but Licker postures up.
Licker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Licker continues to stall.
Ball Licker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Licker lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Licker controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ball Licker dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Licker dives in for a single leg takedown but Minaj sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A nice side step and Minaj releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Minaj scores with a nice right hand.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Licker.
Licker shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Minaj pinned against the cage. Minaj gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ball Licker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Licker takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice jab there from Minaj.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minaj's corner calls for a 1-2. Minaj obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Licker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Minaj slips under a jab from Licker.
Licker doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Minaj tries to clinch there but Licker circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Licker drives through and clinches with Minaj against the cage.
Minaj tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Licker successfully pulls guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Licker is on top in guard.

Minaj looking for a sweep. Not yet Minaj, not yet.
Minaj is trying to keep Licker in close.
Licker is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Licker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Minaj is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minaj is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are battling for position here. Licker manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Minaj stands up over Licker, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Licker looking to control.
Minaj with a flurry of punches that miss.
Minaj tries to free his leg and advance position but Licker is retaining full guard.
Licker can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Minaj controls the pace.
Licker is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Minaj is controlling him.
Licker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Minaj missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minaj lands a couple of digs.
Minaj throws a big elbow that misses.
Licker pulls Minaj in close to his closed guard and prevents Minaj from doing any damage or advancing position.
Minaj postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Licker takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Minaj connects with a good right hand that stumbles Licker. Licker circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Licker tries to close the distance and clinch but Minaj swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It seemed like Minaj was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Minaj slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Licker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Minaj avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minaj paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Licker rushes Minaj and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Licker blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Licker drops down looking for an ankle pick but Minaj pulls his leg out and moves away.
Minaj connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Licker's hands.
Minaj scores with a jab to the body.
A swing and a miss from Licker.
Licker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Minaj keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Licker takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Licker takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tracy Minaj comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Minaj has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bart Greer scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tracy Minaj!
An out of breath Tracy Minaj thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.