PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Klitschko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hicks has chosen Bang Your Head as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Klitschko
vs
Hicks

185 cm
23
153 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

174 cm
25
155 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Klitschko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hicks looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hicks uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Klitschko.
Klitschko wants to land a leg kick but Hicks is out of range.
Klitschko takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Klitschko moves out of range as Hicks strikes.
Klitschko really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Klitschko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Klitschko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed right hand from Klitschko misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hicks shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Klitschko's guard.
Hicks cracks Klitschko with a solid left hand.
Klitschko wants to stand but Hicks is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks tries to free his leg and advance position but Klitschko is retaining full guard.
Klitschko wants to stand up but Hicks is controlling him.
Hicks has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hicks lands a couple of elbows.
Hicks stands and throws Klitschko's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hicks misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hicks working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Klitschko is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Klitschko is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Hicks is controlling him well.
Klitschko dodges the ground and pound from Hicks.
Hicks misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Hicks throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Hicks tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hicks creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Klitschko tries to escape but Hicks is in control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hicks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hicks thows a body shot but no joy.
Hicks throws a lazy right hand but Klitschko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Klitschko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Klitschko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hicks looks for a takedown but Klitschko sprawls well.
Hicks has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Klitschko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hicks scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks falls off balance throwing a combination
and Klitschko counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Klitschko throws an overhand right that lands on Hicks's shoulder, as Hicks tries to avoid the shot.
Hicks checks a low kick from Klitschko.
Hicks moves in looking to clinch but Klitschko pushes him off.
Klitschko keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hicks.
A telegraphed right hand from Klitschko misses the target.
Klitschko looks to score with a jab to the body but Hicks is just out of range.
Bill Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Klitschko stuffs the takedown.
Hicks throws a lazy right hand but Klitschko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hicks throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

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.
Klitschko lands a really nice looking cross but Hicks seems unphased.
Klitschko throws out a loose jab but Hicks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Klitschko moves away from the strike by Hicks.

Hicks closes the distance and pushes Klitschko back into the cage.
Klitschko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hicks has him pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hicks.
Klitschko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Klitschko is trying to force a seperation but Hicks has the dominant position.
Klitschko stops a takedown attempt from Hicks.
Ivan Klitschko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Hicks.
Hicks pushes Klitschko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A body shot lands from Hicks.
Hicks tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Klitschko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hicks changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Klitschko fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Hicks dominated that round.
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.

Klitschko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hicks is out of range.
Hicks is trying hard to land a takedown here. Klitschko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Klitschko digs a good body shot into Hicks's ribs.
Klitschko's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Klitschko duly obliges.
Klitschko tests Hicks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Klitschko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Klitschko takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hicks tries for a takedown but Klitschko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Klitschko circles away from the clinch attempt.
A jab from Klitschko does it's job there.
Good work by Hicks as he checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks thows a body shot but no joy.
Klitschko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Klitschko swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hicks avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Ivan Klitschko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Klitschko sprawls well. Klitschko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hicks gets slowly back to his feet.
Ivan Klitschko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Hicks.
Klitschko attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Hicks moves out of range of the leg kick from Klitschko.
Klitschko throws a nice looking combination but Hicks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

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.
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt
and Klitschko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hicks throws a nice looking combination but Klitschko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Klitschko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Klitschko staying out of range there.
Hicks checks a leg kick.
Hicks throws a body punch but Klitschko moves out of range.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch but Klitschko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hicks wants to clinch up but Klitschko keeps it at a distance.
Klitschko misses the jab.
Ivan Klitschko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hicks is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks slips a straight right by Klitschko.
Hicks throws the left hand but Klitschko avoids the punch easily.
Hicks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Klitschko fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Hicks checks it well.
Hicks tries to clinch up but Klitschko circles away and keeps his distance.
Klitschko throws a body punch but Hicks moves out of range.
Hicks throws a combination that misses
and Klitschko counters with a nice uppercut.
Klitschko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Klitschko throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Klitschko digs a good hook to Hicks's body.
Klitschko misses with a hook. Hicks ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Klitschko pivots, looking for a leg kick but Hicks is out of range and Klitschko settles back down.
Klitschko lands a two punch combo.
Hicks missing with a left hand there. Klitschko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Klitschko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Hicks lands with a right hand.
Hicks takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hicks throws a hook but Klitschko blocks it.
Klitschko slips a jab from Hicks.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hicks misses with a body shot.
Klitschko scores with a jab to the jaw.
Klitschko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Klitschko dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Klitschko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Klitschko closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Klitschko throws a big shot that misses.
Hicks slips a straight right by Klitschko.
Hicks misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Klitschko counters with a right hand to the body.
Hicks tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Klitschko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Klitschko fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Hicks is out of range.
Hicks looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Klitschko is fending him off so far but Hicks persists. Nope, Klitschko circles away and we're back to standing.
Klitschko misses with a straight left.
Hicks throws a series of punches but Klitschko moves out of range.
Hicks misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hicks misses.
Klitschko misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Hicks counters with a takedown into side control.
Klitschko wants to get back to his feet but Hicks drags him back down.
Hicks in side control, throwing shots but Klitschko defends.
Hicks prevents Klitschko from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hicks postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hicks scores with punches from side control.
Klitschko wants to get back to his feet but Hicks drags him back down.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hicks tries to score with some ground and pound. Klitschko controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hicks closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Klitschko did well to prevent Hicks getting side control.
Hicks takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Klitschko pushes Hicks off and gets back to his feet.
Hicks blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klitschko slips under a jab.
A leg kick checked by Hicks.
Klitschko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Hicks is able to avoid easily.
Hicks throws a left and a right that both miss
and Klitschko counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Klitschko misses the shot to the body.
Hicks takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hicks swings for the body but Klitschko moves out of range.
Klitschko avoids the body shot from Hicks.
Hicks throws a sloppy body shot
and Klitschko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Klitschko sizes up Hicks with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Klitschko as he avoids it easily.
Klitschko thumps Hicks with a low kick.
Klitschko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hicks.
Hicks checks a low kick from Klitschko.
Klitschko throws a front kick aimed at Hicks's knee but Hicks avoids it well.
Hicks misses with a wild body shot.
Klitschko misses with a low kick as Hicks jumps back.
Hicks avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hicks takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hicks throws a hook but Klitschko avoids it easily.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Klitschko but Klitschko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ivan Klitschko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Hicks.

That's four 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.
Klitschko with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Klitschko scores with a sloppy right hand. Hicks should have avoided that one.
Hicks shoots in for a takedown but Klitschko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hicks is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Klitschko.
Hicks throws a hook to the side of Klitschko's head but Klitschko sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ivan Klitschko is winning the standup battle so far.
Hicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Klitschko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hicks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Klitschko circles away.
A lazy left from Klitschko finds it's target.

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 Ivan Klitschko.
I think Klitschko 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ivan Klitschko!