PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bret Hicken (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Neyne Kathorsie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Hicken
vs
Kathorsie

193 cm
18
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bret Hicken!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Neyne Kathorsie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kathorsie stuffs the takedown attempt from Hicken. Hicken gets slowly back to his feet.

Hicken fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kathorsie, pushing him back against the cage.
Kathorsie is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Hicken manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Kathorsie gets to his feet - Hicken follows without any prompting.
A right-left combo lands from Kathorsie.
Kathorsie throws a right and a left that both miss.

Kathorsie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kathorsie stands and throws Hicken's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Hicken is trying to control Kathorsie's posture but Kathorsie avoids it.
Kathorsie takes a little break here. Hicken wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Hicken manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kathorsie is staying active underneath Hicken, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kathorsie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Hicken seems to be working for a kimura but Kathorsie defends the submission attempt.
Kathorsie trying to hold on to Hicken's head to control him but Hicken postures up.
Hicken thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hicken missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hicken missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hicken avoids the head kick by Kathorsie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hicken throws a low kick but it's checked well by Kathorsie.
Kathorsie misses with a leg kick
and Hicken counters with a nice kick to the body.

Kathorsie closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hicken did well to prevent Kathorsie getting side control.
Hicken trying to hold on to Kathorsie's head to control him but Kathorsie postures up.
Kathorsie slows the pace down in half guard.
Kathorsie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kathorsie wants to take a breather but Hicken is having none of it.
Hicken tries to roll over but Kathorsie keeps him under control.
Kathorsie lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicken is pressing down on Kathorsie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Hicken throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hicken wants to sweep but no luck.
Hicken is breathing heavily.
Hicken is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kathorsie has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hicken is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kathorsie won't allow Hicken to sweep him here.
Kathorsie slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Hicken looking for a guillotine here but Kathorsie defends easily.
Hicken keeping full guard, as Kathorsie tries to pass.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kathorsie tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hicken swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neyne Kathorsie dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kathorsie shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hicken is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hicken is trying to stand back up but Kathorsie is controlling him
Hicken is pressing down on Kathorsie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kathorsie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hicken swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kathorsie postures up.
Kathorsie sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kathorsie tries to free his leg and advance position but Hicken is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicken doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hicken keeping full guard, as Kathorsie tries to pass.
Hicken is trying to control the position from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hicken avoids the body shot from Kathorsie.

Kathorsie scores with a takedown into Hicken's guard.

Hicken is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kathorsie is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hicken tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hicken is working an open guard so Kathorsie takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kathorsie shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kathorsie controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Hicken is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kathorsie defends well.
Kathorsie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kathorsie sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kathorsie looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicken trying to control the position here.

Hicken has his foot on Kathorsie's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kathorsie works his way back into a safe position though.
Neyne Kathorsie has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hicken keeping full guard, as Kathorsie tries to pass.

Hicken looking for a guillotine here but Kathorsie defends easily.
Kathorsie wanted to stand there but Hicken had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kathorsie clinches but Hicken breaks the clinch

and Hicken counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kathorsie is looking to control Hicken's arms but Hicken gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kathorsie has his back to the cage.

Kathorsie manages to pull guard.
Hicken looking to pass the guard.
Kathorsie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hicken.
Hicken passes Kathorsie's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hicken prevents Kathorsie from standing back up.
Kathorsie is refusing to be controlled, as Hicken sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neyne Kathorsie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Kathorsie fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hicken wants to clinch.
Hicken fails with an attempt to clinch.

Hicken shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Hicken sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hicken scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kathorsie?
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kathorsie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hicken trying to control but Kathorsie is having none of it.
Kathorsie sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicken lands with a punch from half guard.

Hicken seems to be looking for submissions.
Kathorsie is looking to improve his position.
Kathorsie gets back to full guard.
Hicken won't allow Kathorsie to sweep him here.
Kathorsie is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Kathorsie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hicken defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hicken looking to pass the guard.
Hicken advances position into side control!
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Hicken is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kathorsie knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kathorsie is trying to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicken trying to control the action but Kathorsie is working from the bottom.
Kathorsie is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hicken's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Bret Hicken has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hicken looks to land a strike but Kathorsie avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hicken trying to control but Kathorsie is working from the bottom.

Hicken drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kathorsie manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hicken has Kathorsie in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kathorsie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hicken is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kathorsie really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hicken. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kathorsie landing with the ground and pound.
Kathorsie looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Neyne Kathorsie.
I've got Kathorsie 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Neyne Kathorsie!