PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Edward Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Hickson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Edward Jones has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Jones
vs
Hickson

180 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
157 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Edward Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Hickson!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jones takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Edward Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hickson counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jones is looking to reverse the position.
Jones gets back to half guard.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Jones tries to roll over but Hickson keeps him under control.
Hickson takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Hickson seems to be looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.

Jones is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hickson pulls his head out easily.
Hickson slows the pace down in half guard.
Jones wants to get back to his feet.
Hickson trying to pass the guard but Jones defending well.

Hickson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Well, if Hickson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Jones is staying active underneath Hickson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Jones tries to roll over but Hickson keeps him under control.
Hickson trying to control the pace.
Jones has a hand on Hickson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hickson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickson scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Jones really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hickson controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Hickson 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.
Jones tries to reverse the position but Hickson maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Hickson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Hickson gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

Jones gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jones thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Hickson from controlling successfully.
Hickson is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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

Jones isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Hickson stacks Jones on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Hickson!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hickson dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Jones tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hickson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jones misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones misses with a two punch combination.
Jones looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hickson shoots in looking for a takedown but Jones manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hickson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hickson throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Jones tries to clinch but Hickson is having none of it.
A combination from Jones does no damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Hickson.
Jones shoots and misses

and Hickson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hickson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jones can't keep his opponent in guard - Hickson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hickson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Hickson is looking for a kimura here.
Nice strikes from Hickson there.
Hickson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Hickson decides to return to a standing position.
Edward Jones is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hickson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Jones to score with a decent uppercut.
Jones shoots and misses

and Hickson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hickson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Matt Hickson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hickson works over Jones with some ground and pound from guard.
Hickson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hickson is in close to Jones's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hickson stands and throws Jones's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Jones tries to escape but Hickson is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickson working the ground and pound.
Hickson lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jones down.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Hickson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hickson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Jones circles away quickly and effectively.
Jones shoots and misses

and Hickson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edward Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A frustrated look appears on Hickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Hickson lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hickson stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hickson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Jones to get to his feet.
Hickson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Jones counters with a head kick.

Jones feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hickson is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Hickson keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hickson is on top in guard.
Hickson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Hickson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hickson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hickson moves in looking to clinch but Jones pushes him off.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Hickson in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Hickson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jones tries to score a body lock takedown but Hickson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Hickson has him pressed against the cage.

Jones breaks the clinch.
Hickson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jones tries a head kick but it misses.
Jones throws a right hand that Hickson ducks under and follows up with a left that Hickson also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones is looking to clinch.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Hickson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jones!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Hickson wants to finish this one by submission but Jones is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hickson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickson lands with some strikes.
BOOM! Hickson connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hickson controlling from mount.
Hickson working the ground and pound effectively.
Hickson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hickson jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Jones manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Jones wants to control but Hickson postures up.

Hickson has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Hickson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jones to the mat! Jones manages to get full guard.
Hickson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Jones is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickson slips nicely into half guard.
Hickson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four 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.
Hickson passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Jones!
Hickson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hickson prevents Jones from getting the reversal.
Hickson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Jones hang on?
Hickson controlling the position easily from mount.

Hickson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Hickson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hickson 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Hickson!