PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Gatho (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Hickock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gatho's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 666 - Bomba!. Hickock has chosen Turn me on Mr Deadman as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gatho
vs
Hickock

175 cm
25
187 lbs
13 - 5 - 1

182 cm
23
193 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER
Stonewall

Empire Threads - The Best $15 You've Ever Spent!
TFP Graphics - Pit Inc

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Ben Gatho!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Richard Hickock!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatho tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hickock swivels and escapes.
That kick from Gatho tenderised Hickock's leg. Hickock is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hickock misses with a hook. Gatho ducked under it nicely.

Hickock gets a clinch.
Hickock throws a head punch that misses.
Gatho lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hickock backwards.
Hickock lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hickock tries to land a knee to the head but Gatho blocks with his arms.
A short right from Gatho on the inside.
Hickock gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Ben Gatho has been cut.
Hickock throws an elbow that misses.
Hickock avoids the elbow strike from Gatho, against the cage.
Gatho looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Gatho avoids the elbow strike from Hickock, against the cage.
Hickock throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hickock is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gatho is defending well for now.
Hickock misses with a punch on the inside.
Hickock pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Gatho prevents Hickock from breaking the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hickock blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickock scores with a shot to the side of Gatho's head.
Gatho lands a right hand.
Hickock can't find room to land a body shot as Gatho controls the action.
Hickock looking to throw knees to the head but Gatho is blocking nicely.
Gatho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hickock backwards.
Gatho lands an elbow inside.
Hickock lands an elbow that stopped Gatho in his tracks for a moment.

Hickock breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gatho misses with a hook
and Hickock counters with a stiff right hand.
Hickock throws out a leg kick but Gatho moves out of range and Hickock only half commits.
Hickock throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gatho moves out of range of the strikes.
Gatho with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Hickock to score with a decent uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gatho throws a hook but Hickock avoids it easily.
Gatho's corner calls for a 1-2. Gatho obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Gatho darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hickock looks to clinch
and Gatho counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickock moves away from the strike by Gatho.
Hickock throws an off balance right hand
and Gatho counters with an inside leg kick.
Hickock tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Gatho ducks under a wild hook from Hickock.
Hickock throws a lazy head kick
and Gatho counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gatho throws an overhand right that lands on Hickock's shoulder, as Hickock tries to avoid the shot.
Hickock fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gatho looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hickock looks to land a right hand but Gatho moved out of range.
Hickock pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickock throws a poor cross that misses
and Gatho counters with a nice leg kick.
Hickock misses with a hook
and Gatho counters with a three punch combo that has Hickock backing up. Hickock nods at Gatho to acknowledge the strikes.
Hickock tries to clinch up
and Gatho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Gatho will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A big left from Gatho misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatho takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Hickock is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Gatho.
Hickock throws a low kick but it's checked well by Gatho.
Nice body kick from Gatho.
Gatho lands with a thumping leg kick.
Hickock throws the left hand but Gatho avoids the punch easily.
Hickock takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatho throws a lazy right hand but Hickock sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gatho.
Richard Hickock seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatho shoots in looking for a takedown. Hickock tries to sprawl out of it but Gatho keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Hickock manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gatho scores with a spinning back kick!
Hickock looks gassed!
Gatho staying out of range there.
Good shot there by Gatho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickock ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Gatho moves away.
Hickock moves out of range of the leg kick from Gatho.
Gatho scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A leg kick checked by Gatho.
Gatho throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gatho displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hickock throws out the jab.
Gatho throws the kick towards the body but Hickock avoids it.
Hickock feints and then cracks Gatho's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gatho down.
Gatho blocks a head kick by Hickock.
Gatho slips a straight right by Hickock.
Gatho gets cracked there but stands up to it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hickock misses with an uppercut.
Hickock showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Gatho.
Hickock throws a right hand that Gatho ducks under and follows up with a left that Gatho also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gatho dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Gatho's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gatho keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hickock.
A big right from Gatho misses.
Gatho moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Hickock fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gatho has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Gatho tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hickock was well out of range. Poor timing from Gatho.
Hickock thows a left - swing and a miss!
Gatho walks into a stiff left hand from Hickock.
Gatho walks into a left hand.
A solid leg kick lands there for Gatho.

Hickock moves into range and clinches up with Gatho.
Gatho throws a head punch that misses.
Hickock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hickock doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hickock has a couple of punches blocked by Gatho.
Gatho is trying to force a seperation but Hickock has the dominant position.
Hickock struggles to land a body shot inside as Gatho controls his hands.
Hickock gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gatho keeps control of Hickock as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gatho misses with the head strike.
Gatho throws a head punch that misses.
Hickock misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hickock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hickock tries to land a knee to the head but Gatho blocks with his arms.

Gatho manages to break the clinch.
Hickock tries to move into range but Gatho moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Gatho lands a jab to the nose.
Hickock throws a leg kick but Gatho moved away.
Gatho throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hickock.
Ben Gatho is winning the standup battle so far.
Gatho throws a quick inside leg kick.
Gatho ducks under a wild hook from Hickock.
Hickock fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gatho is out of range.
Gatho slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gatho cracks the inside of Hickock's front leg.
Gatho stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab from Gatho misses.
Gatho blocks a low kick nicely.
Hickock misses with a wild body shot.
Gatho throws a sloppy head kick and Hickock moves out of range easily.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Gatho loads up on a big right hand but Hickock slips the punch.
Gatho looks to score with a jab to the body but Hickock is just out of range.
Hickock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A head kick misses from Hickock.
Hickock throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hickock throws a wild body kick that Gatho sees coming a mile off.
A swing and a miss from Hickock.
Hickock throws a head kick but Gatho moves out of range.
Gatho throws a leg kick which misses Hickock's front leg but catches the back leg as Hickock tries to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatho misses with a body shot.
Gatho works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hickock's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Gatho uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Hickock.
Gatho lands a slapping body shot.
Hickock throws a hook to the side of Gatho's head but Gatho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hickock wants to clinch.
Nice body kick from Gatho.

Hickock rushes Gatho and presses him up against the cage.
Richard Hickock seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hickock tries a knee to the head but Gatho blocks it.
Gatho doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Gatho tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Gatho fails to land.
Gatho lands a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickock throws a knee to the head but misses.
Gatho blocks an elbow strike.
Hickock misses with a punch on the inside.
Gatho wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Gatho looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gatho creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice left hand lands by Hickock.

Gatho drags the fight down to the ground.
Hickock must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gatho looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gatho is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Gatho is looking for a triangle but Hickock pushes his legs off easily.
Hickock preventing the sweep.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hickock postures up.

Gatho escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hickock gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Gatho dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ben Gatho's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gatho stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hickock avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hickock misses with a two punch combination.
Gatho throws a nice inside leg kick.
Gatho slips a jab from Hickock.
Hickock tries to clinch up.
Hickock avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hickock misses with a left hand
and Gatho connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gatho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A low kick from Hickock is predictable there
and Gatho counters with a nice leg kick.
Gatho keeps the fight on the outside.
Gatho lands a body shot.
Hickock throws a jab but it's blocked by Gatho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Hickock.
Hickock avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hickock tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gatho manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hickock buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Gatho buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Hickock fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Gatho checks it well.
Hickock bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gatho's head.
Gatho throws a hook but Hickock avoids it easily.
Hickock sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Richard Hickock is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
An inside leg kick from Hickock misses.
Gatho misses with a looping left.
Hickock throws a hook to the side of Gatho's head but Gatho sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Gatho lands a leg kick that knocks Hickock off balance momentarily.
Hickock takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gatho throws a hook but Hickock avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickock tries to land a front kick but Gatho steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hickock moves in looking to clinch but Gatho pushes him off.
Gatho looks to land a right hand but Hickock moved out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hickock darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Gatho connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Hickock displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gatho throws out the jab.
Hickock swinging wildly here.
Gatho uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hickock has time to react.
Gatho throws an overhand right that lands on Hickock's shoulder, as Hickock tries to avoid the shot.
Gatho misses with a body kick.
Gatho scores with a sloppy right hand. Hickock should have avoided that one.
Hickock throws a low kick, looking for Gatho's leg but Gatho calmly moves out of range.
Gatho swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hickock throws a leg kick but Gatho sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hickock has taken the fight to the clinch.
Gatho is trying to break the clinch but Hickock is controlling him.
Still in the clinch, Gatho scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hickock comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hickock misses with the head strike.
Hickock lands a nice uppercut.
Hickock misses with some punches.
Gatho blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Hickock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hickock creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Still in the clinch, Gatho scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gatho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hickock backwards.
Hickock connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gatho's face.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Gatho pulls guard effortlessly.

Gatho has his foot on Hickock's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hickock works his way back into a safe position though.
Hickock sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gatho is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hickock throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gatho works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hickock won't allow Gatho to sweep him here.
Gatho working a defensive guard here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hickock throws an elbow that misses. Gatho uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hickock's guard. Nice move by Gatho!
Hickock wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Ben Gatho did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Ben Gatho's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gatho connects with a solid leg kick.
Hickock is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Gatho.
Hickock throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hickock turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Hickock lands a nice looking body shot.
Good shot there by Gatho.
Gatho scores with a punch to the head.

Hickock moves into the clinch.
Hickock throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Gathos head.
Hickock swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hickock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short uppercut from Gatho.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gatho lands a hook that snaps the head of Hickock backwards.
Hickock misses with some punches.
Gatho takes an elbow to the temple.
Hickock tries a body shot but Gatho blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickock pushes Gatho back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Hickock escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A punch lands to the side of Hickock 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Gatho misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hickock.
Hickock thuds his right hand into Gatho's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gatho scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hickock in his tracks.
Hickock misses with a straight right.
Gatho bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gatho clobbers Hickock with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Hickock takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hickock throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gatho misses with a two punch combination.
Gatho bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hickock throws a low kick, looking for Gatho's leg but Gatho calmly moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickock tries to score with a low kick but Gatho moves his leg out of the way.
Hickock throws a leg kick but Gatho sees it coming and moves out of range.
Gatho lands a nice shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gatho takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Hickock is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Gatho throws a hook but Hickock blocks it.
Gatho checks a low kick from Hickock.
Hickock gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gatho counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hickock thinking.
Gatho ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hickock moves away.
Hickock has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hickock there as he acknowledges the shot.
Hickock looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hickock connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Gatho's hands.
Gatho throws a hook to the side of Hickock's head but Hickock sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hickock throws a right hand that misses
and Gatho counters with a nice body kick.
A punch combination from Hickock misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatho throws a shot from downtown. Hickock moves away and avoids it.

Hickock clinches with his opponent.
Hickock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Gatho takes a shot to the head.
Hickock misses with a knee strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Gatho - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Hickock misses with the head strike.
Gatho working aggressively here.
Gatho blocks an uppercut.
Hickock throws a head punch that misses.
Gatho avoids the elbow strike from Hickock, against the cage.
Gatho on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hickock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hickock.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatho misses with a punch to the body.
Gatho throws an elbow but it misses.
Hickock tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A shot in the inside from Gatho.
Hickock tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gatho avoids it.

Gatho manages to break the clinch.
Gatho lands a glancing blow to the side of Hickock's head.
A big right from Hickock misses.
Gatho keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hickock.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hickock throws a lazy right hand but Gatho sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hickock has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hickock uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gatho.
Gatho lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A low kick from Hickock misses
and Gatho connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hickock pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gatho throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Richard Hickock will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Ben Gatho's cut.
That's time! Gatho's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gatho lands with an overhand left.
Gatho lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hickock connects with a looping right hand.
A leg kick checked by Hickock.
Gatho cracks the inside of Hickock's front leg.
Hickock connects with a leg kick. Gatho looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Hickock throws a jab but it's blocked by Gatho.
Hickock uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gatho.
Hickock staying out of range there.
Hickock misses with a lunging right hand
and Gatho connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gatho throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hickock throws a solid leg kick but Gatho takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hickock.
That kick from Gatho tenderised Hickock's leg. Hickock is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hickock fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gatho looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hickock moves into the clinch.
Hickock misses with some punches.
Gatho lands with a left to the head.
Gatho lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hickock backwards.
Hickock tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gatho avoids it.
Gatho is trying to push Hickock away but Hickock has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hickock lands a left hand that snaps the head of Gatho backwards.
Hickock gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hickock tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gatho lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Hickock throws a head punch that misses.
Hickock has a couple of punches blocked by Gatho.
Hickock scores with a shoulder strike.
Richard Hickock has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hickock throws an elbow that misses.
Gatho is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hickock is defending well for now.
Gatho swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Gatho.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hickock scores with a shot to the side of Gatho's head.
A short uppercut from Hickock.
Gatho swings wildly with an uppercut but Hickock uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hickock fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gatho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hickock blocks an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hickock.
Hickock tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gatho's elbow.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Gatho.
Hickock misses with some punches.
Hickock lands a damaging elbow.
Hickock scores with a knee to the head.
Hickock lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ben Gatho is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatho tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Hickock throws an elbow but misses.
Gatho lands an elbow that stopped Hickock in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Richard Hickock has been cut.
Hickock lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hickock goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hickock goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hickock trying to land knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Hickock.
Gatho blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hickock throws a punch but it's blocked by Gatho.
Hickock lands an elbow that stopped Gatho in his tracks for a moment.
Gatho is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hickock to keep the fight standing.
Hickock has a couple of punches blocked by Gatho.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gatho prevents a body shot from Hickock.
Hickock has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Gatho.
Hickock throws an elbow but it misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hickock tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hickock is looking to break free of the clinch but Gatho has double underhooks.
Hickock looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hickock unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gatho.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hickock.
A head punch on the inside from Hickock fails to land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hickock throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Gatho avoids a wild elbow strike from Hickock.
Gatho misses with a punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Richard Hickock comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gatho 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 48:47
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 47:48
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 49:47

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ben Gatho!
Ben Gatho is the new middleweight champion!
After winning the bout, Ben Gatho thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.