PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between George Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Beattie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hicks
vs
Beattie

180 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
19
185 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, George Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jason Beattie!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hicks closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Beattie's guard.
Beattie looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hicks wants to stand but Beattie is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hicks slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Beattie bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hicks's guard.
Beattie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hicks works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hicks is looking to stand up but Beattie isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hicks working a defensive guard but Beattie manages to pass into side control anyway.

Beattie looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hicks wants to control but Beattie postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks gets back to half guard.
Hicks wants to get back to his feet.
Hicks tries to roll over but Beattie keeps him under control.

Beattie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hicks is just riding it out for now. Beattie eventually gives up the hold.
Hicks punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to control Beattie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hicks avoid being mounted?
Hicks gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hicks is on top in guard.
Hicks throwing strikes but missing.

Hicks gets to his feet. Beattie looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hicks scores with a leg kick.
That kick from Hicks tenderised Beattie's leg. Beattie is trying to keep his angry face on.
Hicks tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Beattie manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hicks gets a double leg takedown into Beattie's guard.
Hicks trying to control but Beattie is working from the bottom.
Hicks stays in close to Beattie's body and controls the position.
Hicks trying to control but Beattie is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hicks content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hicks trying to control but Beattie is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George Hicks just wasn't active enough.

Hicks drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Beattie keeping full guard, as Hicks tries to pass.
Hicks trying to control the position from guard on top but Beattie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hicks is stalling in the full guard.
Beattie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hicks trying to control but Beattie postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Hicks dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hicks moves into the clinch successfully.

Hicks manages to break the clinch.
Beattie does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Beattie throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hicks was covering up waiting for the punch and Beattie finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hicks manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Beattie tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Beattie is breathing heavily.
Hicks trying to control but Beattie is having none of it.
Hicks tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks wants to control the pace but Beattie is squirming around nicely.
Hicks controlling his opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up because George Hicks just wasn't active enough.

Hicks drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hicks takes a little break here. Beattie wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
George Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks wants to control but Beattie is keeping him busy.

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

Hicks shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hicks was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hicks stands up.
Nice takedown defense from Hicks. No joy for Beattie on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to clinch.

Beattie shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hicks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Beattie throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Beattie looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Hicks is avoiding damage well.
Hicks tries to escape but Beattie is in control.
Beattie lands a few punches from side control.
Hicks manages to work his way to half guard, despite Beattie's best efforts.

Beattie wants to work for an arm triangle but Hicks is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Beattie seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beattie prevents Hicks from standing back up.
Beattie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Beattie works his foot free and advances to mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hicks wants to hold on but Beattie pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Hicks dominated that second round.
That's time! Hicks's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Hicks closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Hicks lands in his opponent's guard.
Hicks passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Beattie wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Beattie struggling a bit here.
Hicks slows the pace down.
Hicks wants to control but Beattie is keeping him busy.

Hicks decides to stand up, so the ref orders Beattie to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Beattie has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks swinging wildly here.
Hicks scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Beattie doesn't seem bothered though.

Hicks looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Beattie!
Hicks is looking to take a break and control but Beattie is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Beattie is looking to regain half guard here but Hicks keeps moving and retains side control.
Hicks wants to lay and pray for a moment but Beattie keeps working.
Hicks is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Beattie will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Jason Beattie has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beattie is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Beattie is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hicks stalling.
It looks like Hicks is going to stand back up.

We're going to have a standup here because George Hicks wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Beattie doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Beattie has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is looking to clinch.

Beattie gets caught napping as Hicks dives in and scores a takedown. Beattie manages to retain guard.
Beattie has his hands on Hicks's head, controlling the position.
Beattie keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.
Hicks controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Hicks is looking to pass into half guard but Beattie pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Beattie is in guard.
Beattie is pushing down on Hicks's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hicks is fighting to maintain full guard but Beattie has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hicks is staying active underneath Beattie, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Beattie throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Beattie lands a nice short elbow.

Beattie seems to be working for a kimura but Hicks defends the submission attempt.

Beattie is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Beattie throwing shots but Hicks is blocking nicely.
George Hicks is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hicks is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Beattie scores with a couple of nice shots.

And that's the end of the fight!
George Hicks showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hicks has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... George Hicks!