PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Yuber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mason Hicks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Hicks's choice of entrance music: Something From Nothing. Ivan Yuber could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mason Hicks's chin.

Yuber
vs
Hicks

194 cm
32
265 lbs
22 - 14 - 1

193 cm
29
245 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Underworld Clothing
AnonymouS

KaotiK
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Yuber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mason Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Yuber tries to clinch up but Hicks circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown attempt by Yuber or perhaps it was just good defense by Hicks, which made it look bad.

Hicks has taken the fight to the clinch.

Yuber gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Hicks regains guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hicks holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Yuber throws a big right hand that misses.
We've been hearing good reports from Yuber's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yuber looking to pass the guard.
Yuber sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hicks's guard.

Hicks is defending against the submission attempts here by Yuber.
Yuber is keen to just control but Hicks is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hicks tries to roll over but Yuber keeps him under control.
Hicks felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Hicks is defending against the submission attempts here by Yuber.
Yuber takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Yuber is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hicks keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is refusing to be controlled, as Yuber sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yuber misses with a straight left.
Hicks throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hicks will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Yuber connects with a crisp jab.
Hicks throws a right and a left that Yuber avoids nicely.
Yuber attempts a counter takedown but Hicks avoids it well and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks looks to land a combination but Yuber avoids it well.
Yuber takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Yuber blocks a head kick by Hicks.
Yuber closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hicks circles away.
Hicks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Hicks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mason Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks throws a lazy head kick

and Yuber counters with a crisp right hand that drops Hicks! Yuber lets Hicks back up to his feet, looking for a finish!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Hicks has Yuber up against the cage in a clinch.
Hicks throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hicks misses with some punches.

Hicks breaks the clinch.
Yuber walks into a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ivan Yuber will probably get the nod.
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.

Hicks misses with a left hand
and Yuber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ivan Yuber is winning the standup battle so far.
A jab from Hicks does it's job there.
Hicks throws a head kick that misses.
Hicks misses with a few strikes there.

Yuber cracks Hicks with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Yuber has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Hicks to stand back up!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hicks looks to throw the jab but Yuber is out of range.

Yuber shoots in and bounces Hicks off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Yuber controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yuber won't allow Hicks to sweep him here.
Yuber sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing Yuber from controlling successfully.
Yuber stays in close to Hicks's body and controls the position.
Hicks is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Yuber trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Yuber looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hicks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
It looked like Yuber wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Yuber fails with a takedown attempt.
Mason Hicks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Yuber shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hicks as he jumps to the side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yuber scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ivan Yuber overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yuber is trying to control. Hicks wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Yuber throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Yuber is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Yuber thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Yuber is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hicks defends it well.
Yuber seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuber looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Yuber is working for a submission of some sort.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Yuber is looking to stall here but Hicks recovers full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Yuber dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Yuber scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hicks managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Yuber.
Yuber trying to control the position but Hicks is working away.
Hicks sneaks back into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks trying to hold on to Yuber's head to control him but Yuber postures up.
Yuber trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks moves into full guard.
Yuber looking to sit in guard and control but Hicks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hicks must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Yuber holds on and takes a little breather.

Hicks gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Yuber looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hicks has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Yuber is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hicks escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hicks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hicks chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Yuber can pounce on him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hicks throws a lazy right hand but Yuber sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Yuber changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Hicks closes the distance and pushes Yuber back into the cage.
Hicks misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hicks swings wildly with an uppercut but Yuber uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hicks prevents the takedown attempt.
Yuber is trying to maintain a safe position but Hicks gets an underhook and turns Yuber into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yuber looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Hicks misses with a body punch.
Hicks swings wildly with an uppercut but Yuber uses good head movement to avoid it.

Yuber decides to pull guard.
Yuber keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.
Hicks throws an elbow that misses. Yuber uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hicks's guard. Nice move by Yuber!

Yuber won't allow Hicks to sweep him here.
Yuber wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.
Hicks is trying to keep Yuber in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yuber wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.
Mason Hicks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hicks lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Yuber is looking to sweep but instead, Hicks has passed into half guard.
Yuber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ivan Yuber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hicks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Yuber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mason Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Yuber 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!