PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Assad (ranked 9388 p4p, 859 weight class) and Bill Hicks (ranked 3566 p4p, 486 weight class). Hicks comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bill Hicks at Dangerfields kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Dustin Assad could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Bill Hicks's chin.

Assad
vs
Hicks

174 cm
19
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
19
172 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

Vikai Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dustin Assad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bill Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assad fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Assad drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Dustin Assad has been cut.
Assad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hicks manages to avoid it.
It seemed like Hicks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hicks throws a shot to the body.
Hicks uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Assad has time to react.
Assad swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Assad throws a sloppy body shot
and Hicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice shot lands for Hicks.
Assad on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hicks has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hicks looks to throw the jab but Assad is out of range.
Hicks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Hicks smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hicks thuds his right hand into Assad's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Assad throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks tests Assad's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hicks sizes up Assad with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bill Hicks is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hicks throws a looping overhand right but Assad ducks down to avoid it.
Hicks displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Assad.
Hicks is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Assad throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Hicks counters by clinching up.
Hicks is pushing Assad up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hicks.
Assad is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hicks throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Assads head.
A short right from Hicks on the inside.
Assad looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assad can't find room to land a body shot as Hicks controls the action.
Hicks lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Assad or not.
A right handed body shot lands from Hicks.
Hicks scores with a shot to the side of Assad's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A hook to the body from Hicks.
Assad is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
A short body shot lands from Hicks as the two fighters clinch.
Assad is breathing heavily.
Hicks lands a left hand.
Hicks lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hicks pushes Assad back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A shot in the inside from Hicks.
Hicks scores with a shoulder strike.
Hicks pushes Assad back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hicks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Assad takes a shot to the head.
Hicks pushes Assad back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hicks slowing the pace effectively.
Hicks lands with a right to the head.

Assad is rocked!

Dustin Assad's cut is getting worse.
Hicks will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Assad up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hicks receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Hicks is stalling here.
The crowd are getting on Hicks's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Hicks has Assad pushed against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bill Hicks.
Hicks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Hicks takes the fight into the clinch.
A shot in the inside from Hicks.
Assad throws a head punch that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hicks.

Hicks drags the fight down to the ground.
Hicks looking for a sweep. Not yet Hicks, not yet.

Hicks looking for a guillotine here but Assad defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assad wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.
Hicks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Assad avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hicks wants to sweep here but Assad controlling him for the moment.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Hicks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Assad can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Hicks dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dustin Assad's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hicks lands a jab to Assad's midsection.
Assad throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hicks lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Hicks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Assad looks for a takedown but Hicks sprawls well.
Hicks looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hicks misses the shot to the body.
Donk. Hicks catches Assad right on the button with a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Assad misses with a straight right.
Assad misses with a hook
and Hicks counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Assad throws a nice looking combination but Hicks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Assad takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bill Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assad shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hicks as he jumps to the side.
Hicks lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Assad tries to clinch but Hicks moves out of range.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hicks! But no joy.
Dustin Assad is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hicks lands with a good body shot.
Assad moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Assad moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bill Hicks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicks lands a jab to the nose.
Oh Assad is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Dustin Assad's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Assad swinging wildly here.
A little jabbing left from Hicks on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assad lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Assad seems to have got his legs back now.
Assad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hicks paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No joy there for Assad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Assad takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hicks blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Hicks.
Hicks softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Hicks lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Assad backwards.
Assad looking to slow down the pace here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hicks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hicks lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Assad backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assad tries to land knees in the clinch but Hicks avoids the damage to the body.
Hicks lands a right hand that snaps the head of Assad backwards.
Hicks has Assad pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hicks.

Jeez, Dustin Assad's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Bill Hicks seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
A short body shot lands from Hicks as the two fighters clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hicks lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hicks is pushing Assad up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Assad is trying to break the clinch but Hicks has him pressed against the cage.
Assad takes a shot to the head.

Hicks manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Hicks is controlling Assad's posture.

Hicks has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Assad can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Hicks had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Assad defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

Hicks stopping the sweep attempt from Assad.
Hicks passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Assad takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Hicks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dustin Assad'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. And we move into the final round!

Assad takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Assad takes one on the button.
Assad misses with an uppercut.

Hicks pushes Assad up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hicks lands a body shot.
A right hand to the body from Hicks.
Hicks keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Assad's efforts to push away.
Hicks lands a nice shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hicks creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hicks lands a left hand.
A shot in the inside from Hicks.
A short left from Hicks.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hicks takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hicks stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Hicks jumps into guard, dragging Assad to the mat.
Hicks looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Assad looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

Assad thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain 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.
Assad preventing the sweep.
Hicks keeping moving, preventing Assad from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hicks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Assad trying to control the position from guard on top but Hicks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Assad is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hicks is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Assad keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Assad seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Hicks swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Assad.
Hicks scores with a jab. Assad acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Dustin Assad's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Bill Hicks!
After the fight, Bill Hicks was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.