PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight kickboxing rules bout between Buster Opin (ranked 20397 p4p, 644 weight class) and Steve Hicks (ranked 20415 p4p, 676 weight class). Buster Opin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Steve Hicks's chin.

Opin
vs
Hicks

184 cm
26
157 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

204 cm
26
150 lbs
10 - 5 - 1

World class MT
Cardio machine

World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Buster Opin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Opin slips a straight right by Hicks.
Opin appears to be looking for a big counter.
Opin scores with a jab to the jaw.

It looks like Steve Hicks has been cut.
Hicks swings for the body but Opin moves out of range.
Hicks staying out of range there.
Hicks misses with an uppercut
and Opin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Opin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Opin moves out of range of the strikes.
Opin throwing a counter right hand but Hicks manages to avoid it.
Good standup being displayed there by Hicks as he connects with a hook.
Decent striking displayed by Hicks there.
Opin throws a body punch but Hicks moves out of range.
Hicks avoids the head kick by Opin.
A punch lands to the side of Opin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Opin looks to score with a jab to the body but Hicks is just out of range.
Opin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hicks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Opin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hicks connects with a crisp jab.
Opin avoids the body shot from Hicks.
Hicks avoids the body shot from Opin.
Hicks has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Opin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Opin misses with a hook. Hicks ducked under it nicely.
Opin throws a poor cross that misses
and Hicks counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Opin thinking.
Opin staying out of range there.
Hicks throws a body punch but Opin moves out of range.
Opin takes a swing at Hicks's ribcage but misses.
Hicks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Opin avoids the body shot from Hicks.
Hicks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Nice straight punches there by Hicks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hicks.
Opin uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hicks.
Opin avoids the body shot from Hicks.
Hicks throws the left hand but Opin avoids the punch easily.
Hicks misses with a left hand
and Opin counters with a thumping low kick.
Hicks throws a body punch but Opin moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Opin throws a lazy right hand but Hicks sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bone on bone clash there as Hicks blocks the leg kick.
Hicks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Buster Opin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Hicks moves into range and connects with a jab.
Opin lands with a nice body punch.
Opin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Opin is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Opin tries to clinch there but Hicks circles away.
Opin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hicks.
Opin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hicks.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicks looks to land a left hand but Opin moved out of range nicely.
Opin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hicks circles away quickly and effectively.
It seemed like Hicks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hicks has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Opin finds it's way round the side to connect with Hicks's head.
Hicks with a nice cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hicks swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Opin to counter with a crisp jab.
Hicks fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Opin on the side of the head.
Hicks is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Opin feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Hickss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Opin tries to clinch up.
Opin misses with a series of wild punches.
Hicks scores with a crisp jab that stopped Opin in his tracks.
Nice shot by Hicks.
Opin misses the jab.
Opin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hicks.
Hicks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Opin misses with a hook
letting Hicks counter with a right hand.
Opin lands a head kick!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Opin tries to move into range but Hicks moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hicks fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Opin on the side of the head.
Opin ducks under a wild hook from Hicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks lands with an uppercut that bounces Opin off the ropes and back into range.
Steve Hicks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicks works the jab nicely.
Opin takes one to the side of the head.
Hicks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Opin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hicks tests Opin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice defenses there by Opin.
Opin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hicks avoids the body shot from Opin.
Opin throws an off balance right hand
and Hicks counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Opin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Opin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hicks throws a shot to the body.
Hicks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Opin momentarily.

Opin is rocked!
A swing and a miss from Opin.
Oh Opin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hicks tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Opin seems to have got his legs back now.
Hicks is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A jab from Hicks misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Opin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hicks.
Opin throws a hook but Hicks blocks it.
A countering left hand to the body from Hicks misses.
Opin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hicks finds it's way round the side to connect with Opin's head.
Hicks throws the left hand but Opin avoids the punch easily.
Hicks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Opin was well out of range. Poor timing from Hicks.
Opin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hicks.
Opin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Opin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hicks walks into a jab.
Hicks looks to throw the jab but Opin is out of range.
Opin defending well as Hicks loads up on a big left hand.
Opin throws out a loose jab but Hicks uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Opin looks to throw the jab but Hicks is out of range.
Opin looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Opin takes a swing at Hicks's ribcage but misses.
It seemed like Hicks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hicks lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Opin moves away from the strike by Hicks.
Opin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Hicks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Steve Hicks's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Opin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Buster Opin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hicks throws a hook but Opin avoids it easily.
Opin moves away from the strike by Hicks.
An attempted straight right counter from Opin misses the target.
Opin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hicks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Opin.
Hicks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hicks misses with a hook
and Opin counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice defenses there by Opin.
Opin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hicks.
Hicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Opin is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Opin moves out of range of the strikes.
The fighters circling - Hicks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Opin scores with a leg kick.
Hicks misses with a body shot.
Opin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Hicks misses the target.
Hicks throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A little feinted left hand from Opin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Opin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hicks! But no joy.
Opin misses with an uppercut
and Hicks counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Hicks moves away from the strike by Opin.
Hicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Opin is just out of range.
Opin misses with a straight right.
Hicks takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Steve Hicks is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A left lands for Hicks.
Nice jab there from Hicks.
Opin just misses with a punch to the body.
Opin looks to land a right hand but Hicks moved out of range.
Hicks connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Opin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Opin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Opin takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks lands with a good body shot.
Opin misses with an uppercut. Hicks saw that one coming.
Hicks jabs Opin right on the nose. Opin blinks but takes it well.
Hicks scores with a hook to the body. Opin takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Hicks fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Opin manages to avoid it.
Hicks connects with a body shot that sends Opin's belly button to the back.
Opin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hicks throws out the jab.
Opin swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Opin ducks right into an uppercut from Hicks.
Hicks takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Opin slips a jab from Hicks.
Opin tries to counter by clinching up but Hicks breaks away and moves out of range.
Opin needs to keep his hands up - Hicks had a free shot at his head there.
Opin takes one to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Opin looks to land a right hand but Hicks moved out of range.
Hicks connects with a right hand. Opin shakes it off.
Hicks misses with a straight left.
Opin swings widly with a right hand
and Hicks connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hicks has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Hicks!
After the fight, Steve 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.