PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyman Hicks (ranked 576 p4p, 2963 weight class) and Sikke Vonnegut (ranked 52 p4p, 244 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Hicks
vs
Vonnegut

173 cm
26
153
6 - 2 - 0

180 cm
27
147
6 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lyman Hicks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sikke Vonnegut!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Winston Alpacca and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vonnegut throws the left hand but Hicks avoids the punch easily.
Hicks appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Vonnegut throws an overhand right that lands on Hicks's shoulder, as Hicks tries to avoid the shot.
Hicks gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Vonnegut.
Nice straight punches there by Hicks. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hicks.
Vonnegut throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hicks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hicks slips a straight right by Vonnegut.
Hicks throws a jab when Vonnegut was well out of range.
Vonnegut scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hicks moves out of range of the strikes.
We've been told by Hicks's head coaches at PhoQus Island Training that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Vonnegut misses with a right hand
and Vonnegut takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Vonnegut misses with a straight left.
Hicks misses with an uppercut.
Hicks with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vonnegut makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hicks defending well as Vonnegut loads up on a big left hand.
Hicks misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hicks throws a hook but Vonnegut avoids it easily.

Hicks has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vonnegut blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Vonnegut breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vonnegut works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Hicks misses with a straight left.
Vonnegut lands a nice hook to Hicks's body. Hicks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vonnegut looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Hicks rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Vonnegut counter with a right hand.
Hicks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Vonnegut sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vonnegut slips under a jab.
Hicks misses with a lunging right hand
letting Vonnegut counter with a right hand.
Vonnegut throws an overhand right that lands on Hicks's shoulder, as Hicks tries to avoid the shot.
A jab from Vonnegut misses.
Hicks misses with an uppercut.
Hicks slips a jab from Vonnegut.
Hicks 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.
A big left from Vonnegut misses.
Hicks throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Vonnegut stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Hicks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hicks throws a body shot but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Vonnegut lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hicks doesn't seem phased though.
Hicks moves out of range of the strikes.
Hicks throws a good cross that connects.
Hicks misses with a body shot
letting Vonnegut counter with a right hand.
Hicks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vonnegut.
Hicks takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hicks tries for a takedown but Vonnegut sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyman Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vonnegut lands a nice shot that snaps Hicks's head back.
Hicks doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Vonnegut comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sikke Vonnegut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vonnegut throws a looping overhand right but Hicks ducks down to avoid it.
Vonnegut works Hicks's body with a nice hook.
Nice defenses there by Vonnegut.
Hicks misses with a wild combination.
The fighters circling - Vonnegut throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hicks blocks a jab.
Hicks half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vonnegut throws a hook but Hicks blocks it.
Good shot there by Hicks.
Hicks throws a big shot that misses.
Hicks fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hicks takes a swing at Vonnegut's ribcage but misses.
Vonnegut pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vonnegut tests Hicks's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hicks moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice defenses there by Hicks.
Vonnegut is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Hicks had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Vonnegut walks into a left hand.
A swing and a miss from Hicks.
Vonnegut slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Vonnegut avoids the body shot from Hicks.
Hicks moves away from the strike by Vonnegut.
Vonnegut lands a jab.
Vonnegut throws a body shot but no joy.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vonnegut misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hicks.
Hicks walks into a straight right hand from Vonnegut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vonnegut scores with a nice strike.
Vonnegut looks to throw the jab but Hicks is out of range.
Vonnegut swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vonnegut throws a shot from downtown. Hicks moves away and avoids it.
Vonnegut slips a jab and a cross from Hicks.
Hicks bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A telegraphed right hand from Hicks misses the target.
Vonnegut throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice body punch from Vonnegut.
Hicks walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vonnegut throws a jab when Hicks was well out of range.
Vonnegut throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hicks misses with an uppercut. Vonnegut saw that one coming.
Vonnegut looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hicks misses with a looping right.
Hicks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vonnegut fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hicks looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sikke Vonnegut dominated that round.
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 throws a series of punches but Vonnegut avoids them all with ease.
Vonnegut misses with a wild body shot.
Hicks tries a head kick but it misses.
Vonnegut with a jab.
Vonnegut displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hicks throws out the jab.
Vonnegut fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vonnegut steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hicks.
Vonnegut misses with a hook. Hicks ducked under it nicely.
Vonnegut staying out of range there.

Vonnegut shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Hicks napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Vonnegut slows the pace down.
Hicks is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vonnegut's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hicks is staying active underneath Vonnegut, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vonnegut is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hicks gets full guard.

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

Hicks is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vonnegut defends well.
Hicks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vonnegut stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hicks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vonnegut is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vonnegut trying to control the position from guard on top but Hicks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vonnegut looking to sit in guard and control but Hicks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Vonnegut is controlling Hicks's posture.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vonnegut can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vonnegut working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hicks accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hicks trying to control but Vonnegut is working from the bottom.
Hicks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Vonnegut is controlling Hicks's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vonnegut has momentary wrist control but Hicks slips an elbow through the middle.
Vonnegut managing to control the position.
Vonnegut is trying to control the position but Hicks postures up.
Hicks keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vonnegut's head.
Hicks is looking to work some ground and pound but Vonnegut has wrist control.
Hicks throwing strikes from guard but Vonnegut blocks nicely.
Hicks stands up over Vonnegut, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hicks is looking to work some ground and pound but Vonnegut has wrist control.
Vonnegut has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hicks preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vonnegut wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Vonnegut working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hicks.
Hicks loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hicks stands up over Vonnegut, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hicks stopping the sweep attempt from Vonnegut.
Hicks stands up over Vonnegut, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Hicks being controlled here momentarily.
Hicks postures up in Vonnegut's guard and throws a big left but Vonnegut blocks it.
Hicks lands a couple of digs.
Hicks trying to control but Vonnegut is working from the bottom.
Vonnegut trying to keep a closed guard but Hicks is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hicks throwing strikes from guard but Vonnegut blocks nicely.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Vonnegut keeps moving.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vonnegut seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Hicks postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vonnegut looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hicks is one step ahead there.
Vonnegut keeping moving, preventing Hicks from controlling successfully.
Lyman Hicks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vonnegut has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Hicks has passed into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hicks cracks Vonnegut with a big right hand but Vonnegut just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Hicks cracks Vonnegut with a big elbow.
Hicks is chipping away with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lyman Hicks dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A shot to the liver by Hicks. Beautiful body shot.
Vonnegut misses with a wild body shot.
Vonnegut lands a jab to the nose.
Sikke Vonnegut seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicks tries to close the distance and clinch but Vonnegut swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hicks throws a body punch but Vonnegut moves out of range.
Hicks shoots for a double leg takedown but Vonnegut sprawls well. He's pushed Hicks's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vonnegut connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Hicks's hands.
Vonnegut jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hicks blocks a jab.
Hicks throws a jab but it's blocked by Vonnegut.
Hicks misses with a right hand
and Vonnegut counters with a straight right hand.
Vonnegut connects with a jab.
Vonnegut looks to land a right hand but Hicks moved out of range.
Hicks tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hicks throws a shot from downtown. Vonnegut moves away and avoids it.
Vonnegut looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hicks scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hicks throws a looping overhand right but Vonnegut ducks down to avoid it.
Vonnegut throws out a counter right but Hicks avoids it with no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vonnegut's jab looks to have found its range, popping Hicks under the eye.
Vonnegut misses with an uppercut.
Hicks misses with a looping left.
Vonnegut lands a nice shot to the body.
Hicks thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vonnegut misses the shot to the body.
Hicks walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vonnegut swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hicks scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Vonnegut fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Vonnegut scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hicks doesn't seem bothered though.
Hicks throws a right hand that Vonnegut ducks under and follows up with a left that Vonnegut also avoids with ease.
Hicks looks to land a right hand but Vonnegut moved out of range.
Vonnegut steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hicks.
Hicks takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vonnegut uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Hicks is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hicks displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vonnegut throws out the jab.
Vonnegut throws a big shot that misses.
Vonnegut lands with an uppercut that bounces Hicks off the cage and back into range.
Hicks throws a body punch but Vonnegut moves out of range.
Hicks uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vonnegut.
Vonnegut throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice jab there from Vonnegut.
Hicks throws a lazy right hand but Vonnegut sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vonnegut just misses with a punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vonnegut. Hicks does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hicks tries to counter with a takedown but Vonnegut is quick to defend against it.
Vonnegut throws a body punch but Hicks moves out of range.
Vonnegut misses with a looping right.
Vonnegut throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Vonnegut misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hicks cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vonnegut moves away from the strike by Hicks.
Hicks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vonnegut digs a good hook to Hicks's body.
Vonnegut connects with a looping right hand.
A slow jab from Vonnegut misses its intended target.
Hicks wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Vonnegut slips a jab from Hicks.
Hicks uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Vonnegut has time to react.
Vonnegut pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vonnegut blocks a jab.
A big right from Vonnegut misses.
Hicks misses the jab.
Hicks misses with a takedown attempt
and Vonnegut counters with a straight right hand.
Vonnegut lands a nice hook to Hicks's body. Hicks takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hicks looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Vonnegut scores with a nice strike.
Vonnegut throws a jab when Hicks was well out of range.
Hicks on the wrong end of a nice hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hicks throws a lazy uppercut
and Hicks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hicks shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Vonnegut counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyman Hicks. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vonnegut jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hicks swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hicks throws a combination that misses
and Vonnegut counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hicks thinking.
Vonnegut throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hicks is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vonnegut.
Hicks drops his hands momentarily and Vonnegut takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Vonnegut lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vonnegut scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vonnegut throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hicks sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Vonnegut just misses with a punch to the body.
Vonnegut fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hicks manages to avoid it.
Vonnegut slips a straight right by Hicks.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sikke Vonnegut comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vonnegut has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sikke Vonnegut!
Lyman Hicks was interviewed post fight and said 'That's the game, lets go again. I will fight anybody!'.