PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lyman Hicks (ranked 1108 p4p, 2149 weight class) and Henry Bates (ranked 104 p4p, 184 weight class). Henry Bates has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hicks
vs
Bates

173 cm
26
153
6 - 3 - 0

197 cm
25
154
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 - 3 - 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Henry Bates!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Peter Branson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bates looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hicks!
Hicks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bates is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hicks pulls his head out easily.
Bates wants to control but Hicks is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Bates is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bates can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hicks is trying to control. Bates wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hicks working over Bates with some ground and pound. Bates looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bates really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hicks. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hicks is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hicks is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Hicks works his foot free and advances to mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hicks lands a couple of good shots and Bates has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks controlling well, preventing Bates from escaping the position.
Hicks lands punches and elbows.

Bates is rocked!
Hicks has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Bates's body.
Bates looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Will Hicks go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Hicks is cranking Bates's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Bates! He's tightened the choke and Bates is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Lyman Hicks!
Lyman Hicks took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.