PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Small Richard (ranked 89 p4p, 360 weight class) and Lyman Hicks (ranked 9 p4p, 36 weight class). Hicks is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Chambers Brothers - Time Has Come Today. Small Richard had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Richard
vs
Hicks

160 cm
30
146
19 - 8 - 0

173 cm
29
153
15 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

NARCOS
30th Century Beer Store

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Small Richard!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyman Hicks!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hicks takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Richard keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hicks.
Hicks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Hicks throws a hook but Richard avoids it easily.
Richard blocks a jab.
Richard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Richard has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Lyman Hicks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hicks throws a right hand that misses

and Richard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Hicks trying to control from the bottom.
Richard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hicks is trying to maintain the position but Richard is very close to passing his half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Richard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hicks's head.
Hicks tries to get to full guard but Richard has control of the leg.
Hicks on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Richard connects with a nice short shot to Hicks's temple.
Richard throwing shots but Hicks is blocking nicely.
Richard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hicks trying to hold on to Richard's head to control him but Richard postures up.
Richard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Hicks is looking for a sweep. Richard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hicks regains full guard. Nicely done.
Richard wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.
Richard scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Richard is fighting to break Hicks's control of his arms but Hicks is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Hicks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Richard's guard.

Richard is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hicks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hicks sitting in guard here, content to control.
Richard is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hicks is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hicks wants to control from the top but Richard keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The fighters circling - Hicks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Hicks swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Richard counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Richard preventing the sweep.
Richard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hicks swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Richard trying to control but Hicks is working from the bottom.
Hicks preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Richard lands a couple of elbows.
Richard wants to control from the top but Hicks keeps moving.
Richard with a flurry of punches that miss.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Richard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Small Richard dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hicks tries to score with a low kick but Richard moves his leg out of the way.
Richard feinted with a counter takedown.
Hicks throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Richard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Richard defending well as Hicks loads up on a big left hand.
Richard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hicks sprawls and moves away.
Hicks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Richard was well out of range. Poor timing from Hicks.
Hicks pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Richard attempts a counter takedown but Hicks avoids it well and moves away.
Hicks has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hicks throws a right and a left that both miss.
Richard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hicks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hicks just misses with a punch to the body.
Hicks with a nice cross.
A big right from Hicks misses.
Richard feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Richard shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Hicks thuds his right hand into Richard's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Richard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hicks.
Hicks ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Richard moves away.
Richard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hicks sprawls and moves away.
Richard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hicks misses with a wild body shot.
Richard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hicks sprawls and moves away.
Hicks fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Richard on the side of the head.
Hicks misses the jab.
Richard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hicks missing with a left hand there. Richard was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hicks works the jab nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Richard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Richard avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hicks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Richard was well out of range. Poor timing from Hicks.
Hicks misses with a looping left.
Richard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Lyman Hicks seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hicks tries to bum rush Richard with a series of wild strikes but Richard uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Richard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hicks misses with a series of wild punches.
Richard attempts a counter takedown but Hicks avoids it well and moves away.
Hicks is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Hicks swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Hicks, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Richard feinted with a counter takedown.
Richard blocks a jab.
Richard changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hicks fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard slips under a jab from Hicks.
A shot to the body from Hicks misses

and Richard counters with a nice double leg into side control. Hicks won't be happy with that.
Hicks is looking to reverse the position.
An elbow from Richard crashes against the mat.
Hicks tries to buck Richard off but Richard is having none of it.
Richard scores with punches from side control.
Richard looks up at the clock and then as Hicks takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Richard smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Richard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
You can see the frustration on Hicks's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Hicks has escaped the position, nice work there.
Hicks dodges the ground and pound from Richard.
Richard lands a few punches from side control.
Richard looks up at the clock and then as Hicks takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Richard smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Richard is trying to get an arm triangle but Hicks is defending well.
Hicks sneaks back into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lyman Hicks showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hicks cracks Richard with a good jab.
Hicks moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hicks misses with an uppercut.
Hicks connects with a body shot that sends Richard's belly button to the back.
Hicks misses with a double jab.
Richard tries to counter with a takedown but Hicks is quick to defend against it.
Richard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Richard changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good standup being displayed there by Hicks as he connects with a hook.
Hicks looks to throw the jab but Richard is out of range.
Richard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Hicks sprawls and moves away.
Hicks fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Richard looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hicks throws a series of punches but Richard moves out of range.
Richard feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hicks cracks a nice hook into Richard's ribs.
A combination from Hicks does no damage.
Hicks swings for the body but Richard moves out of range.
Hicks rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Richard moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hicks throws out a loose jab but Richard uses good head movement to avoid it.
Richard tries to counter with a takedown but Hicks is quick to defend against it.
Hicks throws a body shot but no joy.
Hicks throws a series of punches but Richard avoids them all with ease.
Richard half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Hicks misses the shot to the body.
Richard attempts a counter takedown but Hicks avoids it well and moves away.
Hicks falls off balance throwing a combination

and Richard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Hicks kicks Richard off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hicks has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hicks looks to score with a jab to the body but Richard is just out of range.
Hicks throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hicks swings widly with a right hand

and Richard counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Richard wants to control but Hicks is keeping him busy.
Richard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hicks tries to get to full guard but Richard has control of the leg.
Small Richard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Richard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hicks's head.
Richard is keen to just control but Hicks is a slippery customer.
Richard passes into side control, despite Hicks's attempt to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Richard scores with a couple of short elbows.
Richard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hicks sneaks back into half guard.
Hicks blocking the ground and pound attempt from Richard.
Richard missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hicks is positioning himself well to prevent Richard advancing to mount.
Hicks is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Richard is working for a kimura but Hicks is defending it quite comfortably.
Hicks is looking to control Richard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hicks avoid being mounted?
Hicks avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Richard.
Richard slips a nice elbow through Hicks's hands, connecting with Hicks's forehead.
Richard perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Richard connects with a nice short shot to Hicks's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyman Hicks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hicks 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyman Hicks!
Post fight, an emotional Lyman Hicks said 'Where the fuck is my belt? You beat the champ, you are the champ!'.