PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brock Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Hickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Smith
vs
Hickens

225 cm
19
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brock Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mark Hickens!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith tries for a takedown but Hickens sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hickens is trying hard to land a takedown here. Smith sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hickens fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hickens fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Smith closes the distance and clinches.
Smith putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Hickens in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Hickens stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
Hickens fails to pull guard.
Brock Smith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Hickens.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith dodges the punch combination from Hickens.
Hickens misses with a head kick.
A swing and a miss from Hickens.
Smith fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hickens throws a low kick but Smith avoids it.
Smith cracks Hickens with a good jab.
Hickens will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Mark Hickens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith lands a head kick. Hickens smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smith.
Smith displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hickens throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Smith is defended easily by Hickens.
Hickens fails with the takedown.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hickens.
Smith takes one on the button.
Smith dives in and grabs Hickens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hickens pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
Smith takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A head kick by Hickens misses
and Smith counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hickens is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hickens falls off balance throwing a combination

and Smith counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Smith.
Hickens is pressed up against the cage. Smith has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hickens down to the mat. Hickens avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hickens misses with a double jab
and Smith counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Hickens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Smith counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smith.
Smith is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smith looking to sit in guard and control but Hickens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hickens controlling from the top position.
Hickens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hickens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Smith is keeping the position for now.
Hickens sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smith wants to get back to his feet but Hickens passes into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hickens is working for a submission of some sort.
Smith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Still in half guard, Hickens seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hickens is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.
Hickens seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hickens is pressing down on Smith's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smith is holding on for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smith flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Smith dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice takedown defense from Hickens. No joy for Smith on that attempt.
Hickens throws a lazy head kick
and Smith counters with a nice leg kick.
Hickens looks to land a right hand but Smith moved out of range.
Smith really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hickens dives in and grabs Smith's left leg, looking for a takedown. Smith pushes down on Hickens's head and hops out.
Hickens takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
No luck for Smith with that takedown attempt.
Smith shoots in for a double leg but Hickens sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brock Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hickens tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Hickens misses
and Smith counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hickens throws a head kick that misses
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
A head kick by Hickens misses
and Smith counters with a nice uppercut.
A good leg kick by Smith.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Hickens shows good takedown defense.
Hickens throws a sloppy head kick

and Smith counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Smith prevents Hickens from breaking the clinch.
Hickens is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Hickens has his back to the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hickens tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith pulls guard successfully.
Hickens trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Smith will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hickens content to stall in guard here.

Smith working for a triangle but Hickens defends it easily.
Smith not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hickens not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Smith wants to control the position but Hickens says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hickens not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hickens wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hickens perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hickens tries to pass to full mount but Smith defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickens passes to full mount!
Smith is desperately trying to improve his position but Hickens has a good base and remains in mount.
Smith wants to hold on but Hickens pushes him away.
Hickens tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Smith tries to lock up and control but Hickens gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hickens manages to capitalize on a mistake by Smith to take his back!
Hickens lands a shot to the body.

Hickens is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Smith defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Smith manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Hickens looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Smith is fending him off so far but Hickens persists. Nope, Smith circles away and we're back to standing.
Hickens misses with a double jab

and Smith moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brock Smith dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hickens throws a nice looking combination but Smith bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hickens shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Hickens looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hickens fails with a takedown attempt.
Hickens stuffs the takedown.
Hickens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Smith tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hickens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Smith is looking to land body kicks.
Hickens throws a head kick that misses

and Smith counters with a single leg into guard. Hickens didn't expect that.
Smith trying to control but Hickens is working from the bottom.
Hickens is controlling Smith's posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickens wants to sweep but no luck.
Smith postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hickens is controlling Smith's posture.
Hickens manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smith manages to get himself to full guard.
Hickens throws and elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hickens's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Hickens pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hickens avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hickens wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Hickens keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Hickens is trying to hold Smith in close to prevent damage but Smith has managed to pass into half guard.
Smith thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hickens's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hickens desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Smith seems to be looking for submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Hickens jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Hickens throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smith counters with a right hand to the body.
Hickens throws a hook but Smith blocks it.
Hickens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with an outside leg kick.
Hickens throws a series of punches but Smith avoids them all with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hickens throws a left and a right that both miss
and Smith counters with a big head kick but Hickens shrugs it off.
No joy there for Hickens, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith lands a nice hook to Hickens's body. Hickens takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Hickens swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Smith counters with a two punch combo.
Smith dives in and grabs Hickens's left leg, looking for a takedown. Hickens pushes down on Smith's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Brock Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hickens shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smith sprawls well. Smith wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hickens gets slowly back to his feet.
Hickens tries to bum rush Smith with a series of wild strikes but Smith uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smith fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hickens throws a combination that misses
and Smith counters with a head kick. That will keep Hickens thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hickens misses with a low kick.
Hickens throws a leg kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Hickens.
Hickens throws a head kick but Smith moves out of range.
Mark Hickens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brock Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hickens manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brock Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smith has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brock Smith!