PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Boom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Hickman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Boom comes to the cage accompanied by Fedor Entrance Song. Bobby Boom had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.0lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Bobby Boom had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Boom
vs
Hickman

186 cm
28
185 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

183 cm
27
171 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Bobby Boom!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Hickman!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hickman walks into a jab.
Hickman misses with a leg kick.
Boom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hickman paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Boom loads up on a big right hand but Hickman slips the punch.
Dick Hickman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hickman gets caught flat footed, as Boom shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hickman wants to get back to his feet but Boom is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Boom drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Boom jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boom tries to free his leg and advance position but Hickman is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boom slips nicely into half guard.
Boom uses his free foot to push down on Hickman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hickman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom fails to move to back control.
Hickman can't escape the position.
Boom throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Boom looking to control but Hickman is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Boom looking to ground and pound but Hickman is blocking nicely.
Hickman is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Boom sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two 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.
Hickman is looking to improve his position but Boom isn't that keen on the idea.
Boom throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Hickman tries to hold on but Boom pushes him away.
Hickman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hickman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Hickman wants to hold on but Boom pushes him away.

Boom is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Hickman has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Boom wants to control the pace but Hickman is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Hickman tries to reverse the position but Boom maintains control.
Boom looking to finish with strikes here!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hickman can do anything to dispel that myth.

Boom looking to secure an arm triangle but Hickman defends it well.
Hickman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boom tries to control but Hickman wriggling away.
Boom is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hickman is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

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.
Boom wants to take Hickman's back but he can't do it this time.
Hickman can't escape the position.
Boom has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Boom takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Hickman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hickman is trying to stand up.
Hickman is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bobby Boom dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hickman digs a good hook to Boom's body.
Hickman missing with a left hand there. Boom was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Boom lands a jab.
Hickman misses with a low kick as Boom jumps back.
Hickman slips under a jab.
Boom throws the left hand but Hickman avoids the punch easily.
Hickman misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Boom takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hickman looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Hickman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hickman misses with a body kick.
Boom shoots in for a double leg but Hickman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Boom shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Boom showed some decent athleticism there.
Hickman is not content to let Boom control the position.
Hickman preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Hickman wants to control but Boom is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boom wants to free his trapped foot but Hickman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Boom seems to be looking for submissions.

Boom is looking for a kimura but Hickman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Boom to get the leverage.
Hickman trying to hold on to Boom's head to control him but Boom postures up.
Hickman is looking for a sweep. Boom is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boom not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hickman keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hickman is trying to control but can't.
Hickman tries to get to full guard but Boom has control of the leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom tries to pass to full mount but Hickman defends it.
Hickman is looking for a sweep. Boom is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boom tries to pass to full mount but Hickman defends it.
Hickman is trying to control but can't.
Hickman is trying is best to control the position here.

Dick Hickman has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hickman jabs Boom to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Hickman misses with a low kick.
Boom checks a leg kick.
Hickman throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hickman misses with a low kick.
Hickman is looking to chop away at Boom's legs.
Boom walks into a jab.
Hickman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hickman throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hickman tries to land a front kick but Boom steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Boom throws a head kick that misses
and Hickman counters with a nice low kick that buckles Boom's knee momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hickman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Boom manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Boom looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hickman tried to score with a low kick but Boom checks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Hickman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Boom checks a low kick from Hickman.
Nice shot lands for Hickman.
Boom takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hickman lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Bobby Boom has been cut.
Hickman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Boom circles away quickly and effectively.
Hickman throws a jab but it's blocked by Boom.
Boom scores with a hook.
Hickman throws a solid leg kick but Boom takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hickman.
Hickman tries to land a front kick but Boom steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Hickman slips under a jab from Boom.
Hickman misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Boom misses the target.
Hickman lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Boom shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Hickman is trying to defend but Boom finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hickman controlling the position well.
Boom is trying to control the action in half guard but Hickman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Boom wants to work for an arm triangle but Hickman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Boom wants to take a breather but Hickman is having none of it.
Hickman trying to control but Boom postures up.
Hickman is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hickman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hickman.
Hickman keeping full guard, as Boom tries to pass.
Hickman looking for a sweep. Not yet Hickman, not yet.
Hickman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Boom is controlling him.
Hickman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Boom pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hickman is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickman wants to stand and escape but Boom is having none of it.
Boom trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hickman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boom passes Hickman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Boom trying to control from half guard but Hickman is working away.
Boom landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Still in half guard, Boom seems content to control.

Boom is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Boom throwing shots but Hickman is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Boom thows a huge punch but Hickman dodges it nicely.
Hickman regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Boom.
Boom throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Boom drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Boom jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Boom stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hickman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hickman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Hickman really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bobby Boom's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hickman moves in looking to clinch but Boom pushes him off.
Hickman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Boom throws a hook but Hickman blocks it.
Hickman with a hook.
Hickman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Boom sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Boom takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hickman throws a hook but Boom avoids it easily.
Hickman looks to land a right hand but Boom moved out of range.
Boom slips a straight right by Hickman.
A jab from Hickman does it's job there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Boom chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Hickman can pounce on him.
Boom misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Boom slips a straight right by Hickman.
Boom checks a low kick from Hickman.
Boom needs to keep his hands up - Hickman had a free shot at his head there.
Boom avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Boom throws out a loose jab but Hickman uses good head movement to avoid it.
A jab from Hickman does it's job there.
Hickman throws a leg kick that misses.
Hickman pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickman scores with a crisp jab that stopped Boom in his tracks.
Hickman lands with an overhand left.
Hickman lands a nice shot that snaps Boom's head back.
Boom has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Hickman finds it's way round the side to connect with Boom's head.
Boom misses with a looping left.
Hickman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Boom swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hickman fails to land with a series of punches.
Hickman throws an overhand right that lands on Boom's shoulder, as Boom tries to avoid the shot.
Dick Hickman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A head kick misses from Hickman.
Hickman scores with a jab to the body.
Hickman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Boom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom checks a leg kick.

Boom shoots in and bounces Hickman off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Boom looking to pass the guard.
Hickman trying to keep a closed guard but Boom is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hickman holds on and takes a little breather.
Hickman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Boom is one step ahead there.
Boom thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom stopping the sweep attempt from Hickman.
Boom pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hickman is keeping the position for now.
Boom wants to control from the top but Hickman keeps moving.
Bobby Boom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boom sitting in guard here, content to control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dick Hickman hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hickman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Boom moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Hickman dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Bobby Boom's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Hickman scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hickman moves out of range as Boom strikes.
Hickman avoids the head kick by Boom.
Hickman throws a shot from downtown. Boom moves away and avoids it.
Hickman throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

Boom closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hickman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Boom.
Boom thows a huge punch but Hickman dodges it nicely.
Hickman trying to control but Boom postures up.
Boom trying to mount his opponent but Hickman defends it.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Hickman desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickman is pressing down on Boom's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boom won't allow Hickman to sweep him here.
Boom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boom advances to half guard.
Hickman is trying to stand up here but Boom is controlling him well.

Boom is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hickman is refusing to be controlled, as Boom sits in half guard.
Dick Hickman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Boom looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hickman works his way to full guard. Good work.
Boom looking to pass the guard.
Hickman can't keep his opponent in guard - Boom advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boom thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hickman's head.
Hickman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Boom preventing the sweep.
Boom passes into half guard.
Hickman wants to get back to his feet.
Boom slows the pace down in half guard.
Hickman is looking to get back to full guard here but Boom has managed to pass to side control instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boom scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hickman can't escape the position.
Hickman tries to lock up and control but Boom gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bobby Boom has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boom scoring with strikes but Hickman is staying in there.
Boom can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hickman is looking to escape.
Hickman holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Boom tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bobby Boom showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hickman 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 47:48
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 47:48
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Hickman!
Dick Hickman is the new welterweight champion!