PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Earl Hickey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ishaq Issa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Hickey
vs
Issa

194 cm
18
211 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Earl Hickey!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ishaq Issa!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Wesley Smith and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hickey swinging wildly here.

Issa moves into the clinch successfully.
Issa gets through Hickey's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Issa stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Issa.
Hickey has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hickey trying to stall but Issa improves his position.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.
Issa gets through Hickey's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A knee to the head by Issa.
Hickey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Issa.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hickey is trying to maintain a safe position but Issa gets an underhook and turns Hickey into the cage.
Issa misses with the head strike.
Hickey tries to throw a body punch but Issa avoids it by throwing Hickey back against the cage.
Issa misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Issa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hickey is trying to stall.
Hickey wants to break the clinch but can't.
A hook to the body from Issa.
Hickey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Issa.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hickey can't break the clinch.
Issa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Issa swings wildly with an uppercut but Hickey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hickey is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Issa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Issa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Issa with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Issa tries to land a knee to the head but Hickey blocks with his arms.
Hickey blocks a body shot from Issa.
Issa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hickey is trying to stall.
Issa swings wildly with an uppercut but Hickey uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.
Issa tries a body shot but Hickey blocks it.
Issa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Issa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Issa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Issa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Hickey prevents a body shot from Issa.
Hickey is trying to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Issa scores with a shot to the side of Hickey's head.
Issa misses with some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
A right hook to the body lands for Issa.
Hickey has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Hickey is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Hickey is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Issa.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hickey.
Issa tries to land a knee to the head but Hickey blocks with his arms.
Still in the clinch, Issa scores with a nice short uppercut.
Issa lands a hook that snaps the head of Hickey backwards.
Issa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Issa.
Issa connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hickey's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickey looking to stall.
Issa working Hickey over with knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Issa.
Issa lands a nice uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Issa tries a body shot but Hickey blocks it.
Issa misses with a knee strike.
Hickey wants to get back to striking at distance but Issa won't allow it.
Issa throws a knee to the head but misses.
Issa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Issa lands with a left to the head.
Hickey blocks an uppercut.
Hickey tries to circle away but Issa has him pinned against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Issa tries a body shot but Hickey blocks it.
Hickey misses with a body punch.
Issa misses with a punch on the inside.
Hickey wants to get back to striking at distance but Issa won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishaq Issa dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hickey rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Issa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Issa misses with a straight right.
Issa throws out a loose jab but Hickey uses good head movement to avoid it.

Issa has managed to clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Issa lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Issa working aggressively here.
Issa misses with the head strike.
Issa connects with a knee to the head.
Issa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hickey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Issa.
Issa working aggressively here.
Issa goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Issa working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Hickey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nice body punch from Issa - that landed with a thud.
Issa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hickey backwards.
Issa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hickey wants to stall.
Issa swings wildly with an uppercut but Hickey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Issa scores with a shot to the side of Hickey's head.
Hickey blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hickey tries to stall but Issa uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Hickey can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Issa throws a punch but it's blocked by Hickey.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hickey.
Issa misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Issa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Issa controlling the action here for a moment.
Issa lands with a light punch inside.
Issa keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hickey's efforts to push away.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Issa lands a hook that snaps the head of Hickey backwards.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Hickey wants to break free but Issa has control.
Hickey throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Hickey tries to break free but Issa pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.
Issa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Issa tries to throw a body punch but Hickey avoids it by throwing Issa back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hickey wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hickey misses with an elbow over the top.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.
Issa misses with some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Issa takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Issa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hickey backwards.
A knee to the head by Issa.
Issa scores with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Issa.
Hickey managing to block the knees to the body from Issa.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hickey wants to stall.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Issa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hickey.
Issa tries to throw a body punch but Hickey avoids it by throwing Issa back against the cage.
Issa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Hickey stalling in the clinch but Issa improves position.
Issa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Good body shot from Issa.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.
Hickey blocks an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Issa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A short left from Issa.
Hickey blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hickey tries to break the clinch but Issa is controlling the position.
A head punch on the inside from Issa fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishaq Issa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Issa looks to score with a jab to the body but Hickey is just out of range.
Issa misses the shot to the body.
A jab from Issa does it's job there.
Hickey walks into a straight right hand from Issa.
Earl Hickey is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hickey misses with a hook. Issa ducked under it nicely.
Hickey throws a series of punches but Issa avoids them all with ease.
No joy there for Hickey, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Issa misses with a hook. Hickey ducked under it nicely.
Issa throws an overhand right that lands on Hickey's shoulder, as Hickey tries to avoid the shot.
Issa scores with a three punch combo!
Hickey slips under a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hickey tests Issa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Hickey looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Issa takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hickey throws a series of punches but Issa avoids them all with ease.
Hickey lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Issa circles away quickly and effectively.
Hickey misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Hickey.
Hickey looks to land a left hand but Issa moved out of range nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Issa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Issa throws a nice outside leg kick.

Issa rushes Hickey and presses him up against the cage.
Issa with a knee to the head.
Issa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hickey's elbow.
Issa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hickey backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Issa pushes Hickey back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Issa lands a good knee to the midsection. Hickey won't want to take too many of those.
Hickey blocking some punches.
Issa swings wildly with an uppercut but Hickey uses good head movement to avoid it.
Issa gets through Hickey's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Issa misses with a punch on the inside.
Issa misses with a punch on the inside.
Issa has Hickey pushed against the cage.
Issa throws a head punch that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Issa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Issa scores with a shoulder strike.
Issa with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Issa with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hickey throws an elbow that misses.
Issa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hickeys head.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Ishaq Issa is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hickey working hard to break the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Issa.
Hickey wants to break free but Issa has control.
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Issa pushes Hickey back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Issa misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickey with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Hickey's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Issa connects with a knee to the head.
Ishaq Issa seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Hickey takes a knee right on the jaw!
Issa lands with a left to the head.
Issa leaning against his opponent.
Hickey blocks an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Issa has a couple of punches blocked by Hickey.
Issa misses with a hook from the clinch.
Earl Hickey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Issa misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Issa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hickey misses with a short punch on the inside.
Issa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hickey has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Issa.
Hickey working hard to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ishaq Issa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Issa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ishaq Issa!
In defeat, Earl Hickey stepped up to the mic, saying 'Damn, I was worried that foursome with those college girls last night would hurt my karma. Thats right ya'll, I nailed 3 of them. Im still the winner. '.