PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Son Hickman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Con Mackre (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hickman
vs
Mackre

207 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Son Hickman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Con Mackre!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mackre tries for a takedown but Hickman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A quick step to the side and Hickman tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

Mackre clinches with his opponent.

Mackre ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mackre no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hickman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hickman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mackre working a defensive guard here.
Hickman cracks Mackre with a solid left hand.

Mackre is working an open guard so Hickman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mackre moves out of range of the body kick from Hickman.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hickman misses with a body kick.
Hickman fails with the takedown
and Mackre counters with a straight right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hickman. Mackre does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackre scores with a body shot.
Mackre will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Mackre pushes Hickman up against the cage in a clinch.

Hickman jumps guard.
Hickman controlling Mackre's posture.

Hickman working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mackre doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mackre manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hickman 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.
Mackre wants to control from the top but Hickman keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mackre throws a strike but Hickman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Hickman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Mackre is looking to stand up but Hickman isn't so interested in that idea.
Mackre wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hickman connects with a couple of short punches.

Mackre is looking for a triangle here but Hickman uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mackre is trying to work for a sweep but Hickman has mounted him!
Hickman with the ground and pound from mount.
Mackre is looking to get to half guard.
Hickman sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Hickman has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mackre's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hickman moves to back control.
Mackre is trying to stand back up.
Hickman scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Mackre is looking for a way out.

Mackre is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hickman gets his way!

Hickman is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Son Hickman dominated that round.
That's time! Hickman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hickman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hickman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mackre.
Mackre looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Mackre throws a right and a left that Hickman avoids nicely.

Mackre closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hickman decides to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mackre in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mackre looking to sit in guard and control but Hickman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Mackre is working an open guard so Hickman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Mackre shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hickman defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mackre gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hickman tries to pull guard but Mackre won't allow it.
Hickman avoiding damage as Mackre throws knees to the body.
Mackre lands with a short shot to the head.

Mackre breaks from the clinch.
Mackre misses with a few strikes there.
A counter left hand to the body from Hickman misses its target.
Hickman stuffs the takedown attempt from Mackre. Mackre gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hickman just misses with a punch to the body.
Mackre throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hickman closes the distance and clinches.

Mackre successfully pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hickman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hickman scoring with some ground and pound.
Son Hickman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mackre wants to get back to his feet but Hickman passes into half guard.
Mackre makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mackre.
Mackre is breathing heavily.

Mackre escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hickman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mackre has control of Hickman's left arm, preventing Hickman from doing any damage.
Hickman throwing strikes from guard but Mackre blocks nicely.
Hickman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mackre is proving hard to escape from.
Hickman sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mackre wants to sweep but no luck.
Mackre is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Mackre looks for a takedown but Hickman sprawls well.
Son Hickman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Con Mackre.
Mackre tries for a takedown but Hickman circles away easily
and Hickman counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hickman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mackre.
Hickman is looking to wear down Mackre with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mackre gets caught flat footed, as Hickman shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Son Hickman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hickman.

Hickman stands up.
Mackre fails to land the takedown.
Mackre tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mackre tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hickman was well out of range. Poor timing from Mackre.
Con Mackre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hickman moves into range and clinches up with Mackre.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hickman jumps guard.
Mackre wants to stand but Hickman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Mackre takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Hickman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mackre looking to sit in guard and control but Hickman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hickman content to stall in guard here.

Mackre is working an open guard so Hickman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Mackre instigates a clinch.
Mackre tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hickman just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mackre is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Hickman pulls guard successfully.
Mackre looking to sit in guard and control but Hickman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hickman wants to stand but Mackre is controlling his posture from full guard.
Hickman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mackre looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Hickman puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hickman decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Hickman slaps away a takedown attempt from Mackre, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hickman seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Son Hickman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Con Mackre.

Mackre clinches up against the cage.

Mackre manages to break the clinch.

Mackre gets a clinch.
Hickman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hickman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Mackre uses from the top position.
Mackre looking to pass the guard.
Mackre prevents Hickman from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hickman is on top in guard.

Hickman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hickman throws a big elbow that misses.
Hickman wants to stand but Mackre is controlling his posture from full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mackre is working an open guard so Hickman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Son Hickman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hickman, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Son Hickman!