I posted the previous ones some time ago. Some one
mentioned that they enjoyed them on Infinites so I figired I would post the others.
I intend to do one for each fight.
I hope you enjoy.
Kym
Fight Analysis 4:
Pete Hickmont, K-1 MMA match, 5 March 2004
Brisbane, Queensland
Becoming a Matador
Pre-Fight Opponent Data:
I had no time to do any real research on Pete 'the Bull' Hickmont, it was 9pm on a Wednesday night when I got a phone call from the match maker, Daniel Sainty, he asked me if I would be interested in fighting at under 90kg on Tarik Solaks and Ian Jacobs K-1 show to be held at the Suncorp Piazza. The fight was on the Friday night.
I said yes, before I found out who the opponent was. I then hoped online and raided my fight video collection to look up all that I could on the man that they called, The Bull.
Pete had just come of a loss in XFC 3 against a talented Adam Kayoom, this loss was not a true indication of how talented Pete is. I found out that he is a scarey striker who in his MMA debut came out like a bull at the gate and destroyed his opponent. So I knew that I had to respect his striking. I also knew that he is a coach and stable mate of Matty Knight. Plus he was from Toowoomba, and it seemed that this place was a breeding ground for tough fight ready mad men.
Game plan:
I really didn't have anytime to prepare for this fight let alone set out a game plan, only two weeks prior I had fought Matty in Melbourne, and since then I had been unable to get inside of the gym. It was a miracle that I was around 90kg. I wanted to take Pete down and force a submission. I felt that I could use my reach to determine a good pace on our feet and then let my legs and hands take me into the clinch. I flew up on the day of the fight, and ended up staying at Ian Jacobs house which was a tremendous privellege. While there I was told that since it was on a kickboxing card they would only allow us 30 seconds on the ground and then we would be stood back up. MMA...indeed, seemed more like a shoot boxing or kick boxing in MMA gloves, I was un-happy and reluctant. I was already in Qld so I may as well fight.
Preparation:
What preparation ? I took Friday of work and flew up with little food in my belly so that when I got there, should I have to weigh in I would come in at under 90kg as agreed. Other than that, I had some shadow boxing and push ups to prepare me for this fight.
Inside of my head I was ready, I felt relaxed, I wasn't nervous at all. Maybe I was just stupid, but I felt pretty good about the fight.
What Happened:
The suncorp piazza is a giant half opened air stadium and on the night of the fight Brisbane was being assaulted by a near hurricane, so the ring had become wet from rain. Pete and I stood near one another, as the rain and wind took away any edge that our warm up in the change room had achieved. I was almost tempted to hug Pete as it was getting that cold, but the menacing gaze on his face told me that he wasn't up for it. We both entered the ring and stared one another down. I could see in his eyes a passionate fury that only a red head could possess. I knew he would tear my head of and keep smacking away at it, if he had half the chance.
After the centre ring had been wiped down and Pete had wisely removed his wrestling shoes so that he wouldn't slip, we each circled one another. I threw a right round kick to Pete's thigh, I clinched of this and we both struggled inside the clinch until I managed to get him down. Once we were on the ground, it seemed like a handful of seconds before we were stood up again. It seemed the partisan kickboxing crowd didn't want to or didn't understand the ground so we were all of a sudden found ourselves in an extended kickboxing match. However I do re-call an educated kick boxing fan tell me to "Get of him you poofter", which was surely good advice.
After being re-stood, I closed in and clinched with Pete again, this time I managed tot throw him. Getting a solid top position, I didn't want to be stood up again for fear of Pete timing my entry and hurting me, so I wrapped my arm around Pete's neck and managed to secure a rear naked choke. I was perhaps a little too lucky to get this.
We both hugged and exchanged numbers, and I even scored a MMA fighter hat from Pete, so I felt well rewarded.
What I did Wrong:
I took a fight in a show that did not appreciate the sport of MMA, a show that wanted to use the general appeal of the sport but that did not actually want the whole sport. I could have been punished by Pete as I entered and if he was able to stall better on the ground. The modified rules could have seen me in a lot of danger, allied with the fact that we both took this fight with very little notice. I realised that I should set up my take down attempts better, as I was not happy. This is hard to analyse as both Pete and I have never received footage of this fight.
What was Learnt:
As I covered above, I learnt in hindsight that I should take a fight on a show that doesn't make up the rules as it goes along. This perhaps had more to do with the match maker than the actual promoter. I also learnt that I need to set things up better, however as I also covered above it is hard to self analyse when you do not have any footage of your fight. I also learnt that Pete is a real good guy. He helped get me my pay that night as I feared we would not have received it if he was not so blunt. He is a true gent and a tough SOB.
Outcome:
Win by rear naked choke submission 1.39 round 1. Record 3-1.