PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simon Hedegaard (ranked 1011 p4p, 1558 weight class) and Vern Schullacks (ranked 149 p4p, 238 weight class). Simon Hedegaard has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Hedegaard
vs
Schullacks

208 cm
23
195
14 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
200
7 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing

Altitude Clothing
High Peak Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Hedegaard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vern Schullacks!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Ben Hemmingworth and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schullacks misses with a right hand

and Hedegaard decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Schullacks's guard.
Schullacks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Schullacks seems keen to control Hedegaard's posture.
We've been hearing that Hedegaard has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Schullacks is trying to control the position but Hedegaard postures up.
Hedegaard sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Schullacks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Schullacks keeping moving, preventing Hedegaard from controlling successfully.
Schullacks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hedegaard is one step ahead there.
Our spies down at at Aloha MMA inform us that Schullacks has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hedegaard trying to control but Schullacks is working from the bottom.
Hedegaard is in close to Schullacks's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schullacks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hedegaard's guard.

Schullacks landing some decent shots from guard.
Schullacks working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Hedegaard's head.

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

Hedegaard working for a triangle but Schullacks defends it easily.
Schullacks wants to pass the guard but Hedegaard is keeping the position.
Hedegaard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Schullacks sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hedegaard's guard.
Hedegaard is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Hedegaard tries to get to full guard but Schullacks has control of the leg.
Hedegaard gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hedegaard is on top in guard.

Hedegaard trying to control the position from guard on top but Schullacks is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schullacks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Schullacks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hedegaard stopping the sweep attempt from Schullacks.

Hedegaard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hedegaard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hedegaard working some strikes from top position.
Schullacks pulls Hedegaard in to control the position.

Hedegaard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hedegaard throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hedegaard's guard.

Schullacks trying to control but Hedegaard is working from the bottom.

Hedegaard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Schullacks wants to control from the top but Hedegaard keeps moving.
Hedegaard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Hedegaard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hedegaard is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks tries to roll over but Hedegaard keeps him under control.
Schullacks is positioning himself well to prevent Hedegaard advancing to mount.
Hedegaard looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Hedegaard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Schullacks sees it coming and defends easily.
Hedegaard tries to pass to full mount but Schullacks defends it.
Schullacks controlling the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hedegaard throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hedegaard trying to pass the guard but Schullacks defending well.
Hedegaard is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Hedegaard dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Jab from Schullacks.
Schullacks scores with a jab to the body.
Hedegaard dives in for a single leg takedown but Schullacks sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hedegaard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Schullacks gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Schullacks gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Hedegaard trying to control but Schullacks postures up.
Simon Hedegaard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hedegaard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Schullacks wants to work for an arm triangle but Hedegaard is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schullacks is stalling here. Hedegaard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Schullacks seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hedegaard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Schullacks sneaks back into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hedegaard stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schullacks tries to roll over but Hedegaard keeps him under control.
Hedegaard wants to take a breather but Schullacks is having none of it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Schullacks manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hedegaard wants to pass the guard but Schullacks is keeping the position.
Hedegaard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Schullacks is controlling Hedegaard's posture.
Hedegaard tries to free his leg and advance position but Schullacks is retaining full guard.
Schullacks working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schullacks is pulling down on Hedegaard's head to control his posture.

Schullacks is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hedegaard stopping the sweep attempt from Schullacks.
Hedegaard is in close to Schullacks's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hedegaard won't allow Schullacks to sweep him here.
Hedegaard passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Schullacks is looking to reverse the position.
Hedegaard is staying tight to Schullacks's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Hedegaard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Schullacks, who protects the arm well.
Hedegaard working the ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hedegaard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hedegaard working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hedegaard landing a few strikes.
Schullacks gets back to half guard.
Schullacks is trying to control but Hedegaard passes into side control!
Hedegaard wants to control but Schullacks is keeping him busy.
Schullacks gets back to half guard.
Schullacks is looking to improve his position.
Schullacks has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hedegaard is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks has hold of Hedegaard's hands but Hedegaard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Hedegaard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Schullacks is trying to maintain the position but Hedegaard is very close to passing his half guard.

Hedegaard seems to be working for a kimura but Schullacks defends the submission attempt.
Schullacks is looking to control Hedegaard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Schullacks avoid being mounted?
Hedegaard prevents Schullacks from improving his position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hedegaard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hedegaard lands strikes from half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Hedegaard dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Schullacks just misses with a punch to the body.
Hedegaard looks for a takedown but Schullacks sprawls well.
Hedegaard misses with a head kick.
Vern Schullacks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schullacks slips a jab and a cross from Hedegaard.
Schullacks digs a good hook to Hedegaard's body.
A telegraphed right hand from Schullacks misses the target.
Hedegaard moves away from the strike by Schullacks.
Hedegaard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Schullacks defends well and Hedegaard ends up having to push Schullacks into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Hedegaard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Schullacks pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Hedegaard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Schullacks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hedegaard was well out of range. Poor timing from Schullacks.
Hedegaard tries to counter with a takedown but Schullacks is quick to defend against it.
Schullacks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hedegaard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Schullacks comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Schullacks lands a nice looking body shot.
Schullacks throws a body shot but no joy.
Schullacks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hedegaard momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hedegaard takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hedegaard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hedegaard closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Schullacks scores with a jab. Hedegaard acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Schullacks lands an overhand right.
Schullacks tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hedegaard was well out of range. Poor timing from Schullacks.
Hedegaard moves out of range of the strikes.
A jab from Hedegaard misses.

Hedegaard looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Schullacks is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hedegaard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hedegaard's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hedegaard turns into Schullacks and is now in his guard.
Schullacks looking to hit a scissor sweep but Hedegaard is one step ahead there.
Schullacks avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard forces his way into half guard.
Schullacks is trying to control but can't.
Schullacks is trying to get back to full guard.
Hedegaard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hedegaard thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Hedegaard is working for a submission of some sort.
Hedegaard wants to pass to mount but Schullacks is defending the position.
Schullacks wants to control but Hedegaard passes into side.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hedegaard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Schullacks, who protects the arm well.

Hedegaard is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Schullacks is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hedegaard tries to move into full mount but can't pass Schullacks's legs.
Schullacks is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Schullacks can't do much from the bottom here.
Schullacks manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks wants to control but Hedegaard is keeping him busy.
Schullacks tries to pass to full mount but Hedegaard defends it.
Schullacks seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Hedegaard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Schullacks is taking a breather. Hedegaard says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Hedegaard gets full guard.
Hedegaard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Schullacks is one step ahead there.
Hedegaard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Schullacks drops back looking for a leg! Hedegaard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hedegaard manages to kick Schullacks off! Schullacks jumps back into Hedegaard's guard.
Schullacks trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vern Schullacks comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hedegaard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Hemmingworth scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Hedegaard!
Simon Hedegaard took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, Altitude Clothing for their support in the buildup to the fight.