PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeroen Heijdens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Cunningham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cunningham has chosen Head Strong as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Heijdens
vs
Cunningham

175 cm
24
158 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

171 cm
25
150 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jeroen Heijdens!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bill Cunningham!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Heijdens closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cunningham did well to prevent Heijdens getting side control.
Heijdens is looking to advance position but Cunningham won't allow it.
Cunningham wants to get back to full guard.

Cunningham is defending against the submission attempts here by Heijdens.

Heijdens is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cunningham doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Heijdens.
Heijdens sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham trying to hold on to Heijdens's head to control him but Heijdens postures up.
Heijdens perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Heijdens misses with a head kick.

Heijdens moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A nice right hand lands inside from Heijdens.
Cunningham is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Heijdens pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cunningham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Heijdens putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cunningham in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cunningham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Cunningham changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Heijdens fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Heijdens misses with a series of wild punches.
Heijdens throws a series of punches but Cunningham moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heijdens throws a low kick, looking for Cunningham's leg but Cunningham calmly moves out of range.
Cunningham doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Heijdens counters with a slapping leg kick.
Jeroen Heijdens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Cunningham.
A swing and a miss from Heijdens.
Cunningham slips a jab and a cross from Heijdens.
Cunningham throws a push kick but Heijdens slaps the foot to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cunningham fails with the takedown
and Heijdens counters with a solid body kick.
Heijdens is looking to clinch.
Cunningham tries for a takedown but Heijdens circles away easily

so Heijdens counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Heijdens trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cunningham dodges the punch combination from Heijdens.
Cunningham checks a leg kick.
Cunningham has his takedown stuffed
and Heijdens counters with a three punch combo that has Cunningham backing up. Cunningham nods at Heijdens to acknowledge the strikes.
Heijdens is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Heijdens.
Heijdens throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cunningham.
Heijdens tries to land a body kick

and Cunningham counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cunningham tries to pass the half guard into mount. Heijdens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Heijdens tries to roll over but Cunningham keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham is looking to stall here but Heijdens recovers full guard.
Cunningham loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Cunningham trying to control but Heijdens is working from the bottom.
Heijdens bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Cunningham's guard.
Heijdens controlling from the top position.
Heijdens trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heijdens postures up.
Cunningham trying to control the position here.
Heijdens pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cunningham is keeping the position for now.
Cunningham is trying to keep Heijdens in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Cunningham looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Cunningham had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Heijdens is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Cunningham Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Heijdens's back instead.
Heijdens rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Cunningham tries to pass the half guard into mount. Heijdens knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Heijdens swings for the body but Cunningham moves out of range.
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 Jeroen Heijdens will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A shot to the body from Heijdens misses

and Cunningham counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Heijdens is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Heijdens controlling the position.
Cunningham postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Cunningham trying to control but Heijdens is working from the bottom.
Heijdens throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Cunningham throws a big right hand that misses.
Cunningham wants to control from the top but Heijdens keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Heijdens looks to land a combination. Cunningham sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Cunningham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Heijdens misses with a wild combination.
Heijdens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two 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.
Cunningham with a lazy takedown attempt
and Heijdens counters with a left and a right that stings Cunningham.

Heijdens shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Heijdens showed some decent athleticism there.
Cunningham wants to control but Heijdens is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Heijdens thows a huge punch but Cunningham dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heijdens trying to control from half guard but Cunningham is working away.

Heijdens is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cunningham is trying to control but can't.
Heijdens moves nicely into side control.
Heijdens wants to lay and pray for a moment but Cunningham keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Cunningham is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Cunningham tries to buck Heijdens off but Heijdens is having none of it.

Heijdens is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cunningham has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeroen Heijdens clearly takes that round.
That's time! Heijdens's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Cunningham gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Heijdens counters with a right hand to the body.
Heijdens feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cunningham's calf.
Heijdens works over Cunningham's head and body with a nice combination.
Heijdens misses with a double jab

and Cunningham counters with a single leg into guard. Heijdens didn't expect that.
Cunningham controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham trying to control the position from guard on top but Heijdens is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cunningham is looking to work some ground and pound but Heijdens has wrist control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Heijdens looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Cunningham trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cunningham sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Cunningham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Heijdens is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cunningham takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Jeroen Heijdens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cunningham gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Heijdens counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cunningham misses with a takedown attempt
and Heijdens counters with a three punch combo that has Cunningham backing up. Cunningham nods at Heijdens to acknowledge the strikes.
Jeroen Heijdens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bill Cunningham.
Heijdens misses with a low kick as Cunningham jumps back.
Heijdens is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Heijdens tries to clinch up.
Cunningham keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

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.
Cunningham tries for a takedown but Heijdens circles away easily
and Heijdens counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Heijdens misses the body punch

and Cunningham counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Heijdens is pulling down on Cunningham's head to control his posture.
Bill Cunningham has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cunningham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Heijdens is keeping the position for now.

Cunningham is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Heijdens is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Heijdens has escaped and now he's on top!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bill Cunningham dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Cunningham doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Heijdens counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Cunningham thinking.

Heijdens looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Heijdens trying to control the position from guard on top but Cunningham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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.
Heijdens is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cunningham wants to hit a switch here but Heijdens passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cunningham there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cunningham is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Heijdens takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Cunningham has given up his back here.
Cunningham tries to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Heijdens looking for the choke but no joy.
I really don't envy Cunningham right now.
Cunningham trying to control the position but Heijdens manages to sink in the hooks.
Heijdens has good solid back control here.
Heijdens is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heijdens tries to get the hooks in deep but Cunningham pushed the leg off.
Heijdens trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Cunningham doesn't escape.
Cunningham tries to escape but Heijdens has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Heijdens not allowing Cunningham to control his hands.
You can see the frustration on Cunningham's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

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.
Bill Cunningham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeroen Heijdens is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Heijdens tightening his grip on Cunningham, looking for the choke.
Heijdens keeps control of the position easily here as Cunningham tries to buck him off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeroen Heijdens showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Heijdens 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 49:47
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 48:47
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 49:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeroen Heijdens!
Jeroen Heijdens is the new featherweight champion!