PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jake Heke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitri Tarasov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Heke might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to She Hates Me. The key to victory for Jake Heke has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Heke
vs
Tarasov

187 cm
24
217 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

188 cm
21
210 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jake Heke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dmitri Tarasov!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Eliza Hachem and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tarasov shoots in for a double leg but Heke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tarasov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Heke scores with a hook.
Tarasov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Heke tries to avoid it but Tarasov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Heke to the ground. Heke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Jake Heke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitri Tarasov.
Heke scores with a three punch combo!
Heke bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Tarasov's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tarasov misses the jab.
Tarasov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Heke.

Tarasov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Heke is looking to control Tarasov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Heke avoid being mounted?
Tarasov looks to land a strike but Heke avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Heke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tarasov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Heke is on top in guard.
Tarasov wants to sweep here but Heke controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heke would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Heke wants to control from the top but Tarasov keeps moving.
Heke passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Tarasov wants to get back to full guard.
Heke slows the pace down in half guard.
Tarasov wants to get back to full guard.

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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice uppercut lands for Heke. That snapped Tarasov's head back.
Tarasov takes one to the chin there.
Heke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tarasov.
Tarasov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tarasov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Tarasov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tarasov lands in his opponent's guard.
Heke looking to control.
Tarasov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Heke is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tarasov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov forces his way into half guard.
Heke wants to control but Tarasov is keeping busy.
Heke regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Tarasov.
Tarasov is looking to work some ground and pound but Heke has wrist control.
Heke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Heke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Heke seems keen to control Tarasov's posture.

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.
Heke keeping full guard, as Tarasov tries to pass.
Tarasov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tarasov throws and elbow that misses. Heke uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tarasov's guard. Nice move by Heke!
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Heke won't allow Tarasov to sweep him here.
Heke slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tarasov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Heke puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tarasov is staying active underneath Heke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jake Heke 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.

Heke lands with an overhand left.
Tarasov fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice defenses there by Heke.
Heke throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Heke lands with a right hand.
Heke misses with a jab to the body

and Tarasov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Heke's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tarasov works over Heke with some ground and pound from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Heke is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Heke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tarasov throws a big right hand that misses.
Heke keeping moving, preventing Tarasov from controlling successfully.
Tarasov wants to pass the guard but Heke is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarasov prevents Heke from getting back to his feet.
Heke pulls Tarasov in close to his closed guard and prevents Tarasov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Tarasov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tarasov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Heke works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice straight punches there by Heke. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Heke.
Tarasov avoids the body shot from Heke.
Heke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Heke.
Tarasov drops his hands momentarily and Heke takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Heke misses with the combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tarasov misses with a looping left.
Heke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tarasov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tarasov.
Heke looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tarasov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Tarasov throwing shots but Heke is blocking nicely.
Heke tries to roll over but Tarasov keeps him under control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tarasov throws a strike but Heke avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Heke preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tarasov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heke is controlling Tarasov's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tarasov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tarasov is looking to work some ground and pound but Heke has wrist control.
Heke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Heke is controlling Tarasov's posture.
Tarasov thows a big elbow that misses.
Tarasov throwing strikes but missing.
Heke bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tarasov's guard.
Tarasov keeping moving, preventing Heke from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heke stays in close to Tarasov's body and controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tarasov wants to sweep here but Heke controlling him for the moment.
Tarasov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tarasov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Heke passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Tarasov strikes from the bottom but Heke passes into mount!
Tarasov is working to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heke controlling the pace for now.
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 Jake Heke will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Heke slaps away a takedown attempt from Tarasov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tarasov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Heke moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Dmitri Tarasov has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heke lands a jab to the head.
Nice uppercut lands for Heke. That snapped Tarasov's head back.

Tarasov is rocked!
Heke is looking for an opening here. He's unloaded a big left hand that catches Tarasov flush on the jaw and sends him tumbling to the canvas! Tarasov is out cold! Heke holds back from landing any unnecessary shots to his unconscious opponent, as the referee reacts slowly to the situation. A brutal knockout and then some excellent sportsmanship - this guy is my new favorite fighter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Jake Heke!
Jake Heke retains his light heavyweight title!