PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Chris Echo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Hegg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Echo
vs
Hegg

194 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Chris Echo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Hegg!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Echo is looking to clinch.
Echo wants to clinch up but Hegg keeps it at a distance.
Hegg fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hegg looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Echo is fending him off so far but Hegg persists. Nope, Echo circles away and we're back to standing.
Hegg keeps the fight on the outside.
Hegg throws a hook but Echo avoids it easily.
Hegg fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chris Echo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Hegg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Echo tries to clinch but Hegg moves out of range.
Echo fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Echo moves in looking to clinch but Hegg pushes him off.
Hegg misses with a looping right.
Hegg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Echo tries to clinch up.
Echo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hegg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hegg shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Echo pinned against the cage. Echo gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Echo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two 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.
Echo tries to clinch but Hegg is having none of it.
Echo tries a head kick but it misses.
Echo is looking to clinch.
Hegg avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Echo misses with a wild body shot.
Echo wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Echo lands a nice leg kick that just misses Hegg's sensitive parts.
Hegg lands a nice shot to the body.
Hegg throws a sloppy body shot
and Echo counters with a head kick. That will keep Hegg thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hegg moves in looking to clinch but Echo pushes him off.
Hegg is looking to clinch but Echo is avoiding it.
Echo clinches but Hegg breaks the clinch

and Hegg counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hegg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Echo misses with a knee strike.
Echo looking to throw knees to the head but Hegg is blocking nicely.
Echo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Echo stops a takedown attempt from Hegg.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Echo throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hegg lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Hegg can't break the clinch.
Echo throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hegg blocks it with crossed arms.
Echo is breathing heavily.
Hegg lands a nice knee to the body.

Hegg breaks the clinch.
Hegg throws a left and a right that both miss
and Echo counters with a stiff right hand.
Chris Echo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hegg misses with a hook

and Echo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Echo.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hegg.
Echo misses with an elbow over the top.
Echo is pressed up against the cage. Hegg has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Echo down to the mat. Echo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hegg on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Echo. Echo obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Echo circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Echo dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hegg throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Echo looks to clinch

and Hegg counters with a single leg into guard. Echo didn't expect that.
Hegg prevents Echo from getting back to his feet.
Hegg passes Echo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hegg trying to mount his opponent but Echo defends it.
Well, if Hegg is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Echo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
It looks like Hegg is going to stand back up.
Hegg controlling the action here.
Echo is looking to escape.
Hegg performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hegg looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Hegg stops Echo from getting back to his feet.

Hegg stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Echo to get to his feet.

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.
Echo darts in trying to clinch

and Hegg moves into the clinch.

Hegg breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Echo darts in trying to clinch

and Hegg counters with a nice double leg into side control. Echo won't be happy with that.
Hegg tries to move to mount but Echo blocks the move with his legs.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hegg with the ground and pound but Echo regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Hegg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Echo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Echo clinches but Hegg breaks the clinch

and Hegg moves into the clinch.
Echo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Echo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hegg is looking to break free of the clinch but Echo has double underhooks.

Hegg has Echo pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Hegg pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Echo tumbling to the mat - Hegg dives into Echo's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Echo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hegg is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hegg controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hegg passes Echo's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hegg is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hegg is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Hegg content just to control the position here.
Echo is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Echo is controlling an arm, preventing Hegg from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

That's two 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.
Echo's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Hegg tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Echo is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Echo is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hegg takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Echo is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hegg tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Echo wants to get back to his feet.
Echo has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Hegg has good solid back control here.

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.
Echo trying to get back to his feet but Hegg is in full control for now.

Echo showing good submission defense here.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Echo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Hegg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hegg has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Hegg!