PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jon Hallquist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Terry Eckel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jon Hallquist has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hallquist
vs
Eckel

178 cm
23
150 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

165 cm
20
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Team S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Hallquist!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Terry Eckel!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hallquist tries to keep at a distance but Eckel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hallquist tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Eckel drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hallquist gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Eckel is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hallquist gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Eckel can't get the takedown.
Jon Hallquist has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terry Eckel.
Eckel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hallquist trying to stall but Eckel improves his position.

Hallquist is fighting off a takedown attempt but Eckel is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hallquist to the mat. Hallquist regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hallquist looking for a sweep. Not yet Hallquist, not yet.
Eckel throwing strikes from guard but Hallquist blocks nicely.
Hallquist wants to sweep here but Eckel controlling him for the moment.
Hallquist keeping moving, preventing Eckel from controlling successfully.
Eckel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Hallquist holds on and takes a little breather.
Eckel wants to control from the top but Hallquist keeps moving.
Hallquist doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hallquist looking to hit a scissor sweep but Eckel is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Eckel closes the distance and clinches up with Hallquist, looking for a takedown. Eckel pushes Hallquist against the cage but Hallquist circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

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.

Hallquist scores with a takedown into Eckel's guard.
Hallquist postures up in Eckel's guard and throws a big left but Eckel blocks it.

Eckel pushes Hallquist off and scrambles back to his feet.
Hallquist takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Eckel throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Hallquist's head.
Hallquist tries to close the distance and clinch but Eckel swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hallquist closes this distance looking for a takedown but Eckel circles away.
No joy there for Hallquist, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Eckel tries to close the distance and clinch but Hallquist swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Eckel throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hallquist gets a takedown into half guard.
Hallquist is breathing heavily.
Still in half guard, Hallquist seems content to control.
Eckel wants to control but Hallquist passes into side.
Eckel is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hallquist stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hallquist takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Eckel fails with the takedown

and Hallquist decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Eckel's guard.
Hallquist will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hallquist accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hallquist loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hallquist controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jon Hallquist will probably get the nod.
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.

Hallquist drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hallquist decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Eckel, up you get!
Eckel throws a leg kick that misses.
Hallquist misses with a body kick.
Eckel misses with a takedown

and Hallquist counters with a shoot takedown. Eckel fights it but they end up in guard.
Eckel has momentary wrist control but Hallquist slips an elbow through the middle.
Hallquist sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Hallquist gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Eckel is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hallquist throws a solid leg kick but Eckel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hallquist.
Hallquist avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Eckel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Hallquist shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hallquist showed some decent athleticism there.
Hallquist stops Eckel from getting back to his feet.
Eckel avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hallquist.
Jon Hallquist overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Hallquist decides to return to a standing position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eckel throws a sloppy head kick and Hallquist moves out of range easily.
Hallquist tries to clinch up.
Hallquist keeps the fight on the outside.
Hallquist takes a kick to the side of the head.
Hallquist tries a head kick but it misses.
Hallquist tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Eckel paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Eckel throws a head kick but Hallquist moves out of range.
Hallquist throws a leg kick that is checked
and Eckel counters with a head kick. That will keep Hallquist thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hallquist.
Eckel wants to control but Hallquist postures up.
Hallquist is looking to take a break and control but Eckel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallquist is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Eckel is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Eckel wants to control but Hallquist postures up.
Eckel regains half guard.
Eckel is looking to get back to is feet but Hallquist passes into side control.

Hallquist working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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.

Hallquist stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Hallquist looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hallquist trying to control the position from guard on top but Eckel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hallquist seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Eckel shoots in and bounces Hallquist off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Eckel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hallquist is trying to keep Eckel in close.

Hallquist has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Eckel off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eckel rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hallquist moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hallquist tries to clinch but Eckel moves out of range.
Eckel scores with a nice head shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hallquist avoids the head kick by Eckel.
Hallquist throws a right and a left that both miss.

Eckel instigates a clinch.
Eckel changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Hallquist fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Hallquist will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Eckel's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Eckel duly obliges.

Eckel drives through and clinches with Hallquist against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eckel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hallquist lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Eckel jumps guard.
Hallquist wants to stand but Eckel has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Eckel is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hallquist being controlled here momentarily.
Eckel working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eckel can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Hallquist controls the pace.
Hallquist passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ground and pound from Hallquist seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hallquist slows the pace down.

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.

Hallquist decides to stand back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hallquist.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hallquist tries to advance to mount but Eckel denies him.
Hallquist cracks Eckel with an elbow. That is naaassty.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Terry Eckel just about did enough to take it.
That's time! Hallquist's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hallquist shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Hallquist stands up and waves to Eckel to follow him.
Eckel scores with a jab.
Eckel misses with a takedown

and Hallquist counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hallquist.
Hallquist content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hallquist is stalling in the full guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hallquist thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eckel is trying to control the position but Hallquist postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hallquist accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hallquist won't allow Eckel to sweep him here.
Hallquist looking to sit in guard and control but Eckel gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Eckel is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hallquist throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hallquist trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hallquist is pulling down on Eckel's head. It's preventing any offense from Eckel, at least for the moment.
Hallquist looking for a sweep. Not yet Hallquist, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallquist is controlling Eckel's posture.

Hallquist has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eckel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Eckel wants to get up but he can't break Hallquist's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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.
Hallquist is controlling Eckel's posture.
Hallquist wants to sweep but no luck.
Hallquist is working hard here to advance position.
Eckel stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hallquist swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Hallquist had his way with Terry Eckel in that round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Eckel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Hallquist shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hallquist showed some decent athleticism there.
Eckel trying to control from the bottom.
Hallquist performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hallquist is trying to control the action in half guard but Eckel is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eckel is trying to get back to full guard.
Hallquist thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Eckel to regain full guard.
Eckel looking to control.

Eckel scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Eckel plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Hallquist scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hallquist seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Hallquist passes to full mount!
Eckel is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hallquist takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hallquist avoids the attempt from Eckel to control.

Eckel somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hallquist.
Eckel checks a leg kick.
Hallquist has his takedown stuffed
and Eckel counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hallquist is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Eckel circles away from the clinch attempt
and Eckel counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eckel misses with a jab, cross combination.
Eckel throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Hallquist misses with a straight right.
Eckel tries for a takedown but Hallquist circles away easily

and Hallquist counters with a nice double leg into side control. Eckel won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Eckel being controlled for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jon Hallquist.
I think Hallquist 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 49:46
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 49:46
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Hallquist!
Jon Hallquist retains his lightweight title!