PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Hecker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and JB Bilgnat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bilgnat comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Shacklers Revenge kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hecker
vs
Bilgnat

175 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Hecker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, JB Bilgnat!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Lou da Vinci and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hecker shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Hecker was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bilgnat wants to control but Hecker postures up.
Hecker fails to land a wild elbow strike.
The referee asks Hecker politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Hecker prefers to stall for the moment though.
Hecker trying to control the action but Bilgnat is working from the bottom.
Hecker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hecker throws a strike aimed at the side of Bilgnat's head but Bilgnat avoids it well.
Hecker throws a strike aimed at the side of Bilgnat's head but Bilgnat avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hecker moves into full mount!
Hecker thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilgnat really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Hecker looking to ground and pound but Bilgnat is blocking nicely.
Bilgnat blocking the ground and pound.
Hecker trying to control but Bilgnat is having none of it.

Hecker is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bilgnat has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bilgnat!
Hecker throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker looking for a sweep. Not yet Hecker, not yet.
Hecker pulls Bilgnat in close to prevent any damage.
Bilgnat looking to pass the guard.
Hecker trying to keep a closed guard but Bilgnat is proving a slippery customer.

Bilgnat thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hecker controls Bilgnat momentarily but Bilgnat frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hecker is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Bilgnat pulls guard.
Hecker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hecker wants to control from the top but Bilgnat keeps moving.
Hecker postures up in Bilgnat's guard and throws a big left but Bilgnat blocks it.
Hecker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Hecker trying to control but Bilgnat is working from the bottom.

Bilgnat looking for a guillotine here but Hecker defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hecker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bilgnat works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hecker is looking to work some ground and pound but Bilgnat has wrist control.

Hecker drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Bilgnat dives on top into guard.
Hecker not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hecker 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.
Hecker is looking to stand up but Bilgnat isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hecker dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bilgnat throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Hecker shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bilgnat napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Bilgnat gets back to half guard.
Nice strikes from Hecker there.
Bilgnat keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hecker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Jeff Hecker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hecker trying to control the action but Bilgnat is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilgnat is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hecker tries to pass to full mount but Bilgnat defends it.
Hecker thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hecker wants to pass the guard but Bilgnat is defending well.

Bilgnat actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hecker in particular looking to stall.
Hecker not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Bilgnat is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hecker pulls his head out easily.
Hecker not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Bilgnat looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bilgnat blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hecker.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
A nice elbow there by Hecker.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hecker unloads with some shots from mount but Bilgnat bucks and avoids them well.
Hecker punching from mount but Bilgnat doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Hecker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hecker misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bilgnat is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hecker with good strikes from the mount here!
Hecker throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Bilgnat wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hecker.
Hecker looking to finish with strikes here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hecker lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hecker controlling from mount.
Bilgnat wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Hecker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hecker dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hecker stuffs the takedown attempt from Bilgnat. Bilgnat gets slowly back to his feet.

Hecker bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hecker tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bilgnat dodges the ground and pound from Hecker.
Sloppy strikes there by Hecker.
Hecker throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Hecker seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Hecker trying to control the position but Bilgnat is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hecker decides to stand back up. Hecker steps back and let's Bilgnat get back to his feet.

Bilgnat gets caught flat footed, as Hecker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hecker postures up in Bilgnat's guard and throws a big left but Bilgnat blocks it.
Hecker trying to control but Bilgnat is working from the bottom.
Hecker with a flurry of punches that miss.

Bilgnat is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hecker defends well.
Hecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Bilgnat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hecker throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hecker wants to control from the top but Bilgnat keeps moving.
Bilgnat keeping full guard, as Hecker tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hecker pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bilgnat is keeping the position for now.
Hecker trying to control but Bilgnat is working from the bottom.
Bilgnat working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hecker.
Hecker throws a strike but Bilgnat rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Hecker looking to control.
JB Bilgnat has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bilgnat is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hecker wants to stand but Bilgnat is controlling the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hecker is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Bilgnat has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hecker avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jeff Hecker is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Bilgnat pulls Hecker into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff Hecker showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hecker, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Jeff Hecker!
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight for Jeff Hecker!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Jeff Hecker!

Jeff Hecker wins by unanimous decision!