PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Carter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Hecker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Carter
vs
Hecker

162 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple 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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Carter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Hecker!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hecker with a lazy takedown attempt
and Carter counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hecker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Carter counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Carter gets caught napping as Hecker dives in and scores a takedown. Carter manages to retain guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Hecker content to stall in guard here.
Carter is adopting a defensive guard.
Carter looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Carter shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hecker as he jumps to the side.

Carter gets caught flat footed, as Hecker shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hecker sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hecker's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Carter might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter has Hecker pulled in close to control his posture.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Hecker gets to his feet - Carter follows without any prompting.

Carter dives in and scores a takedown into Hecker's guard.
Hecker wants to stand and escape but Carter is having none of it.
Carter wants to get up but he can't break Hecker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Hecker wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hecker keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Hecker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Carter's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker throws an elbow that misses. Carter uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hecker's guard. Nice move by Carter!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hecker manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Carter tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hecker uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Carter.
Hecker tries for a takedown but Carter sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Michael Carter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Hecker.
Hecker fails with the takedown

and Carter counters by moving into the clinch.

Hecker has hold of one of Carter's legs. Carter is fighting the takedown attempt but Hecker gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Hecker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Carter is looking to stand up but Hecker isn't so interested in that idea.
Hecker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hecker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Carter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jeff Hecker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Carter stuffs the takedown attempt from Hecker. Hecker gets slowly back to his feet.
Hecker shoots in and drives through. Carter sprawls well.
Nice takedown defense from Carter. No joy for Hecker on that attempt.

Hecker manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Carter on his heels. He'll look to pass Carter's guard now, I'm sure.
Hecker looks winded!
Carter trying to keep a closed guard but Hecker is proving a slippery customer.

Carter is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hecker is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Carter working a defensive guard here.
Hecker trying to control but Carter is working from the bottom.
Hecker won't allow Carter to sweep him here.
Hecker passes easily into side control. Nice work.
You can see the frustration on Carter's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hecker throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Carter works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hecker wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.
Carter is trying to stand up here but Hecker is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hecker dominated that 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.

Hecker closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Carter did well to prevent Hecker getting side control.
Carter tries to kick Hecker off but Hecker keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hecker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Carter defending well though.
Carter punching from the bottom.
Hecker is just content to waste time from the top position. Carter takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Carter trying to strike off his back.
Jeff Hecker has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hecker looking to pass the guard.

Hecker drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Carter manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hecker has Carter in his guard.
Carter prevents Hecker from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hecker keeping moving, preventing Carter from controlling successfully.
Carter won't allow Hecker to sweep him here.
Hecker pulls Carter in to control the position.
Hecker trying to keep a closed guard but Carter is proving a slippery customer.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jeff Hecker wasn't active enough on the ground.
Carter tries to land a leg kick but Hecker saw it coming and moves away.
Hecker blocks a head kick by Carter.
Carter stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Carter wants it to stay on the feet.

Carter gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hecker to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Hecker in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker prevents Carter from getting back to his feet.
Hecker passes Carter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Hecker trying to control the action but Carter is working from the bottom.
Hecker thows a huge punch but Carter dodges it nicely.
Hecker wants to control but Carter is keeping him busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Carter keeping hold of Hecker's head, controlling as best he can.
Hecker throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Hecker is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Carter trying to hold on to Hecker's head to control him but Hecker postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker prevents Carter from improving his position.
Hecker thows a huge punch but Carter dodges it nicely.
Hecker wants to lay and pray for a moment but Carter keeps working.
Hecker might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Carter haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jeff Hecker.
Hecker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Carter gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hecker to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hecker looking to sit in guard and control but Carter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Carter trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hecker trying to keep a closed guard but Carter is proving a slippery customer.
Carter passes Hecker's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Carter controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hecker is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hecker showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hecker closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Hecker with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hecker tries to pass the half guard into mount. Carter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Carter is trying to maintain the position but Hecker is very close to passing his half guard.
Carter tries to get to full guard but Hecker has control of the leg.
Carter is looking to control Hecker's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Carter avoid being mounted?
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Carter makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Carter.
Hecker controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Carter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hecker.
Hecker is stalling in the full guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jeff Hecker hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Hecker misses with a takedown
and Carter makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Carter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hecker avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hecker closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Carter's guard.

Hecker is posturing up here but Carter has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Hecker tries to roll out but it's too tight and Hecker has to tap! Slick submission there by Carter!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Michael Carter!