PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elijah Heo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cm Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cm Punk is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Heo
vs
Punk

225 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Red Square Fight Gear

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 Tokyo, Elijah Heo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cm Punk!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Punk sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Heo shoots in for a double leg but Punk sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Heo lands a left and a right that send Punk crashing to the mat, dazed. Heo thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Punk is rocked!

It looks like Cm Punk has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heo throws a front kick that sends Punk stumbling back into the cage.
Heo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Punk tries to avoid it but Heo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Punk to the ground. Punk escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elijah Heo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Heo is defended easily by Punk.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Punk crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Heo - the referee stops the clock and Punk gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Heo. Punk manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Punk looks winded!
Heo tries to clinch but Punk is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heo doesn't manage to clinch there - Punk circles away.
Elijah Heo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Heo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Punk counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Punk.
Heo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Punk!
Heo looking to control but Punk is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heo is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Punk is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Heo throwing strikes here but Punk is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Heo trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Punk tries to hold on but Heo pushes him away.
Heo thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Heo working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Heo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heo prevents Punk from getting the reversal.
Heo controlling from the full mount.
Punk is trying to escape the mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Punk can do anything to dispel that myth.

Heo is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Punk can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Heo wants to control the pace but Punk is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punk is desperately trying to improve his position but Heo has a good base and remains in mount.

Heo is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Punk keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Heo shoots and misses

and Punk counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Heo!
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!
Heo is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Punk trying to control the action but Heo is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elijah Heo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Cm Punk's cut.
That's time! Heo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Heo closes the distance and clinches up with Punk, looking for a takedown. Heo pushes Punk against the cage but Punk circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Heo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Punk pinned against the cage. Punk gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Heo tries to clinch but Punk is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heo rushes Punk and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Punk being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Heo successfully pulls guard.
Heo is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Punk looks like he's trying to stand up.

Heo decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Heo shoots in looking for a takedown but Punk manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Heo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elijah Heo. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heo lands a front kick.

Heo instigates a clinch.
Punk has Heo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Heo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Punk is breathing heavily.
Punk is pressed up against the cage. Heo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Punk down to the mat. Punk avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Heo shoots in but Punk avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Heo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Punk keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Heo misses with a takedown attempt

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Heo won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heo is pushing Punk's head away, looking to escape. Punk manages to hold on to the position though.
Punk remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Let's hope that Punk has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Punk prevents Heo from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Cm Punk.
Heo shoots in but no luck this time.
Elijah Heo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Punk avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Heo tries to clinch up but Punk circles away and keeps his distance.
Heo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Punk counters with a takedown into side control.
Punk prevents Heo from escaping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heo trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
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 Elijah Heo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Cm Punk's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Heo dives in and grabs Punk's left leg, looking for a takedown. Punk pushes down on Heo's head and hops out.
Heo misses with an attempted mid kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Punk crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Heo - the referee stops the clock and Punk gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Heo. Punk manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Heo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Punk manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Heo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Heo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Punk counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Punk working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heo is looking for a sweep.
Heo tries to escape but Punk is in control.
Punk controls the position from side control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Cm Punk has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Punk avoids the head kick by Heo.
Heo tries to clinch there but Punk circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heo misses with a takedown

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Heo won't be happy with that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Elijah Heo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Punk remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Heo can't do much from the bottom here.
Heo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punk just content to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Cm Punk was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Heo fails to land the takedown.

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.
Heo feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Punk's calf.
Heo throws a sloppy head kick and Punk moves out of range easily.
Heo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Punk circles away.
Heo tries a head kick but it misses.
Heo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Punk counters with a nice double leg into side control. Heo won't be happy with that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Heo wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

And that's the end of the fight!
Cm Punk comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heo 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elijah Heo!