PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ian Behring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gottlieb Hiebknecht (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Behring
vs
Hiebknecht

179 cm
27
155 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

170 cm
28
160 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ian Behring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gottlieb Hiebknecht!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Ackerman and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hiebknecht misses with a right hand

and Behring counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Behring.
Behring trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Hiebknecht escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Behring gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Behring slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Behring drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Behring jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Hiebknecht has his foot on Behring's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Behring works his way back into a safe position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiebknecht can't keep his opponent in guard - Behring advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Hiebknecht is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Behring jumps into side control!

Behring tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Behring has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Behring wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hiebknecht keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiebknecht struggling a bit here.
Behring has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Behring thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Behring tries to advance to mount but Hiebknecht denies him.
Hiebknecht looking for a sweep but Behring has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Behring moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Hiebknecht has worked his arm free - good work by Hiebknecht!

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.
Hiebknecht gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Behring trying to control the action but Hiebknecht is working from the bottom.

Behring 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.
Hiebknecht is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Hiebknecht gets back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiebknecht 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.
Behring wants to control from the top but Hiebknecht keeps moving.
Hiebknecht is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Hiebknecht had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Behring defends it easily.

Hiebknecht is looking for a triangle here but Behring uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Behring trying to control the position but Hiebknecht is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hiebknecht is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Behring's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Hiebknecht is refusing to be controlled, as Behring sits in half guard.
Behring moves into full mount! Hiebknecht won't be happy about that!
Hiebknecht sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hiebknecht wants to improve his position but Behring is controlling well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Behring is trying to control. Hiebknecht wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Behring is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hiebknecht wants to control but Behring is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Behring 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.

Behring loads up on a big right hand but Hiebknecht slips the punch.
Behring misses with a straight right.
Hiebknecht tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Hiebknecht throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Behring.
Behring walks into a straight right hand from Hiebknecht.
Hiebknecht works Behring's body with a nice hook.
Behring shoots in and drives through. Hiebknecht sprawls well.
Hiebknecht fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Behring taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Behring fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Hiebknecht avoiding damage as Behring throws knees to the body.
Behring is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hiebknecht to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Behring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hiebknecht stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Behring is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hiebknecht is defending well.
Behring looking to slow down the pace here.

Behring ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Behring no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Hiebknecht really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Behring. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Behring is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hiebknecht defends well.

Hiebknecht avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ian Behring overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hiebknecht wants to control from the top but Behring keeps moving.
Hiebknecht's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hiebknecht passes into half guard.
Hiebknecht trying to control from half guard but Behring is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Behring wants to get back to full guard.
Behring is working hard here to advance position.

Behring looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Behring trying to control from the bottom.
Hiebknecht controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiebknecht trying to mount his opponent but Behring defends it.
Hiebknecht trying to control from half guard but Behring is working away.
Hiebknecht is controlling the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Behring walks into a jab.
A combination from Hiebknecht does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hiebknecht rushes Behring and presses him up against the cage.
Behring is trying to stall.
Behring is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hiebknecht gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Behring drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hiebknecht pulls Behring into guard.
Behring passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Hiebknecht tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
You can see the frustration on Hiebknecht's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hiebknecht sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gottlieb Hiebknecht 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!

No joy there for Hiebknecht, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Behring throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Behring takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Nice takedown defense from Hiebknecht. No joy for Behring on that attempt.
Behring takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Behring tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hiebknecht manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hiebknecht uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Behring.
Hiebknecht slaps away a takedown attempt from Behring, before circling back to the center of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hiebknecht cracks Behring with an open hand slap.

It looks like Ian Behring has been cut.
Hiebknecht lands with a hook. Behring tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab by Hiebknecht.

Hiebknecht has Behring up against the cage in a clinch.
Behring slowing the pace effectively.

Behring gets control of Hiebknecht's arms and successfully pulls guard. Behring will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hiebknecht looking to sit in guard and control but Behring gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Behring looking to pass the guard.
Behring trying to control the position from guard on top but Hiebknecht is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Behring stopping the sweep attempt from Hiebknecht.
Hiebknecht bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Behring's guard.

Hiebknecht trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Behring looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hiebknecht 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.

Behring is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hiebknecht is aware though and is defending well.
Hiebknecht content to stall in guard here.
Hiebknecht preventing the sweep.
Hiebknecht trying to control the position from guard on top but Behring is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hiebknecht stopping the sweep attempt from Behring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiebknecht sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hiebknecht stopping the sweep attempt from Behring.
Hiebknecht sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hiebknecht wants to control from the top but Behring keeps moving.

Behring looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Hiebknecht has picked Behring up and slammed him! Behring can't keep hold of the triangle and Hiebknecht manages to pass to side control!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Hiebknecht lands with a right hand.
Hiebknecht closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Nice takedown defense from Hiebknecht. No joy for Behring on that attempt.
Hiebknecht drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Behring defends it well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ian Behring. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hiebknecht darts in and clinches Behring up against the cage.
Hiebknecht lands a hook that snaps the head of Behring backwards.
Hiebknecht working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hiebknecht leaning his opponent against the cage.
Hiebknecht's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd are getting on Hiebknecht's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Behring taking a breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Behring looking to stall.

Hiebknecht ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hiebknecht no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gottlieb Hiebknecht comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hiebknecht 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gottlieb Hiebknecht!
Our winner, Gottlieb Hiebknecht, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.