PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Te Rauparaha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff Hecker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hecker has chosen The Ultimate Warrior as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rauparaha
vs
Hecker

168 cm
31
143 lbs
17 - 7 - 0

175 cm
36
135 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 17 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Te Rauparaha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeff Hecker!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Ren Mimura and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Hecker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hecker throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hecker shoots in for a takedown but Rauparaha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rauparaha fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Hecker on the side of the head.
Hecker is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hecker.
Rauparaha is trying to buck Hecker off.
Rauparaha parries the strikes from Hecker easily there. Hecker is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rauparaha to escape.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hecker trying to control the position but Rauparaha is working away.
Hecker lands some shots froms side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hecker prevents Rauparaha from escaping the position.

Hecker tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Hecker has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rauparaha wants to get back to his feet.

Hecker tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Hecker prevents Rauparaha from escaping the position.

Hecker is trying to get an arm triangle but Rauparaha is defending well.
Rauparaha is not content to let Hecker control the position.
Rauparaha looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two 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.

Hecker is trying to get an arm triangle but Rauparaha is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hecker looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
A lull in the action here.
Rauparaha is not content to let Hecker control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hecker thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Hecker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rauparaha is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Rauparaha is pushing Hecker's head away, looking to escape. Hecker manages to hold on to the position though.

Hecker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rauparaha has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rauparaha is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Hecker decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rauparaha to his feet.
Hecker tries to clinch up.

Hecker forces Rauparaha back against the cage and clinches.
Hecker digs a right hand underneath Rauparaha's ribcage. Rauparaha let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Rauparaha blocks a body shot from Hecker.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauparaha.
Hecker taking a breather.
Hecker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rauparaha avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hecker tries to throw a body punch but Rauparaha avoids it by throwing Hecker back against the cage.
Hecker manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Hecker tries a body shot but Rauparaha blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff Hecker dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

No luck for Hecker with that takedown attempt.
Rauparaha appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hecker tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rauparaha sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hecker somewhat.

Hecker clinches with his opponent.
Rauparaha presses Hecker against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hecker is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hecker tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rauparaha is trying to push Hecker away but Hecker has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rauparaha's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Hecker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Hecker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rauparaha.
Jeff Hecker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hecker wants to clinch
and Rauparaha counters with a three punch combo that has Hecker backing up. Hecker nods at Rauparaha to acknowledge the strikes.

Hecker gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Rauparaha manages to break the clinch.
Te Rauparaha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rauparaha looks to land a combination but Hecker avoids it well.

Hecker has Rauparaha up against the cage in a clinch.
Rauparaha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Hecker takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker tries to stall but Rauparaha uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rauparaha tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hecker's elbow.
Hecker'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.
Rauparaha blocks an uppercut.

Rauparaha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rauparaha circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hecker has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rauparaha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
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 is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker moves in looking to clinch but Rauparaha pushes him off.
Nice takedown defense from Rauparaha. No joy for Hecker on that attempt.
Te Rauparaha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Hecker.
Hecker tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rauparaha swats him away and circles back towards the center.
An attempted straight right counter from Rauparaha misses the target.
Hecker closes the distance and clinches up with Rauparaha, looking for a takedown. Hecker pushes Rauparaha against the cage but Rauparaha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hecker tries to clinch but Rauparaha moves out of range.
Hecker doesn't manage to clinch there - Rauparaha circles away.
Hecker tries to clinch up but Rauparaha circles away and keeps his distance.
Rauparaha looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Hecker fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Rauparaha throws a leg kick which misses Hecker's front leg but catches the back leg as Hecker tries to avoid it.
Rauparaha feints and then cracks Hecker's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hecker down.
Hecker doesn't manage to clinch there - Rauparaha circles away.
Hecker moves out of range as Rauparaha strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rauparaha looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Hecker clinches up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hecker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rauparaha.
Hecker has a couple of punches blocked by Rauparaha.
Hecker missing with knees to the body.
Hecker misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hecker.
Hecker tries to work over Rauparaha's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hecker trying to stall but Rauparaha improves his position.
Rauparaha lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rauparaha managing to block the knees to the body from Hecker.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Te Rauparaha dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Rauparaha works over Hecker's head and body with a nice combination.
Hecker tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Rauparaha counters with a leg kick.
Hecker is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rauparaha.
Rauparaha appears to be looking for a big counter.
Rauparaha uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hecker.
Hecker closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rauparaha counters with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hecker shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rauparaha counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hecker tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Rauparaha manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hecker rushes Rauparaha and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Jeff Hecker seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hecker misses with a hook to the ribs.

Rauparaha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hecker walks into a straight right hand from Rauparaha.
Rauparaha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Hecker gets a clinch.
Hecker pressing his opponent against the cage.
Rauparaha scores with a hook to the body.
Hecker tries to throw a body punch but Rauparaha avoids it by throwing Hecker back against the cage.

Rauparaha breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hecker moves into range and clinches up with Rauparaha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rauparaha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Te Rauparaha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hecker darts in trying to clinch
and Rauparaha counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hecker darts in trying to clinch
and Rauparaha makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Hecker moves to clinch but Rauparaha breaks away
and Rauparaha counters with a stiff right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rauparaha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rauparaha works over Hecker's head and body with a nice combination.
Hecker tries to close the distance and clinch but Rauparaha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rauparaha avoids it really well and circles away.
Hecker tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rauparaha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
No joy there for Hecker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hecker moves to clinch but Rauparaha breaks away
and Rauparaha counters with a two punch combo.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hecker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hecker tries to clinch but Rauparaha moves out of range.

Hecker drives through and clinches with Rauparaha against the cage.
Hecker tries to throw a body punch but Rauparaha avoids it by throwing Hecker back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hecker tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rauparaha's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Rauparaha.
Hecker tries to throw a body punch but Rauparaha avoids it by throwing Hecker back against the cage.
Rauparaha can't break the clinch.
Rauparaha lands a nice shot to the body.
A bit of stalling here from Hecker.
Rauparaha managing to block the knees to the body from Hecker.
Hecker misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rauparaha.

Rauparaha escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hecker tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rauparaha appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Hecker is looking to clinch but Rauparaha is avoiding it.
A low kick from Rauparaha misses
and Hecker counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Te Rauparaha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rauparaha 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Te Rauparaha!
A relieved looking Te Rauparaha thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Jeff Hecker was interviewed post fight and said 'I......I don't know.....It didn't go my way. I'm gonna hit the gym, and come back better than ever.'.