PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Dodds (ranked 5140 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ho Hek (ranked 5411 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dodds
vs
Hek

172 cm
21
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Dodds!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ho Hek!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dodds is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hek's half guard.
Dodds working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dodds keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Dodds not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dodds controlling the action here.

Hek makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hek misses with a wild combination.
Hek wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hek stuffs the takedown.

Hek gets a double leg takedown into Dodds's guard.
Hek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dodds swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hek wants to control from the top but Dodds keeps moving.
Dodds working a defensive guard here.
Hek wants to control from the top but Dodds keeps moving.
Hek sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hek's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hek stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Hek wants it to stay on the feet.

Hek feints and as Dodds raises his hands in defense, Hek changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hek advances to half guard.
Well, if Hek is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hek tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dodds knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dodds trying to hold on to Hek's head to control him but Hek postures up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dodds is looking for a sweep. Hek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Dodds is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hek pulls his head out easily.
Hek wants to take a breather but Dodds is having none of it.
Hek controlling the action here.
Hek takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

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.
Dodds wants to control but Hek is keeping busy.
Hek is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Hek controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hek tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hek fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dodds dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hek. That did some damage!
Hek misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ho Hek 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.

Hek throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Dodds tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hek is in Dodds's guard.
Dodds is wriggling around but Hek manages to pass to half guard.

Dodds tries to kick Hek off but Hek keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Hek seems to be looking for submissions.
Hek wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dodds keeps working.
Hek is thwarting Dodds's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hek with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodds is looking for a sweep. Hek is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dodds is staying active underneath Hek, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hek is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Dodds has Hek pulled in close to control his posture.
Hek looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dodds swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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.
Dodds 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.
Hek is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dodds shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hek as he jumps to the side.
Hek tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ho Hek seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hek doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dodds counters with a one-two to the body.

Dodds scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hek can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hek keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dodds looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hek is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dodds's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dodds's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hek has good solid back control here.
More stalling from Hek.
Dodds is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hek wants to control but Dodds is keeping busy.
Hek has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dodds is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Hek controlling from the back.
Dodds trying to control the position but Hek manages to sink in the hooks.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hek has good solid back control here.
Hek gets his hands free as Dodds looks to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ho Hek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Dodds fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hek to the ground. Dodds is now in Hek's guard.
Dodds sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hek 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.
Hek wants to stand up but Dodds is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dodds throws an elbow that misses. Hek uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dodds's guard. Nice move by Hek!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dodds is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hek is aware though and is defending well.
Hek wants to control from the top but Dodds keeps moving.
Hek showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hek wants to control from the top but Dodds keeps moving.
Dodds is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hek is controlling him.
Hek engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hek tries to free his leg and advance position but Dodds is retaining full guard.
Hek is working Dodds over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dodds working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Hek fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dodds to the ground. Hek is now in Dodds's guard.

Dodds uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dodds tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hek swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Hek shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dodds's guard.
Hek is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hek looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hek is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hek stopping the sweep attempt from Dodds.
Dodds keeping moving, preventing Hek from controlling successfully.
Hek sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hek wants to control from the top but Dodds keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hek chips away with some ground and pound.
Hek is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hek stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dodds swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dodds lands a head kick!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dodds.
Hek shoots in looking for a takedown but Dodds manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hek's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hek tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dodds paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hek looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Michael Dodds has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ho Hek is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Hek fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dodds, pushing him back against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Dodds.
I think Hek 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Ho Hek!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Ho Hek!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Ho Hek!

Ho Hek wins by unanimous decision!