PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Casanova (ranked 3248 p4p, 4535 weight class) and Jeff Hecker Jr (ranked 393 p4p, 506 weight class). Jeff Hecker Jr is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Casanova
vs
Hecker Jr

175 cm
26
151
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
29
158
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dennis Casanova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeff Hecker Jr!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hecker Jr defending well as Casanova loads up on a big left hand.
Hecker Jr has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
No luck for Hecker Jr with that takedown attempt.
A big right from Casanova misses.
Hecker Jr tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Casanova defends well and Hecker Jr ends up having to push Casanova into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Casanova misses with a few strikes there.
Hecker Jr throws a counter combo.
Hecker Jr tries to clinch there but Casanova circles away.
Hecker Jr goes for a double leg but Casanova avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Casanova continues to drive forward.
Dennis Casanova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Hecker Jr.
Hecker Jr displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Casanova throws out the jab.
A swing and a miss from Casanova.
Hecker Jr has his takedown stuffed
and Casanova makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casanova works Hecker Jr's body with a nice hook.
Hecker Jr darts in looking for a takedown but Casanova gets double underhooks and turns Hecker Jr into the cage.
It looked like Casanova was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hecker Jr.
Hecker Jr takes one on the button.
Casanova throws an overhand right that lands on Hecker Jr's shoulder, as Hecker Jr tries to avoid the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hecker Jr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Casanova but Casanova pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Casanova misses with a looping left.
Hecker Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Casanova.
Dennis Casanova is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hecker Jr avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Casanova wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Hecker Jr fails in his attempt to clinch.
Casanova stuffs the takedown.
Hecker Jr tries to clinch there but Casanova circles away.
Hecker Jr walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Hecker Jr staying out of range there.
Dennis Casanova seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A punch combination from Casanova misses.
Despite the aggression on Hecker Jr's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Casanova looks to score with a jab to the body but Hecker Jr is just out of range.

Casanova gets caught napping as Hecker Jr dives in and scores a takedown. Casanova manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hecker Jr wants to control from the top but Casanova keeps moving.
Hecker Jr slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Hecker Jr working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hecker Jr gets to mount! Casanova was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Hecker Jr tries to control but Casanova wriggling away.
Hecker Jr misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker Jr trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hecker Jr throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Casanova because Hecker Jr loaded up on that one.
Hecker Jr unloads with some shots from mount but Casanova bucks and avoids them well.
Casanova keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hecker Jr avoids the attempt from Casanova to control.
Casanova on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Casanova tries to get out of the position.
Hecker Jr sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casanova is squirming around, avoiding Hecker Jr's attempts to control the action.
Casanova is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hecker Jr thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Casanova tries to lock up and control but Hecker Jr gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Hecker Jr is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Hecker Jr tries for a takedown but Casanova sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Casanova throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dennis Casanova dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Casanova misses the shot to the body.
Casanova misses the jab.
Hecker Jr shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Casanova pinned against the cage. Casanova gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hecker Jr fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Casanova is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Casanova ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hecker Jr dodges the punch combination from Casanova.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Casanova misses with a two punch combination.
Casanova lands an overhand right.
Nice uppercut lands for Casanova. That snapped Hecker Jr's head back.
Casanova throws a body punch but Hecker Jr moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hecker Jr tries to clinch but Casanova is having none of it.
Hecker Jr swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Casanova just misses with a punch to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hecker Jr.
Dennis Casanova has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeff Hecker Jr.
Casanova scores with a body shot.
Hecker Jr shoots and misses
and Casanova connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hecker Jr moves out of range as Casanova strikes.
Hecker Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Casanova.
Hecker Jr darts in looking for a takedown but Casanova gets double underhooks and turns Hecker Jr into the cage.
Casanova swinging wildly here.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hecker Jr is defended easily by Casanova.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Casanova.
Casanova throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hecker Jr.
Hecker Jr uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Casanova.
Casanova is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hecker Jr can do to turn this around?
Casanova slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Casanova misses with a hook. Hecker Jr ducked under it nicely.
Casanova throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hecker Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Casanova.
Casanova throws a series of punches but Hecker Jr avoids them all with ease.
Casanova misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hecker Jr closes the distance and pushes Casanova back into the cage.
Hecker Jr jumps guard but Casanova stands there with Hecker Jr around his waist. Hecker Jr gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Casanova breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A left and a right from Hecker Jr both land. Nice combination.
Casanova slaps away a takedown attempt from Hecker Jr, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Hecker Jr keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Casanova.
Casanova misses with an uppercut.
Hecker Jr shoots for a double leg takedown but Casanova sprawls well. He's pushed Hecker Jr's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hecker Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
Casanova comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Casanova swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hecker Jr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Casanova as he jumps to the side.
Hecker Jr fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hecker Jr is breathing heavily.
Hecker Jr misses with a takedown
and Casanova counters with a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Casanova cracks Hecker Jr with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Hecker Jr tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Casanova pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Hecker Jr is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dennis Casanova!