PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Simon Hedegaard (ranked 874 p4p, 904 weight class) and Chris Pauschi (ranked 108 p4p, 113 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Hedegaard
vs
Pauschi

208 cm
35
195
37 - 23 - 0

182 cm
31
200
16 - 13 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Granite chin

UnderGround Threads

Pulling Guard
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Hedegaard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chris Pauschi!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Daniel Blasius and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hedegaard closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pauschi is trying to control Hedegaard's posture but Hedegaard avoids it.

Hedegaard working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Hedegaard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Pauschi really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hedegaard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hedegaard prevents Pauschi from escaping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pauschi is trying to control Hedegaard's posture but Hedegaard avoids it.
Hedegaard is looking to take a break and control but Pauschi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pauschi is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hedegaard's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hedegaard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pauschi is holding on to half guard well.
Hedegaard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Pauschi is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Hedegaard seems to be working for a kimura but Pauschi defends the submission attempt.

That's two 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.
Hedegaard prevents Pauschi from improving his position.
Pauschi desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Pauschi is trying to maintain the position but Hedegaard is very close to passing his half guard.

Hedegaard 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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Pauschi wants to control but Hedegaard is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard prevents Pauschi from improving his position.
Hedegaard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pauschi desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Pauschi wants to clinch.
Hedegaard tries to counter with a takedown but Pauschi is quick to defend against it.
Pauschi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pauschi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hedegaard manages to avoid it.
Hedegaard moves away from the strike by Pauschi.
Hedegaard throwing a counter right hand but Pauschi manages to avoid it.
Pauschi cracks Hedegaard with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hedegaard will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pauschi stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

Hedegaard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pauschi seems keen to control Hedegaard's posture.
Hedegaard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pauschi keeping moving, preventing Hedegaard from controlling successfully.
Hedegaard passes Pauschi's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pauschi has hold of Hedegaard's hands but Hedegaard slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Simon Hedegaard will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hedegaard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pauschi lands a head shot.
Pauschi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hedegaard feinted with a counter takedown.
Hedegaard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pauschi's waist but Pauschi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hedegaard off to one side.
Pauschi lands a nice looking body kick.

Hedegaard feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hedegaard wants to control from the top but Pauschi keeps moving.
Hedegaard missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pauschi trying to control the position here.
We've been hearing that Hedegaard has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Pauschi 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.
Hedegaard pushing down on Pauschi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hedegaard tries to pass the half guard into mount. Pauschi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hedegaard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Simon Hedegaard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hedegaard wants to control but Pauschi is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pauschi is trying to control but can't.
Pauschi felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Hedegaard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pauschi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hedegaard.
Pauschi is trying to control but can't.

Hedegaard is working for a kimura but Pauschi is defending it quite comfortably.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Pauschi wants to improve his position but Hedegaard is controlling well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hedegaard connects with a nice short shot to Pauschi's temple.
Hedegaard wants to free his trapped foot but Pauschi is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Pauschi keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Hedegaard is looking for a kimura here.

Hedegaard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pauschi wants to improve his position but Hedegaard is controlling well.
Hedegaard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hedegaard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pauschi can do to turn this around?
Pauschi trying to control here.

Hedegaard is trying to work for a kimura but Pauschi is defending well.
Hedegaard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Pauschi wants to get back to full guard.
Hedegaard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Pauschi controlling the position well.

Hedegaard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pauschi trying to control from the bottom.

Hedegaard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pauschi has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hedegaard wants to work for an arm triangle but Pauschi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Hedegaard dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Pauschi pushes Hedegaard up against the cage in a clinch.
Pauschi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Hedegaard lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hedegaard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pauschi creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hedegaard's defenses.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pauschi.
Pauschi lands with a left to the head.
Pauschi landing knees to the body.
Pauschi comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Pauschi lands a nice uppercut.
Hedegaard takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Simon Hedegaard has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pauschi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Pauschi lands a knee to the body.
Hedegaard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pauschi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Pauschi lands an elbow just above Hedegaard 's eye.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pauschi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hedegaard's face.
Good body shot from Pauschi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pauschi lands an elbow inside that Hedegaard shrugs off.
A nice left hand lands by Pauschi.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pauschi.
Pauschi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pauschi is working Hedegaard over against the cage.
Pauschi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Pauschi lands a good knee to the midsection. Hedegaard won't want to take too many of those.
Pauschi lands a nice knee to the body.
Hedegaard takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pauschi utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pauschi.
A shot in the inside from Pauschi.
Pauschi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Hedegaards head.
Hedegaard's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hedegaard drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pauschi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pauschi scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Chris Pauschi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Good standup being displayed there by Pauschi as he connects with a hook.
Hedegaard moves forwards but Pauschi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hedegaard shoots in and drives through. Pauschi sprawls well.
Hedegaard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Pauschi pinned against the cage. Pauschi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Simon Hedegaard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hedegaard closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Pauschi catches Hedegaard with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Pauschi misses with a head kick.
Pauschi tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Pauschi.
Pauschi buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pauschi misses with a head kick.
Pauschi jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hedegaard takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Pauschi looks to land a left hand but Hedegaard moved out of range nicely.
Pauschi throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hedegaard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pauschi.
Hedegaard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hedegaard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pauschi.
Hedegaard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Pauschi sprawls and moves away.
Pauschi misses with a straight left.
Hedegaard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Pauschi sprawls well. Pauschi wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hedegaard gets slowly back to his feet.
Pauschi appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Pauschi lands a nice looking kick to the body. Hedegaard takes a step back to recover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pauschi thuds his shin into the meat of Hedegaard's side.
Pauschi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pauschi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Hedegaard takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pauschi with a nice cross.
Chris Pauschi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pauschi cracks Hedegaard with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Hedegaard looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Pauschi finish him?

Hedegaard is rocked!
Hedegaard slips under a jab from Pauschi.
Oh Hedegaard is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Pauschi fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Pauschi lands a leg kick that knocks Hedegaard off balance momentarily.
Chris Pauschi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hedegaard doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Hedegaard closes the distance and clinches up with Pauschi, looking for a takedown. Hedegaard pushes Pauschi against the cage but Pauschi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Simon Hedegaard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hedegaard misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Pauschi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hedegaard 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:28
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!