PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Hecker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvo Penaali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hecker kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is The Ultimate Warrior. Penaali is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Immortal Technique - Obnoxius. Jeff Hecker is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Hecker
vs
Penaali

175 cm
35
135 lbs
24 - 15 - 0

180 cm
36
147 lbs
23 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BlackStar Athletics

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 24 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jeff Hecker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Arvo Penaali!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

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 wants to clinch
and Penaali counters with a left and a right that stings Hecker.

Hecker is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Penaali's half guard.
Penaali is staying active underneath Hecker, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Penaali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hecker seems to be looking for submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penaali wants to improve his position but Hecker is controlling well.
Hecker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penaali defending well though.
Hecker lands with a punch from half guard.

Hecker is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penaali trying to control here.
Hecker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've been hearing that Hecker has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Hecker is looking for a kimura but Penaali is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hecker to get the leverage.
Penaali is looking for a sweep. Hecker is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hecker sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penaali defending well though.
Hecker wants to control but Penaali is keeping him busy.
Penaali is trying to get back to full guard.
Penaali avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hecker.
Penaali wants to control but Hecker is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Penaali wants to get back to full guard.
Hecker wants to take a breather but Penaali is having none of it.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Penaali wants to get back to full guard.
Penaali is refusing to be controlled, as Hecker sits in half guard.
Penaali is looking to improve his position.
Hecker trying to control from half guard but Penaali is working away.
Penaali is looking to improve his position.

Penaali looking for submissions off his back.

Penaali looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Penaali has hold of Hecker's hands but Hecker slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Hecker is nestled in close to Penaali, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hecker performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Penaali tries to roll over but Hecker keeps him under control.

Hecker is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Penaali is looking to improve his position.

Penaali actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hecker blocks the strikes from Penaali.
Penaali is refusing to be controlled, as Hecker sits in half guard.
Hecker looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Penaali with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Penaali moves into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hecker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Penaali has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Hecker can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hecker really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Penaali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hecker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Penaali bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hecker's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jeff Hecker will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Penaali fails to land with a series of punches.
Hecker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Penaali swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Penaali has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Hecker takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hecker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Penaali drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Hecker defends it well.
Penaali avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Penaali throws out a counter right but Hecker avoids it with no problem.
Hecker tries to clinch but Penaali moves out of range.
Hecker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Penaali! But no joy.
Hecker fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Penaali throws a body shot but no joy.

Hecker moves into the clinch.
Penaali jumps guard but Hecker turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Penaali goes for a takedown attempt but Hecker pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penaali circles away from the clinch attempt.
Penaali with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hecker tries to clinch but Penaali is having none of it.

Hecker darts in and clinches Penaali up against the cage.
Penaali avoiding damage as Hecker throws knees to the body.
Penaali tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jeff Hecker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arvo Penaali.
Hecker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Penaali avoids it.
Still in the clinch, Hecker scores with a nice short uppercut.
Hecker doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Penaali lands a takedown into guard.
Hecker preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hecker wants to control the position but Penaali says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Hecker is trying to stand back up but Penaali is controlling him
Penaali throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker is looking for a sweep. Penaali is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Penaali looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hecker with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penaali throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Arvo Penaali has got the better of the ground game so far.
Penaali thows a huge punch but Hecker dodges it nicely.
Penaali scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Penaali is looking for a kimura but Hecker is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Penaali to get the leverage.
Hecker is looking to control Penaali's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hecker avoid being mounted?
Nice strikes from Penaali there.
Penaali is thwarting Hecker's attempts to control the position.
Penaali prevents Hecker from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hecker kicks Penaali off and gets back to his feet.
Hecker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Penaali counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Penaali missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Penaali thows a huge punch but Hecker dodges it nicely.
Hecker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Penaali.
Penaali thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hecker is looking to escape.
Hecker trying to control from the bottom.
Penaali wants to control but Hecker is keeping him busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penaali has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hecker trying to control here.
Hecker wants to improve his position but Penaali is controlling well.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Penaali keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Penaali keeps the fight on the outside.
Penaali throws out a counter right but Hecker avoids it with no problem.
Penaali sizes up Hecker with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hecker tries to clinch but Penaali moves away
and Penaali cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hecker moves to clinch but Penaali breaks away
and Penaali counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arvo Penaali showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Penaali as Hecker shoots in.

Penaali closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hecker quickly recovers to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Penaali trying to control the action but Hecker is working from the bottom.

Hecker has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Penaali is on him like a limpet, forcing Hecker back against the cage.

Hecker breaks the clinch.
Hecker dodges the punch combination from Penaali.
Hecker fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Hecker tries to clinch up
and Hecker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hecker wants to clinch up but Penaali keeps it at a distance.
Hecker tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Penaali defends well and Hecker ends up having to push Penaali into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Hecker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hecker is looking to clinch but Penaali is avoiding it.
Penaali is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Penaali.
Penaali moves into range and connects with a jab.
Hecker tries to clinch up.
Hecker closes the distance looking to clinch
and Penaali counters with a series of strikes. Hecker will be more careful next time no doubt.
Hecker tries to clinch but Penaali is having none of it.
Hecker closes the distance and clinches up with Penaali, looking for a takedown. Hecker pushes Penaali against the cage but Penaali circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Penaali pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Penaali forces Hecker back against the cage and clinches.

Penaali breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Penaali looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Jeff Hecker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Penaali clinches with his opponent.

Penaali's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Penaali swats away the attempt to clinch by Hecker.
Hecker wants to clinch.
Penaali slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker is looking to clinch but Penaali is avoiding it.
Hecker wants to clinch
and Penaali counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Penaali ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hecker moves away.
Hecker tries to close the distance and clinch but Penaali swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Jeff Hecker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penaali loads up on a big right hand but Hecker slips the punch.
Penaali circles away from the clinch attempt
and Penaali counters with a straight right hand.
Hecker closes the distance but Penaali moves to the side
and Penaali counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hecker thinking.

Hecker closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Penaali escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Arvo Penaali seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Penaali swats away the attempt to clinch by Hecker.
A countering left hand to the body from Penaali misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penaali swats away the attempt to clinch by Hecker.
Hecker tries to clinch but Penaali moves away
and Penaali counters with a left to the body.
Hecker misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Hecker misses with a hook to the ribs.
Hecker lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Penaali prevents a body shot from Hecker.
Hecker is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hecker fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Arvo Penaali comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Penaali 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arvo Penaali!
Jeff Hecker spoke after the fight, saying 'I......I don't know.....It didn't go my way. I'm gonna hit the gym, and come back better than ever.'.