PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Hecker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Pope (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hecker comes to the cage accompanied by The Ultimate Warrior. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hecker
vs
Pope

175 cm
42
155 lbs
30 - 24 - 0

181 cm
32
153 lbs
17 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 24 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jeff Hecker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Jan Pope!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hecker looks to land a combination. Pope sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hecker avoids the body shot from Pope.
Pope on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Pope punishes Hecker's body with a nice straight punch.
Hecker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pope.
Hecker has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Pope misses with a body shot.
Hecker connects with a body shot that sends Pope's belly button to the back.
Hecker on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Pope misses with a looping left.
Hecker blocks a head kick by Pope.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hecker swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Pope.
Hecker lands with an overhand left.
Pope throws a leg kick which misses Hecker's front leg but catches the back leg as Hecker tries to avoid it.
Hecker misses with a few strikes there.
A swing and a miss from Pope.
Pope swings for the body but Hecker moves out of range.
Hecker throwing a counter right hand but Pope manages to avoid it.
Pope scores with a leg kick.
Pope darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A jab lands there for Hecker.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Hecker takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hecker scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Pope missing with a left hand there. Hecker was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pope lands a nice shot that snaps Hecker's head back.
Hecker lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hecker connects with a right hand. Pope shakes it off.
Hecker throws a right hand that Pope ducks under and follows up with a left that Pope also avoids with ease.
Pope takes a jab right on the kisser.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hecker misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pope unleashes a big counter combination but Hecker bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Hecker dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Hecker throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A left and a right from Hecker both land. Nice combination.

Pope is rocked!
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Hecker.
Pope is looking for the big counter here.
Hecker scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Pope is still on wobbly legs! Can Hecker finish him?
Pope fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hecker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Hecker does no damage.
Hecker fails to land with a series of punches.
Pope seems to have recovered his senses.
Pope throws a nice outside leg kick.
Hecker jabs Pope right on the nose. Pope blinks but takes it well.
Pope connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Pope slips under a jab.
Hecker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A telegraphed right hand from Hecker misses the target.
Hecker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pope circles away quickly and effectively.
Pope throws a counter combo.
Hecker throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Pope counters with a straight right hand.
Hecker throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Good exchange - Hecker coming out on top.
Pope avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hecker misses with a wild combination.
Hecker rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Pope moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope tries to clinch but Hecker is having none of it.
Hecker throws a lazy right hand but Pope sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pope with a jab.
Pope is looking to clinch but Hecker is avoiding it.
Hecker is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Hecker ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hecker is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Pope swings for the body but Hecker moves out of range.
Hecker is looking to counter with head kicks.
Pope sizes up Hecker with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Pope is looking to slow Hecker down with leg kicks.
Hecker misses with a two punch combination.
Hecker throws a right and a left that Pope avoids nicely.
Pope attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Pope avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hecker throws a body punch but Pope moves out of range.
Hecker fails to land with a series of punches.
Pope throws a quick inside leg kick.
Pope throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hecker ducks under a wild hook from Pope.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hecker throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Hecker scores with a jab.
Pope slips under a jab.
Hecker misses with the combination.
It seemed like Pope was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Hecker throws a series of punches but Pope avoids them all with ease.
Pope misses with the combination.
No joy there for Hecker, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Nice straight punches there by Pope. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Pope.
Hecker throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Pope tests Hecker's chin there with a solid looking shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hecker uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pope.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hecker. Pope does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hecker misses with a two punch combination.
Pope throws a right and a left that Hecker avoids nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hecker misses with a double jab.
Pope tries to bum rush Hecker with a series of wild strikes but Hecker uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pope thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pope avoids the body shot from Hecker.
The fighters circling - Hecker throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pope drops his hands momentarily and Hecker takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A left lands for Pope.
Pope throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hecker throws a big counter combination but Pope scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Pope uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Hecker has time to react.
Hecker throws a series of punches but Pope moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Pope.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pope slips a jab and a cross from Hecker.
Hecker takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Hecker misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hecker lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Hecker.

Pope gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pope can't find room to land a body shot as Hecker controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Pope.
Pope misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pope.
A shot in the inside from Pope.
Pope lands a shoulder strike.
Pope scores with a knee to the head.
Hecker wants to take the fight to the mat but Pope manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Pope.
Hecker is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Pope is defending well.
Hecker misses with a punch on the inside.
Pope throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Heckers head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Pope.

Hecker turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hecker manages to end up in side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pope is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hecker wants to control but Pope is keeping him busy.
Hecker is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pope is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Hecker working the head and body with strikes.
Hecker is staying tight to Pope's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Hecker is chipping away with strikes.
Hecker throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Pope manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hecker is looking to stall here but Pope recovers full guard.
Pope working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hecker.
Pope is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hecker loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Pope is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hecker chips away with some ground and pound.
Hecker works over Pope with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hecker lands a couple of elbows.
Pope is trying to keep Hecker in close.
Pope wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hecker landing with the ground and pound.
Pope looking for a sweep. Not yet Pope, not yet.
Hecker looking to pass the guard.
Hecker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hecker scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jeff Hecker will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Pope is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hecker.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pope stops a takedown attempt from Hecker.
Pope connects with a knee to the head.
Pope gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Hecker.
Pope throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hecker misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jan Pope seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pope throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hecker tries to throw a body punch but Pope avoids it by throwing Hecker back against the cage.
Hecker tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Pope avoids it.
A short left from Pope.
Pope connects with a nasty looking knee right to Hecker's face.
Hecker takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pope is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hecker is defending well for now.
Pope with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hecker drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Pope gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeff Hecker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hecker is looking to take this one to the mat.
Pope landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hecker is trying to drag Pope to the mat but Pope just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Pope lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Pope makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hecker wants a takedown.
Pope lands a knee to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pope creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jan Pope has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pope manages to pull guard.
Hecker trying to control the position from guard on top but Pope is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pope is on top in guard.

Jeff Hecker overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pope throws a big right hand that misses.
Pope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pope missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hecker is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pope wants to control from the top but Hecker keeps moving.
Pope postures up in Hecker's guard and throws a big left but Hecker blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pope trying to control but Hecker is working from the bottom.

Hecker is looking for a triangle but Pope pushes his legs off easily.
Pope postures up in Hecker's guard and throws a big left but Hecker blocks it.
Pope wants to control from the top but Hecker keeps moving.

Hecker working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Pope doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Pope manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Pope throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hecker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pope.
Pope postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Hecker utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hecker fails to land with a series of punches.
Pope misses with a body shot.
Hecker ducks under a wild hook from Pope.
Pope is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hecker will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hecker cracks Pope with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Hecker shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pope but Pope pushes him off and we're back to square one.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jan Pope comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hecker 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 29:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jeff Hecker!
Jeff Hecker bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.