PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jesse James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Hegg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

James
vs
Hegg

170 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

173 cm
23
150 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

SCP Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jesse James!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Hegg!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James fails with a takedown attempt.

James scores with a takedown into Hegg's guard.

James drops back looking for a leg! Hegg is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hegg manages to kick James off! James jumps back into Hegg's guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
James won't allow Hegg to sweep him here.
Hegg wants to get back to his feet but James is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
James looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hegg is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Hegg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hegg keeping full guard, as James tries to pass.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
James changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Hegg tries to avoid it but James manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Hegg to the ground. Hegg escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jesse James. That's going to take a lot out of him.
James is breathing heavily.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Hegg sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hegg to the mat! Hegg manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hegg looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
James postures up.
James looking to pass the guard.
Hegg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hegg has his hands on James's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
James's corner is telling him to maintain position.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Hegg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Hegg is retaining full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James tries for a takedown but Hegg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Hegg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Hegg fails with the takedown

and James counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
James trying to control but Hegg is working from the bottom.
Hegg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hegg trying to keep a closed guard but James is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hegg is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

James is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hegg is just riding it out for now. James eventually gives up the hold.
James wants to control but Hegg is keeping him busy.

James is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hegg shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in James's guard.
James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
James 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.
James is trying to control the position but Hegg postures up.
Hegg wants to control from the top but James keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hegg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
James trying to keep a closed guard but Hegg is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hegg counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
James trying to hold on to Hegg's head to control him but Hegg postures up.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hegg is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Hegg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
James is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hegg not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
James wants to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
James swings for the body but Hegg moves out of range.
James with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hegg counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James tries to get to full guard but Hegg has control of the leg.
Hegg landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is looking to improve his position.

James looking for submissions off his back.

James looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Johan Hegg has got the better of the ground game so far.

James looking for submissions off his back.
Hegg trying to control from half guard but James is working away.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hegg regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hegg keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Hegg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! James's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hegg throws a head kick that misses.
James with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hegg counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for James!
James tries to reverse the position but Hegg maintains control.
Hegg wants to control the pace but James is squirming around nicely.
Hegg working James over with strikes here.
James tries to lock up and control but Hegg gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
James is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A nice elbow there by Hegg.
Hegg trying to control but James is having none of it.
James is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hegg is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, James has managed to escape the submission attempt.
James sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are battling for position here. James manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
James looking to control.
James wants to sweep here but Hegg controlling him for the moment.
Hegg trying to control but James is working from the bottom.

James has his foot on Hegg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hegg works his way back into a safe position though.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

James has an active guard here but Hegg has managed to pass into half guard.
Hegg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hegg seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but James does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
James is trying to control but can't.
James is trying to get back to full guard.
James keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
James is trying to control but can't.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
James throws a nice looking combination but Hegg bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

James shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James with the ground and pound from mount.
Hegg wants to hold on but James pushes him away.

James has hold of Hegg's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Hegg manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

James working for a submission but Hegg is keeping him at bay.

James stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

James looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

James is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse James clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

James darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

James is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
James thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
James is trying to control. Hegg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hegg blocking the ground and pound attempt from James.
Hegg wants to improve his position but James is controlling well.
Hegg wants to control but James is keeping busy and won't allow it.
James trying to control the action but Hegg is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Hegg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Hegg doesn't succeed with the takedown

and James counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hegg!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James takes his opponent's back. Perhaps a chance to lock up a rear naked choke here.

James is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

James is looking for the choke from the back position but Hegg is controlling his hands well.
Hegg just trying to survive but James is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

James is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Hegg defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

James is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
James gets his hands free as Hegg looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hegg is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

James looking for the choke but no joy.

James working for the choke.
James avoiding Hegg 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

James has got one arm under Hegg's chin. This could be trouble... Hegg trying to control the other hand but James gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Hegg has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jesse James!
Jesse James is the new lightweight champion!