PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Heart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklyn Hilfinger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ricardo Heart has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Heart
vs
Hilfinger

188 cm
20
215 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

188 cm
23
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Heart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Franklyn Hilfinger!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Heart looks to land a left hand but Hilfinger moved out of range nicely.
Heart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hilfinger shoots in looking for a takedown. Heart tries to sprawl out of it but Hilfinger keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Heart manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Heart with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hilfinger fails to land the takedown.
Hilfinger shoots for a takedown but Heart saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ricardo Heart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklyn Hilfinger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hilfinger bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Heart leaves Hilfinger with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Heart with a lazy takedown attempt

and Hilfinger counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Heart!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heart tries to lock up and control but Hilfinger gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hilfinger wants to control the pace but Heart is squirming around nicely.
Heart working to try and regain half guard.
Heart regains half guard.
Hilfinger wants to free his trapped foot but Heart is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Heart gets full guard.
Hilfinger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hilfinger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Heart tries to strike from the bottom.
Heart 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Heart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hilfinger is controlling him.
Hilfinger throws a big right hand that misses.
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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Heart's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Heart duly obliges.
Hilfinger circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hilfinger fails with the takedown
letting Heart counter with a right hand.
Hilfinger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Hilfinger fails with the takedown
and Heart counters with a three punch combo that has Hilfinger backing up. Hilfinger nods at Heart to acknowledge the strikes.
Hilfinger looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilfinger doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Heart moves into the clinch.
Heart tries to score a body lock takedown but Hilfinger shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hilfinger is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Heart can't fight it off and eventually Hilfinger manages to take the fight to the floor. Heart looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Hilfinger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Heart wants to stand but Hilfinger is controlling the position.
Hilfinger working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Heart's head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Heart is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heart trying to control but Hilfinger is working from the bottom.

Hilfinger has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Heart off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Heart shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Hilfinger counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilfinger thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hilfinger lands with a punch from half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hilfinger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Heart defending well though.
Hilfinger misses with a head shot. Heart uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hilfinger tries to stand but Heart is controlling from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Franklyn Hilfinger dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hilfinger tries for a takedown but Heart circles away easily
and Heart counters with a leg kick.
Ricardo Heart is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice cross by Heart.
Hilfinger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Heart counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Heart darts in trying to clinch

and Hilfinger counters with a single leg into guard. Heart didn't expect that.
Hilfinger is breathing heavily.
Heart has a closed guard, preventing Hilfinger from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilfinger prevents Heart from getting back to his feet.
Heart trying to keep a closed guard but Hilfinger is proving a slippery customer.
Heart preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Heart keeping moving, preventing Hilfinger from controlling successfully.
Hilfinger postures up in Heart's guard and throws a big left but Heart blocks it.
Hilfinger is standing up over Heart. Heart looks to escape but Hilfinger dives into side control.

Hilfinger decides to stand up, so the ref orders Heart to his feet.

Heart closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Heart lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heart stops Hilfinger from standing up.

Heart stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Hilfinger defending well as Heart loads up on a big left hand.
Hilfinger misses with a takedown attempt

and Heart counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ricardo Heart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklyn Hilfinger.
Heart wants to control from the top but Hilfinger keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilfinger wants to get back to his feet but Heart is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Heart gets to his feet - Hilfinger follows without any prompting.
Hilfinger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Heart counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hilfinger shoots and misses
and Heart counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Heart tries for a takedown but Hilfinger circles away easily

and Hilfinger counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilfinger stopping the sweep attempt from Heart.
Hilfinger lands a couple of digs.
Hilfinger is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hilfinger trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Franklyn Hilfinger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hilfinger bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hilfinger throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Heart regains half guard there - taking advantage of Hilfinger's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Hilfinger slips a nice elbow through Heart's hands, connecting with Heart's forehead.
Hilfinger works his way into full mount!
Heart bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hilfinger can do anything to dispel that myth.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hilfinger can't keep his opponent in guard - Heart advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heart uses his free foot to push down on Hilfinger's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Hilfinger.
Heart controlling the position easily from mount.
Heart throwing strikes here but Hilfinger is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Hilfinger squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Hilfinger is squirming around, avoiding Heart's attempts to control the action.

Heart working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Hilfinger wants to use the ropes to get back to his feet here.
Heart wants to control the pace but Hilfinger is squirming around nicely.
Hilfinger's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Heart takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heart looking to control but Hilfinger is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Heart misses with a head shot.
Heart won't let Hilfinger get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Heart with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Hilfinger squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Hilfinger is trying to stand but he's just given Heart his back.
Heart missing with strikes.

Hilfinger manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.
Hilfinger misses with a takedown
and Heart counters with a straight right hand.
Ricardo Heart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Franklyn Hilfinger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Heart lands a glancing blow to the side of Hilfinger's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ricardo Heart.
I think Hilfinger 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 28:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franklyn Hilfinger!