PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rory Heffernan (ranked 5180 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerome Votzekie (ranked 5302 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Heffernan
vs
Votzekie

160 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rory Heffernan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jerome Votzekie!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

Heffernan kicks Votzekie off and gets to his feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Heffernan - that will leave a mark!
Heffernan lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Heffernan closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Heffernan has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Votzekie uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Votzekie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Heffernan is keeping the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heffernan is controlling Votzekie's posture.
Heffernan trying to keep a closed guard but Votzekie is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Votzekie decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Heffernan, up you get!
Votzekie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Heffernan counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Votzekie thinking.

Heffernan scores with a takedown into Votzekie's guard.
Votzekie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Heffernan controls the pace.
Votzekie looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Heffernan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Heffernan wants to clinch up but Votzekie keeps it at a distance.
A head kick by Heffernan misses
and Votzekie counters with a nice uppercut.
Votzekie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Heffernan.
Heffernan shoots in for a takedown but Votzekie shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Heffernan dodges the punch combination from Votzekie.

Heffernan gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan misses with an elbow over the top.
Votzekie missing with knees to the body.
Heffernan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Votzekie after a bit of a struggle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Heffernan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Votzekie tries to circle away but Heffernan has him pinned against the cage.
Votzekie is trying to break free.
Votzekie swings wildly with an uppercut but Heffernan uses good head movement to avoid it.
Heffernan tries to work over Votzekie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Heffernan is trying to push Votzekie away but Votzekie has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's four 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.
Heffernan tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Votzekie smiles and moves away.
Heffernan tries to close the distance and clinch but Votzekie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Votzekie lands with a nice body punch.
Heffernan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Votzekie swivels and escapes.
Votzekie throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Heffernan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A countering left hand to the body from Votzekie misses.
Heffernan is breathing heavily.
Votzekie looks to score with a jab to the body but Heffernan is just out of range.
Heffernan doesn't manage to clinch there - Votzekie circles away.
Heffernan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Votzekie sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
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 Rory Heffernan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Votzekie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Heffernan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Votzekie fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Heffernan looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Votzekie throws a right and a left that both miss.
Votzekie with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Heffernan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Votzekie paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big left from Votzekie misses.
Votzekie scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Heffernan doesn't seem bothered though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heffernan darts in trying to clinch
and Votzekie counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Votzekie. No joy for Heffernan on that attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Heffernan is defended easily by Votzekie.
It seemed like Votzekie was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Heffernan is looking to clinch.
Votzekie shoots and misses
and Heffernan counters with a nice body shot.
Votzekie leaves Heffernan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Heffernan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heffernan shoots in but Votzekie avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan looks to land a combination. Votzekie sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Heffernan takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Votzekie lands a nice hook to Heffernan's body. Heffernan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Heffernan throws a leg kick

and Votzekie counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Heffernan wants to stand back up but Votzekie manages to pass into side control.
Rory Heffernan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Votzekie stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Heffernan takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Votzekie connects with a high kick.
Jerome Votzekie seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Heffernan moves in looking to clinch but Votzekie pushes him off.
Nice uppercut lands for Votzekie. That snapped Heffernan's head back.
Votzekie just misses with a punch to the body.
Votzekie is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Heffernan rather than just go for the knockout.

Heffernan gets caught flat footed, as Votzekie shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Heffernan has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Votzekie can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Votzekie gets to his feet - Heffernan follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Votzekie lands a nice looking body shot.
Rory Heffernan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Votzekie moves into range and clinches up with Heffernan.
Heffernan prevents Votzekie from breaking the clinch.
Heffernan is trying to drag Votzekie to the mat but Votzekie just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Heffernan is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Heffernan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Votzekie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Heffernan.
Votzekie is trying to counter with his kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Votzekie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Votzekie throws a push kick but Heffernan slaps the foot to one side.
Votzekie stuffs the takedown.
Heffernan is looking to clinch but Votzekie is avoiding it.
Votzekie unleashes a big counter combination but Heffernan bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Heffernan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Heffernan misses with a takedown attempt
and Votzekie counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rory Heffernan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heffernan slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Votzekie clinches up with Heffernan and pushes him back against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Votzekie gets control of Heffernan's arms and successfully pulls guard. Votzekie will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Votzekie 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 one minute gone in the round.
Votzekie working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Heffernan.
Votzekie looking to control.
Votzekie wants to stand up but Heffernan is controlling him.
Votzekie managing to control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Votzekie utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.
A shot to the liver by Votzekie. Beautiful body shot.
Heffernan throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Heffernan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Votzekie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rory Heffernan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Votzekie throws a body punch but Heffernan moves out of range.
Heffernan tries to clinch there but Votzekie circles away.
Heffernan ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Heffernan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Votzekie swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Heffernan with a poor takedown
and Votzekie counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan has a takedown stuffed.
A nice side step and Votzekie releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Heffernan tries to close the distance and clinch but Votzekie swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Votzekie fails in his attempt to clinch.
Heffernan throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Votzekie looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Votzekie lands a nice hook to Heffernan's body. Heffernan takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Heffernan shoots in for a double leg but Votzekie sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Votzekie changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Votzekie misses with a wild body shot.
Heffernan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Votzekie let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heffernan throws a sloppy head kick
and Votzekie counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Heffernan thinking.
Votzekie misses with the combination.
As Votzekie looks to move away, Heffernan throws a big counter combo but Votzekie just gets out of the way.
Votzekie ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Votzekie throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Votzekie stuns Heffernan with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Votzekie displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Heffernan.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jerome Votzekie comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Votzekie has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 28:29
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerome Votzekie!