PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vern Schullacks (ranked 2014 p4p, 1894 weight class) and Simon Hedegaard (ranked 280 p4p, 259 weight class). The key to victory for Vern Schullacks has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Schullacks
vs
Hedegaard

180 cm
20
200
4 - 1 - 0

208 cm
21
195
9 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Good gas tank

Knock Out Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vern Schullacks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Simon Hedegaard!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Paul Aken and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hedegaard fails with the takedown.

Schullacks looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Schullacks tries to pass to full mount but Hedegaard defends it.

Schullacks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hedegaard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Schullacks.

Schullacks is working for a kimura but Hedegaard is defending it quite comfortably.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schullacks is looking to advance position but Hedegaard won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schullacks is working for a submission of some sort.

Schullacks is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hedegaard doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Schullacks.

Schullacks is trying to work for a kimura but Hedegaard is defending well.
Schullacks is looking to take a break and control but Hedegaard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hedegaard wants to get back to full guard.
Schullacks stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Hedegaard looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hedegaard is looking for a sweep. Schullacks is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hedegaard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Schullacks's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Schullacks's back!
Schullacks looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Schullacks showing good submission defense here.
Hedegaard is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Schullacks wants to control his opponent's hands but Hedegaard gets his hands free.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Schullacks defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hedegaard's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard trying to control momentarily.
Schullacks might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
I really don't envy Schullacks right now.
Hedegaard is not going to allow Schullacks to sit and survive in this position.

Hedegaard tightening his grip on Schullacks, looking for the choke.
Hedegaard is not going to allow Schullacks to sit and survive in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks tries to break free.

Schullacks showing good submission defense here.
Hedegaard trying to control momentarily.

Hedegaard looking for the choke from the back.

Hedegaard is persistently looking for the submission but Schullacks is defending it well.

Hedegaard is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Hedegaard is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Schullacks can't escape the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Simon Hedegaard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Schullacks ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Schullacks throws out a powerful jab.
Vern Schullacks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Schullacks misses with a left hand

and Hedegaard counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hedegaard distracts Schullacks with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Schullacks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Schullacks trying to keep a closed guard but Hedegaard is proving a slippery customer.
Hedegaard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hedegaard works over Schullacks with some ground and pound from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Schullacks looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hedegaard won't allow Schullacks to sweep him here.
Schullacks keeping moving, preventing Hedegaard from controlling successfully.
Hedegaard is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Schullacks is looking for a triangle but Hedegaard pushes his legs off easily.
Hedegaard throwing strikes from guard but Schullacks blocks nicely.
Hedegaard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Schullacks is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Schullacks tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Schullacks has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Hedegaard is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hedegaard wants to control from the top but Schullacks keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Schullacks is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Simon Hedegaard has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hedegaard drops back, looking for a kneebar! Schullacks looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Schullacks looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Schullacks!

Hedegaard has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Schullacks tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Hedegaard is looking for a sweep.
Schullacks has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Hedegaard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Schullacks takes Hedegaard's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Hedegaard is in trouble.

Schullacks looking for the choke but no joy.
Schullacks has the hooks in. Hedegaard is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Schullacks is looking to control Hedegaard but Hedegaard is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Schullacks patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Schullacks is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Hedegaard knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Hedegaard for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hedegaard turns into Schullacks and is now in his guard.
Hedegaard wants to control from the top but Schullacks keeps moving.
Schullacks wants to sweep here but Hedegaard controlling him for the moment.
Hedegaard wants to pass the guard but Schullacks is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schullacks has his hands on Hedegaard's head, controlling the position.
Hedegaard wants to control from the top but Schullacks keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vern Schullacks will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hedegaard shoots in and drives through. Schullacks sprawls well.

Hedegaard darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hedegaard uses his free foot to push down on Schullacks's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Schullacks.
Schullacks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Schullacks wants to hold on but Hedegaard pushes him away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Schullacks is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Schullacks keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hedegaard 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 one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Hedegaard has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Schullacks wants to control but Hedegaard is having none of it.
Schullacks is working to get back to half guard.
Schullacks wants to hold on but Hedegaard pushes him away.
Hedegaard can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Schullacks is looking to escape.
A nice elbow there by Hedegaard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks can't escape the position.
Schullacks is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Qube MMA, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Hedegaard wants to control the pace but Schullacks is squirming around nicely.

Hedegaard wants to finish this one by submission but Schullacks is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Hedegaard.
Schullacks taking shots to the head.
Schullacks bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

Schullacks avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Schullacks advances position into side control!
Hedegaard is not content to let Schullacks control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Schullacks tries to move to full mount but Hedegaard actually manages to regain half guard.
Schullacks wants to control but Hedegaard is keeping him busy.

Hedegaard actively working from the bottom here.
Schullacks tries to pass to full mount but Hedegaard defends it.
Schullacks prevents Hedegaard from improving his position.
Hedegaard is staying active underneath Schullacks, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hedegaard is trying to maintain the position but Schullacks is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Schullacks is stalling here. Hedegaard is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Schullacks seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hedegaard has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Hedegaard looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Hedegaard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Schullacks has escaped the position, nice work there.
Schullacks can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Schullacks manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Schullacks is looking to improve his position.

Hedegaard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Schullacks doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hedegaard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Simon Hedegaard comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hedegaard 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simon Hedegaard!