PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Mesquita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juliano Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thiago Mesquita has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mesquita
vs
Hernandez

175 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thiago Mesquita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Juliano Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Seu Braga and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mesquita takes a swing at Hernandez's ribcage but misses.
Thiago Mesquita seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mesquita throws out a loose jab but Hernandez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mesquita misses with a looping left.
Hernandez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Mesquita.
Mesquita fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hernandez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mesquita but Mesquita pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hernandez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mesquita is fending him off so far but Hernandez persists. Nope, Mesquita circles away and we're back to standing.
Mesquita tries to bum rush Hernandez with a series of wild strikes but Hernandez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mesquita scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hernandez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hernandez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Thiago Mesquita has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juliano Hernandez.
Mesquita looks to land a combination but Hernandez avoids it well.
Hernandez is looking to clinch but Mesquita is avoiding it.
A punch combination from Mesquita misses.
Mesquita throws a right and a left that both miss.
Mesquita lands a jab to Hernandez's midsection.
Hernandez ducks under a wild hook from Mesquita.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hernandez is defended easily by Mesquita.
Hernandez looks gassed!
Mesquita with a hook.

A jab-cross combination lands for Mesquita and sends Hernandez crashing to the mat! Mesquita follows him down to the mat - Hernandez regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Hernandez is rocked!

It looks like Juliano Hernandez has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mesquita in particular looking to stall.
Hernandez is still in real trouble! Can Mesquita finish him?
Mesquita is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Hernandez seems to have recovered his senses.
Mesquita sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to improve his position.
Hernandez is staying active underneath Mesquita, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hernandez manages to get to full guard.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Mesquita from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Thiago Mesquita just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Mesquita scores with a shot to the body.
Mesquita rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hernandez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mesquita looks to land a combination but Hernandez avoids it well.
Mesquita stuffs the takedown attempt from Hernandez. Hernandez gets slowly back to his feet.
Mesquita with a jab.
Thiago Mesquita is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Mesquita just misses with a punch to the body.
A right-left combo lands from Mesquita.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita misses with a wild combination.
Mesquita sizes up Hernandez with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Hernandez gets a takedown into half guard.
Hernandez prevents Mesquita from improving his position.
Hernandez throwing shots but Mesquita is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hernandez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mesquita's head.
Mesquita tries to get to full guard but Hernandez has control of the leg.
Hernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thiago Mesquita dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Juliano Hernandez's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hernandez scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Mesquita is trying to improve his position.
Hernandez scoring with punches from side control.
Mesquita taking a bit of punishment here - Hernandez scoring with strikes.

Hernandez decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Hernandez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mesquita.
A lazy left from Mesquita finds it's target.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A combination from Mesquita does no damage.
Mesquita throws a jab but it's blocked by Hernandez.
Mesquita tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hernandez was well out of range. Poor timing from Mesquita.
Hernandez wants to clinch up but Mesquita keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hernandez blocks a jab.
Mesquita rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Hernandez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mesquita throws a hook but Hernandez blocks it.
Mesquita smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hernandez tries to clinch but Mesquita moves out of range.
Hernandez shoots in looking for a takedown. Mesquita tries to sprawl out of it but Hernandez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mesquita manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mesquita misses with an uppercut. Hernandez saw that one coming.

Hernandez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Mesquita did well to prevent Hernandez getting side control.
Mesquita is trying to get back to full guard.
Hernandez is looking to take a break and control but Mesquita is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez working the head and body with strikes.
Hernandez wants to take a breather but Mesquita is having none of it.
Hernandez working over Mesquita with some ground and pound. Mesquita looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hernandez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Mesquita tries to roll over but Hernandez keeps him under control.

Hernandez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Hernandez trying to control from Mesquita's half guard. Mesquita has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Hernandez landing some decent shots from guard.
Hernandez slips nicely into half guard.
Hernandez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mesquita keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hernandez prevents Mesquita from improving his position.

Mesquita kicks Hernandez off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hernandez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mesquita sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hernandez wants to clinch up but Mesquita keeps it at a distance.
Hernandez looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Hernandez scores with a takedown into Mesquita's guard.
Hernandez trying to control but Mesquita is working from the bottom.
Mesquita looking for a sweep. Not yet Mesquita, not yet.
Hernandez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mesquita utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hernandez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juliano Hernandez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Juliano Hernandez's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mesquita loads up on a big right hand but Hernandez slips the punch.

Hernandez throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mesquita was covering up waiting for the punch and Hernandez finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hernandez prevents Mesquita from getting back to his feet.
Mesquita keeping moving, preventing Hernandez from controlling successfully.
Hernandez preventing the sweep.
Hernandez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Hernandez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hernandez stays in close to Mesquita's body and controls the position.
Hernandez postures up in Mesquita's guard and throws a big left but Mesquita blocks it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mesquita working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hernandez.
Mesquita has momentary wrist control but Hernandez slips an elbow through the middle.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mesquita moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Hernandez takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Mesquita throws a right hand that Hernandez ducks under and follows up with a left that Hernandez also avoids with ease.

Hernandez shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Mesquita is trying to defend but Hernandez finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Hernandez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mesquita's head.

Hernandez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Mesquita is just riding it out for now. Hernandez eventually gives up the hold.

Mesquita actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is trying to control. Mesquita wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Mesquita manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hernandez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mesquita preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Hernandez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mesquita manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hernandez has Mesquita in his guard.
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mesquita controls the pace.

Hernandez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Mesquita is aware though and is defending well.
Mesquita has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Mesquita trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Mesquita not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Mesquita doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Mesquita manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Mesquita looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Mesquita trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juliano Hernandez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hernandez 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 Daniel Cesar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juliano Hernandez!