PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anish Patel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Herrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rodrigo Herrera is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Patel
vs
Herrera

190 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Anish Patel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rodrigo Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Patel is looking to clinch but Herrera is avoiding it.
Patel slips a straight right by Herrera.
Herrera circles away from the clinch attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Patel.
Patel swats away the attempt to clinch by Herrera.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Patel is defended easily by Herrera.
Patel leaves Herrera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Herrera misses with a low kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Patel checks the leg kick nicely there.
Patel wants to clinch

and Herrera moves into the clinch.
Patel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Patel tries to land a knee to the head but Herrera blocks with his arms.
The referee is keeping an eye on Herrera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Patel looking to throw knees to the head but Herrera is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Patel.

It looks like Rodrigo Herrera has been cut.
Herrera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Herrera looks gassed!
Herrera has Patel pushed against the cage.
Patel scores with a knee to the head.
Patel using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Herrera has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Patel has Herrera pressed against the cage, preventing Herrera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Patel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Herrera blocks it with crossed arms.
Patel taking a breather.
Patel with a knee to the head.
Herrera scores with a hook to the body.
Patel trying to control the position but instead, Herrera has worked for underhooks and has pushed Patel into the cage.
Patel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Patel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Patel tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Herrera just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anish Patel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Patel tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Patel misses with a knee to the head.
Patel misses with a knee strike.
Patel connects with a nasty looking knee right to Herrera's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Herrera avoiding damage.
Herrera is trying to force a seperation but Patel has the dominant position.
Herrera lands a body shot in the clinch.
Patel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Herrera is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Patel scores with a knee to the head.
Patel swings wildly with an uppercut but Herrera uses good head movement to avoid it.
Patel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Herrera breaks the clinch.
Herrera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Patel wants to clinch

and Herrera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Herrera.
Herrera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Patel's efforts to push away.
Herrera misses with a knee to the head.
Patel with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Herrera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patel tries to clinch up

and Herrera moves into the clinch.

Herrera escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Patel tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Herrera moves into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Patel.
Herrera fails to pull guard.
A knee to the head by Patel.
Patel throws a knee to the head but misses.
Herrera manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Patel misses with a knee to the head.
Herrera holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Patel landing knees to the head.
Patel tries a knee to the head but Herrera blocks it.
Herrera wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Patel has him pressed against the cage.
Herrera tries to land knees in the clinch but Patel avoids the damage to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patel looking to throw knees to the head but Herrera is blocking nicely.
Patel tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Herrera manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Patel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Herrera blocks it with crossed arms.
Herrera taking a breather.
Patel missing with knees to the body.
Patel tries to land a knee to the head but Herrera blocks with his arms.
Patel tries to land a knee to the head but Herrera blocks with his arms.
Patel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Herrera is defending well for now.
Herrera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Herrera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Patel with a knee to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Patel tries to land a knee to the head but Herrera blocks with his arms.
Herrera has Patel pushed against the cage.
Patel throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Herrera blocks it with crossed arms.
Patel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Herrera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Herrera's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Herrera drives through and clinches with Patel against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Patel scores with a nice short uppercut.
Patel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Patel fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Patel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Patel with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Herrera tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Patel is trying to maintain a safe position but Herrera gets an underhook and turns Patel into the cage.
Patel fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Patel misses with a knee strike.
Patel tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Herrera is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Herrera ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Herrera no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Patel throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Patel pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Herrera is keeping the position for now.
Herrera utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Herrera pulls Patel in close to his closed guard and prevents Patel from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Herrera wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Patel manages to pass to side control.
Patel has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Patel working for a submission but Herrera is keeping him at bay.
Herrera wants to hold on but Patel pushes him away.

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.
Patel looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Herrera squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Patel trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Patel thowing shots but they're missing.
Patel avoids the attempt from Herrera to control.
Herrera is desperately trying to improve his position but Patel has a good base and remains in mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herrera is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Patel thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Herrera is desperately trying to improve his position but Patel has a good base and remains in mount.
Patel trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patel throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Herrera because Patel loaded up on that one.
Herrera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Patel. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Herrera is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Patel will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Patel is going olschool here, as he tries to force Herrera to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Herrera shrugs it off.
Patel has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Patel avoids the attempt from Herrera to control.
Herrera tries to reverse the position but Patel maintains control.
Herrera is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Patel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Herrera is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Patel punching from mount but Herrera doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Herrera is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Patel looking to secure an arm triangle but Herrera defends it well.
Herrera trying desperately to get to his feet.
Herrera gets back to half guard.
Herrera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Patel prevents Herrera from standing back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Patel is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Herrera sees it coming and defends easily.
Herrera pushes Patel off looking to stand but Patel dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anish Patel will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Herrera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Patel misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Patel tries to clinch

and Herrera counters with a single leg into guard. Patel didn't expect that.
Patel striking off his back but it's not causing Herrera any problems.
Herrera is fighting to break Patel's control of his arms but Patel is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Patel doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Patel throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Herrera is looking to work some ground and pound but Patel has wrist control.
Herrera stands and throws Patel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Patel wants to control but Herrera postures up.
Patel looks to move to half guard but instead Herrera has passed into mount! Damn!
Patel tries to reverse the position but Herrera maintains control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Patel throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Herrera tries to control but Patel wriggling away.
Herrera postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Patel looks a forlorn figure.

Herrera working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Patel is wriggling around trying to escape.
Herrera blocks Patel's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
The referee warns Patel that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Herrera landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Herrera cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Herrera with a couple of short strikes.

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.
Herrera is landing with some decent strikes but Patel is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Patel really wants to buck Herrera off and get back to his feet.
Patel slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Herrera missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Patel tries to kick Herrera off but Herrera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Herrera is looking for a kimura but Patel is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Herrera to get the leverage.
Patel tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Herrera is trying to control. Patel wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Herrera is pressing down on Patel's thigh, looking to free his foot. Patel is holding on for now.
Patel tries to roll over but Herrera keeps him under control.
Patel tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Patel is trying hard to land a takedown here. Herrera sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Patel sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Anish Patel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Patel looks to clinch

and Herrera counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Herrera gets control of Patel's arms and successfully pulls guard. Herrera will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Patel throwing strikes from guard but Herrera blocks nicely.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Herrera can do anything to dispel that myth.

Herrera is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Patel prevents Herrera from getting back to his feet.
Herrera keeping moving, preventing Patel from controlling successfully.
Patel is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Herrera is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Patel trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Patel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Herrera changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Patel tries to avoid it but Herrera manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Patel to the ground. Patel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nice sprawl there from Herrera as Patel shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anish Patel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Patel wants to clinch

and Herrera holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Patel with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Herrera displaying some good clinch control by pressing Patel up against the cage.
Patel with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Patel is trying to maintain a safe position but Herrera gets an underhook and turns Patel into the cage.
Patel tries to break the clinch but Herrera is controlling the position.
Herrera goes for a takedown attempt but Patel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Patel closes the distance looking to clinch
and Herrera counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Herrera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Herrera 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodrigo Herrera!