PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Niklas Konrad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Konrad comes to the cage accompanied by Keep on Rising. Fernandez has chosen Guns N' Roses - Welcome To The Jungle as his entrance music. Niklas Konrad has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Konrad
vs
Fernandez

184 cm
21
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

160 cm
24
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Niklas Konrad!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Andy Fernandez!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez closes the distance and clinches up with Konrad, looking for a takedown. Fernandez pushes Konrad against the cage but Konrad circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Konrad tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Fernandez was well out of range. Poor timing from Konrad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Konrad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fernandez swats away the attempt to clinch by Konrad.
Niklas Konrad seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Konrad moves in looking to clinch but Fernandez pushes him off.
Konrad looks to land a combination but Fernandez avoids it well.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Konrad as he avoids it easily.
Konrad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Konrad stalks Fernandez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Fernandez's face. Fernandez staggers backwards, shaken.
Konrad uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Konrad.
Konrad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Konrad gets a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Konrad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konrad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Konrad just misses with a punch to the body.
Konrad tries to clinch up.

Konrad darts in and clinches Fernandez up against the cage.
Konrad really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Konrad wants to get back to striking at distance but Fernandez won't allow it.

Konrad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Konrad throws a series of punches but Fernandez avoids them all with ease.
Konrad tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fernandez has a takedown stuffed.
Niklas Konrad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Fernandez.
Fernandez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Konrad moves in looking to clinch but Fernandez pushes him off.
Konrad fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Konrad throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two 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.
Konrad misses with a double jab.
Konrad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Konrad slaps away a takedown attempt from Fernandez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Konrad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fernandez keeps the fight on the outside.
Konrad throws a right and a left that both miss.
Konrad stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Konrad wants it to stay on the feet.
Fernandez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Konrad misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Konrad tries to close the distance and clinch but Fernandez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Konrad is looking to clinch but Fernandez is avoiding it.

Fernandez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Konrad's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandez drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Konrad manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Fernandez has Konrad in his guard.
Fernandez looks gassed!
Fernandez keeping full guard, as Konrad tries to pass.
Konrad passes Fernandez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

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.
Well, if Konrad is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Konrad is trying to control the action in half guard but Fernandez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niklas Konrad dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Konrad tries to clinch but Fernandez moves out of range.
Konrad moves in looking to clinch but Fernandez pushes him off.
Konrad tries to clinch there but Fernandez circles away.
Fernandez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Konrad circles away.
Konrad misses with a series of wild punches.

Fernandez closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Fernandez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Konrad, who protects the arm well.

Fernandez tries for a kimura but Konrad is defending well.

Fernandez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Konrad knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konrad struggling a bit here.
Konrad knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fernandez on the ground.
Fernandez is breathing heavily.

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

Fernandez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Konrad holding on.

That's two 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.
Konrad is trying to buck Fernandez off.

Fernandez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Fernandez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Konrad pushes Fernandez away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Fernandez gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fernandez swings around for an armbar but Konrad sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Fernandez's guard.

Konrad gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fernandez keeps the fight on the outside.
Konrad misses with a wild combination.
Konrad looks to land a combination but Fernandez avoids it well.
Konrad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Konrad throws a nice looking combination but Fernandez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Konrad fails with an attempt to clinch.
Konrad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Konrad misses with a double jab.

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.
Konrad throws a leg kick but Fernandez sees it coming and moves out of range.
Konrad scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Fernandez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Konrad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Konrad tries to clinch up but Fernandez circles away and keeps his distance.
Fernandez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Konrad defends it nicely.
Fernandez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Konrad gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Konrad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Niklas Konrad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Fernandez.
Fernandez goes for a takedown attempt but Konrad pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Andy Fernandez will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Konrad scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Fernandez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Konrad tries to avoid it but Fernandez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Konrad to the ground. Konrad escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Konrad tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Some wild striking there from Konrad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Konrad looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Konrad misses with a wild combination.
Konrad doesn't manage to clinch there - Fernandez circles away.
Konrad misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Konrad throws a right and a left that Fernandez avoids nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fernandez swats away the attempt to clinch by Konrad.
A punch combination from Konrad misses.
Konrad tries to bum rush Fernandez with a series of wild strikes but Fernandez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fernandez showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Konrad.
Konrad misses with a double jab.
Niklas Konrad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fernandez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Fernandez shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Fernandez.
Niklas Konrad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Fernandez.
Fernandez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Konrad circles away.

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.
Fernandez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Konrad's waist but Konrad gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fernandez off to one side.
Konrad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fernandez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fernandez slips a jab and a cross from Konrad.
No joy there for Konrad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Konrad moves in looking to clinch but Fernandez pushes him off.
Konrad swinging wildly here.
Konrad swinging wildly here.
No joy there for Konrad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Fernandez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Konrad pinned against the cage. Konrad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Konrad misses with a wild combination.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Konrad, as that shot connected.
Konrad jabs Fernandez right on the nose. Fernandez blinks but takes it well.
Fernandez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Konrad wants to clinch.
Konrad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Konrad tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Fernandez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Konrad misses with a double jab.

That's four 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.
Konrad looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Konrad lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Fernandez circles away quickly and effectively.
Konrad slaps away a takedown attempt from Fernandez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Konrad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Konrad looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Konrad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Fernandez gets the takedown into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Fernandez thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Konrad tries to escape but Fernandez is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Niklas Konrad did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Fernandez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Konrad pinned against the cage. Konrad gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Konrad throws a one two combo.
Konrad misses with a two punch combination.
Konrad tries to clinch up.
Konrad throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Fernandez.
A punch combination from Konrad misses.
Konrad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fernandez manages to avoid it.

Fernandez drives through with a takedown into guard.

Fernandez drops back looking for a leg! Konrad is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Konrad manages to kick Fernandez off! Fernandez jumps back into Konrad's guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Fernandez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Konrad is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Fernandez, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fernandez has his foot on Konrad's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Konrad works his way back into a safe position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Konrad sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Konrad has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Fernandez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Konrad doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Konrad manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Konrad gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Konrad!
Konrad tries to clinch up but Fernandez circles away and keeps his distance.
Konrad misses with a jab, cross combination.
Konrad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fernandez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fernandez moves out of range of the body kick from Konrad.
Konrad tries to clinch but Fernandez is having none of it.
Konrad tries to clinch but Fernandez moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Konrad throws a series of punches but Fernandez moves out of range.
Konrad throws a right and a left that both miss.
Konrad rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Fernandez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Fernandez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Konrad struggling a bit here.

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

Fernandez has hold of Konrad's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Konrad tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Fernandez cranks the arm and Konrad screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Konrad, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Andy Fernandez!
Andy Fernandez is the new featherweight champion!