PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Numero Nueve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Herberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Johan Herberg acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Nueve
vs
Herberg

173 cm
25
162 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

160 cm
26
167 lbs
10 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Numero Nueve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Herberg!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Nueve scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Nueve is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Herberg knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Herberg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Herberg tries to buck Nueve off but Nueve is having none of it.

Nueve is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Herberg is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Herberg is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herberg is trying to control Nueve's posture but Nueve avoids it.
Nueve tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herberg sneaks back into half guard.

Nueve is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Nueve misses with a head shot. Herberg uses the momentum to regain guard.
Herberg keeping moving, preventing Nueve from controlling successfully.
Nueve looking to pass the guard.
Herberg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nueve's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Herberg scoring with some ground and pound.
Nueve 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.

Nueve is looking for a triangle but Herberg pushes his legs off easily.
Herberg sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Nueve's guard.
Nueve tries to get to full guard but Herberg has control of the leg.
Herberg missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Herberg is thwarting Nueve's attempts to control the position.
Herberg lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Herberg scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nueve manages to get to full guard.
Herberg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve 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.
Herberg with a nice head shot there.
Herberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Nueve is retaining full guard.
Herberg keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nueve's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nueve lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Herberg!
Herberg blocking the ground and pound.
Herberg is just holding on here. Nueve manages to take his back.
Herberg is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Nueve is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Herberg has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nueve is looking for the choke from the back position but Herberg is controlling his hands well.
Nueve is hanging on to Herberg's back as he tries to escape.
Nueve missing with strikes from the back.

Herberg showing good submission defense here.
Nueve missing with strikes.

Nueve is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Herberg can't escape the position.

Nueve is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
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 Numero Nueve will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Good standup being displayed there by Herberg as he connects with a hook.
Johan Herberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herberg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nueve.
Nueve misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Herberg.

Nueve shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Herberg is trying to defend but Nueve finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Nueve will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Herberg is defending against the submission attempts here by Nueve.
Herberg tries to roll over but Nueve keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nueve seems to be working for a kimura but Herberg defends the submission attempt.

Nueve seems to be looking for submissions.
Herberg works his way to full guard. Good work.
Herberg not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Herberg seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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

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.

Nueve has his foot on Herberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Herberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Nueve controls Herberg momentarily but Herberg frees himself.
Herberg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Nueve has momentary wrist control but Herberg slips an elbow through the middle.
Herberg pushing down on Nueve's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Herberg drops an elbow to the side of Nueve's head.
Herberg performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Herberg uses his free foot to push down on Nueve's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nueve.
Herberg connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve tries to reverse the position but Herberg maintains control.
Herberg landing punches.
Nueve working to try and regain half guard.
Herberg can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Nueve is looking to escape.
Herberg postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nueve looks a forlorn figure.
Herberg lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Herberg landing shots from mount.
Herberg postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nueve looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herberg postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Nueve looks a forlorn figure.
Nueve tries to hold on but Herberg pushes him away.
The referee warns Nueve that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herberg avoids the attempt from Nueve to control.
Nueve is working to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Herberg connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Nueve gets back to half guard.
Nueve tries to get to full guard but Herberg has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herberg thows a huge punch but Nueve dodges it nicely.
Herberg scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nueve works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Herberg showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Nueve gets a takedown into half guard.
Herberg is looking to improve his position.

Nueve is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Herberg is just riding it out for now. Nueve eventually gives up the hold.
Herberg regains full guard. Nicely done.
Johan Herberg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Herberg 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.

Nueve postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Herberg is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nueve, into his guard.
Nueve is pulling down on Herberg's head to control his posture.
Nueve is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nueve holds on and takes a little breather.
Nueve not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Herberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nueve keeping moving, preventing Herberg from controlling successfully.
Herberg won't allow Nueve to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Herberg wants to control from the top but Nueve keeps moving.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Herberg throws out a loose jab but Nueve uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nueve misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Herberg works over Nueve's head and body with a nice combination.
Herberg misses with a looping left.
Herberg waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nueve.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Herberg.
Herberg misses the jab.
Nueve thows a body shot but no joy.

Herberg looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Nueve wants to get back to his feet but Herberg is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Herberg working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nueve manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Herberg manages to get himself to full guard.
Nueve stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Herberg swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Nueve decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Herberg misses with a looping left.
Nueve slips a straight right by Herberg.
Nueve keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Herberg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Johan Herberg.
Well Herberg 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Herberg!