PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between destiny hurd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Correa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

hurd
vs
Correa

154 cm
24
145 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
150 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, destiny hurd!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Correa!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Ian Loll and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

hurd shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

hurd with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Correa is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
hurd throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
hurd wants to control the pace but Correa is squirming around nicely.
hurd won't let Correa get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
hurd wants to control the pace but Correa is squirming around nicely.
Correa is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Correa defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from hurd.
hurd 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.
Correa blocking the ground and pound.
hurd sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

hurd working for a submission but Correa is keeping him at bay.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Correa bucks up and throws hurd to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Correa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and hurd counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Correa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst hurd is controlling him.
hurd sitting in guard, not really doing much.
hurd prevents Correa from getting back to his feet.

hurd drops back looking for a leg! Correa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Correa manages to kick hurd off! hurd jumps back into Correa's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Correa keeping moving, preventing hurd from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

hurd drops back looking for a leg! Correa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Correa manages to kick hurd off! hurd jumps back into Correa's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
hurd takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
hurd wants to clinch up but Correa keeps it at a distance.
hurd on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Correa with a poor takedown

so hurd counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
hurd stops Correa from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

hurd is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Correa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Correa has escaped and now he's on top!
hurd is breathing heavily.
Correa wanted to stand there but hurd had control of the position.
Correa tries to free his leg and advance position but hurd is retaining full guard.

Correa stands up from hurd's guard - Correa perhaps looking for a knockout.
Correa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and hurd counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
destiny hurd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Correa.
hurd stands and throws Correa's legs to the side, diving into side control.

hurd tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no hurd has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
hurd tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

hurd wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Correa, who protects the arm well.
Correa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but hurd has just dragged him back down to the mat.
hurd tries to advance position but instead Correa slips a leg back in to half guard.
Correa tries to kick hurd off but hurd keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Correa is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Correa is refusing to be controlled, as hurd sits in half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Correa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and hurd counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by hurd.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

destiny hurd dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

hurd tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Correa swivels and escapes.
Correa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Correa tries for a takedown but hurd circles away easily

and hurd counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Correa wants to get back to his feet.

hurd is looking for a kimura here.

hurd is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Correa pushes hurd off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Correa throws a right hand that hurd ducks under and follows up with a left that hurd also avoids with ease.
Correa stalks hurd and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into hurd's face. hurd staggers backwards, shaken.
Correa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Correa moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Correa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so hurd counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

hurd thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Correa has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes hurd off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Correa doesn't succeed with the takedown

and hurd counters with a shoot takedown. Correa fights it but they end up in guard.
destiny hurd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Eric Correa.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
hurd slips nicely into half guard.
hurd prevents Correa from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
hurd throwing shots but Correa is blocking nicely.

hurd stands up out of the half guard.
Correa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and hurd counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Correa's guard now.
hurd might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
hurd postures up in Correa's guard and throws a big left but Correa blocks it.
hurd stops Correa from standing up.

hurd stands up and waves to Correa to follow him.
Correa tries for a takedown but hurd circles away easily

and hurd counters with a takedown into side control.
Correa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but hurd has just dragged him back down to the mat.

hurd is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Correa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Correa is trying to get back to his feet.

hurd thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Correa is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

hurd tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no hurd has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
hurd prevents Correa from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Correa throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Jab from Correa.
Correa misses with a takedown attempt

and hurd counters with a takedown into side control.
Correa is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but hurd has just dragged him back down to the mat.

hurd is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Correa knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
hurd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Correa keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

destiny hurd dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Correa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
hurd with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Correa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Correa stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows hurd to get to his feet.
Correa throws a chopping leg kick but hurd manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Correa cracks the inside of hurd's front leg.
hurd misses with a takedown attempt - Correa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice uppercut there from Correa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
hurd ducks right into an uppercut from Correa.
Correa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
hurd doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Correa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for destiny hurd. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Correa lands a nice shot that snaps hurd's head back.
Correa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Correa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
hurd wants to control but Correa is keeping busy.
hurd is looking for a sweep. Correa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Correa is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for hurd!

Correa throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! hurd has his hands clasped together but Correa breaks the hold and hurd is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Correa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:03 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Eric Correa!
Eric Correa is the new featherweight champion!