PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chris Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Conner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herzog comes to the cage accompanied by Robert Tepper - No Easy Way Out. Conner is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Allman Brothers Band - Midnight Rider. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Herzog
vs
Conner

175 cm
27
181 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

186 cm
21
182 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Resistance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Herzog!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tim Conner!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conner throws a quick inside leg kick.
Conner lands an overhand right.
Conner lands a nice leg kick that just misses Herzog's sensitive parts.
Herzog showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Conner.
Tim Conner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Conner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Herzog sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Herzog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Conner moves away.
Conner doesn't manage to clinch there - Herzog circles away.
Conner gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Conner scores with a decent looking hook.
No joy there for Herzog, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Conner misses with a series of wild punches.
Conner lands a jab to Herzog's midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner scores with a head kick.
Herzog misses with a straight left.
The fight stays on the outside here - Conner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Herzog slips a jab from Conner.
Herzog slips a straight right by Conner.
Tim Conner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Conner tests Herzog's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Herzog misses its intended target.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Conner lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Herzog has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Herzog and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A left and a right from Herzog both land. Nice combination.
Herzog lands a jab-cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner swings for the body but Herzog moves out of range.
A big right from Conner misses.
Herzog looks to land a combination but Conner avoids it well.
Conner connects with a single shot there.
Herzog moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Conner swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Herzog counters with a straight right hand.
Herzog tries to score a power double leg takedown but Conner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Herzog somewhat.
Herzog waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Conner.
Conner misses the jab.
Conner is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Herzog throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Conner counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner misses with a wild body shot.
Conner misses with a series of wild punches.
Conner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Conner fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Herzog has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Herzog throws a hook but Conner blocks it.
Conner fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Herzog looks to throw the jab but Conner is out of range.
Herzog will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Herzog looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Herzog paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Herzog moves out of range of the strikes.
Conner with a nice cross.
Herzog cracks Conner with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Conner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Herzog throws out the jab.
Herzog dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Conner is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Herzog had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Herzog misses with a straight right.
Herzog changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Conner tries to avoid it but Herzog manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Conner to the ground. Conner escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Conner, right into the meat.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Conner jabs at Herzog's body.
Herzog throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Conner.
Herzog shoots in but Conner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Conner dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Herzog shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Herzog with a lazy takedown attempt
and Herzog takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Conner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Herzog throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Conner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Herzog circles away quickly and effectively.
Conner misses with a double jab
and Herzog connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Herzog is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Conner blocks a jab.
Conner misses with a head kick.

Herzog shoots in and gets a takedown into Conner's guard.
Herzog sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog stopping the sweep attempt from Conner.
Conner pulls Herzog in close to prevent any damage.
Conner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Conner throws a head kick but Herzog moves out of range.
Conner throws a wild body kick that Herzog sees coming a mile off.
Conner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Herzog was well out of range. Poor timing from Conner.

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.
Conner tries to clinch up.
Conner goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Herzog shoots in but Conner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Conner throws a big shot that misses.
Herzog throws a hook but Conner avoids it easily.
Herzog swinging wildly here.
Herzog tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Conner was well out of range. Poor timing from Herzog.
Herzog takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Herzog misses the shot to the body.
Conner smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner throws out a loose jab but Herzog uses good head movement to avoid it.
Herzog is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Conner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Herzog circles away quickly and effectively.
Conner looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Herzog gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Conner bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Herzog throws the left hand but Conner avoids the punch easily.
Tim Conner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Conner dips to his left and cracks Herzog with an uppercut!
Herzog fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Herzog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herzog throws a nice looking combination but Conner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog misses with a series of wild punches.
Conner moves out of range of the strikes.
Conner avoids the body shot from Herzog.
Herzog uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Conner.
Conner feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Herzog's calf.
Conner throws a nice outside leg kick.
Conner swings for the body but Herzog moves out of range.
Conner blocks a jab.
Conner throws a hook but Herzog blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Conner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Conner throws a chopping leg kick but Herzog manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Conner wants to clinch but Herzog slips to the side

and Herzog counters with a nice double leg into side control. Conner won't be happy with that.
Herzog just content to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Conner is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Herzog is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog trying to control but Conner is having none of it.
Herzog throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Herzog is landing with some decent strikes but Conner is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Conner is trying desperately to improve position.
Herzog looking to control but Conner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Conner tries to reverse the position but Herzog maintains control.
Conner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Conner tries to buck Herzog off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Herzog avoids the attempt from Conner to control.
Conner in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Herzog can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Conner is looking to escape.
Herzog landing strikes from the mount and Conner is in trouble!
Herzog dominating with strikes here.
Herzog content just to control the position here.
Herzog has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog punishing his opponent with strikes.

Herzog with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Conner is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Conner is squirming around, avoiding Herzog's attempts to control the action.
Herzog throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Herzog tries to control but Conner wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Conner bucks Herzog off and manages to get back to his feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Herzog works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Herzog swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good exchange - Herzog coming out on top.
Herzog swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A big right from Herzog misses.
Herzog misses with a jab to the body
enabling Conner to counter with a crisp jab.
Herzog shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Conner as he jumps to the side.
A swing and a miss from Herzog.
Herzog on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Herzog clearly takes 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.

Conner tries to clinch but Herzog moves out of range.
Conner has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Conner misses with a straight right.
Herzog fails with the takedown.
Herzog swings for the body but Conner moves out of range.
Herzog tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Conner was well out of range. Poor timing from Herzog.
Herzog misses with an uppercut. Conner saw that one coming.
Conner scores with a crisp jab that stopped Herzog in his tracks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herzog throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Conner throws a quick inside leg kick.
Conner cracks the inside of Herzog's front leg.
Herzog misses with a combination
and Conner counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conner lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Herzog circles away quickly and effectively.
Herzog misses the shot to the body.
Herzog throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Conner's waist but Conner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Herzog off to one side.
Nice defenses there by Conner.
Conner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Herzog connects with the punch.
Herzog misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Conner.
Conner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Herzog at a distance.
Conner throws a one two combo.
Conner uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Herzog.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Conner misses the target.
Conner pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Conner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Herzog avoids the head kick by Conner.

Herzog scores a takedown into full mount!
Herzog tries to control but Conner wriggling away.
Conner is trying to reverse the position but instead Herzog has taken his back - oops!

Herzog is looking for the choke from the back position but Conner is controlling his hands well.
Herzog is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Conner. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Herzog working for a choke but Conner is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conner trying to control the position but Herzog manages to sink in the hooks.

Conner is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Herzog gets his way!
Herzog controlling well, preventing Conner from escaping the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Herzog's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Herzog 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.

Herzog has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Conner has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Herzog doesn't have the hooks in and Conner manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Conner wants to control from the top but Herzog keeps moving.
Conner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Herzog is trying to keep Conner in close.
Conner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Herzog's guard.
Conner controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Conner dominated that fourth round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Conner takes one on the button.
Herzog checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Conner throws a hook to the side of Herzog's head but Herzog sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Herzog shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Herzog misses with a jab to the body
and Conner counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Herzog thinking.
Conner avoids the body shot from Herzog.
Herzog throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Conner sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Herzog takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A punch combination from Conner misses.
Conner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Herzog takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Herzog is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog circles away from the clinch attempt.
Herzog throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Conner is looking to clinch.
Conner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herzog.
Herzog feints a jab promting Conner to slip. Herzog then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Conner slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Conner throws a chopping leg kick but Herzog manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Conner throws a nice outside leg kick.
Herzog gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Conner misses with a looping right.
Herzog takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Chris Herzog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conner looks to land a left hand but Herzog moved out of range nicely.
Conner comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Conner moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Conner thows a body shot but no joy.
Herzog shoots in for a takedown but Conner shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris Herzog. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conner will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Conner ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Herzog fails with the takedown.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Conner stuns Herzog with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Herzog blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog moves away from the strike by Conner.
Conner misses with a double jab.

Conner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Herzog misses with a punch on the inside.

Herzog breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Conner digs a good hook to Herzog's body.
Conner misses with a wild combination.
Herzog throws out a loose jab but Conner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Herzog throws a jab but it's blocked by Conner.
Conner fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.
Conner throws a right and a left that Herzog avoids nicely.
Herzog has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Conner.
Conner ducks under a wild hook from Herzog.
Herzog avoids the head kick by Conner.
Conner slips a jab from Herzog.
Tim Conner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Herzog moves into range and connects with a jab.
Herzog lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Herzog.
Conner is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Conner lands a jab.
Conner throws a nice outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Conner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Conner 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 46:49
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 46:49
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Conner!
Tim Conner is the new welterweight champion!