PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark van Bommel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Albert Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van Bommel comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica-Battery . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

van Bommel
vs
Hernandez

188 cm
21
172 lbs
5 - 0 - 1

184 cm
24
173 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mark van Bommel!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Albert Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez moves away from the strike by van Bommel.
van Bommel tests Hernandez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A swing and a miss from van Bommel.
Hernandez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
van Bommel uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
van Bommel lands a head shot.
van Bommel scores with a jab to the body.

van Bommel bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hernandez regains half guard.
van Bommel controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hernandez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
van Bommel scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hernandez wants to improve his position but van Bommel is controlling well.
Hernandez manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as van Bommel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hernandez looking for a sweep. Not yet Hernandez, not yet.

Hernandez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead van Bommel passes into side control.
Check out the look on van Bommel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
van Bommel creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hernandez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
van Bommel working the ground and pound.
van Bommel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hernandez on the ground.
van Bommel scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez struggling a bit here.
Hernandez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but van Bommel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
You can see the frustration on Hernandez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
van Bommel controlling the position from side mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hernandez throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
van Bommel working the ground and pound from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

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.
Hernandez manages to get back to half guard.
Hernandez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of van Bommel's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take van Bommel's back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Hernandez's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
van Bommel trying to get back to his feet but Hernandez is in full control for now.
Hernandez throwing sloppy strikes.
van Bommel has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Hernandez.
van Bommel is trying to stand back up.

Hernandez looking for the choke but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark van Bommel dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hernandez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. van Bommel manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hernandez tries a head kick but it misses.
Hernandez throws a nice inside leg kick.

van Bommel feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
van Bommel loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Hernandez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. van Bommel is aware though and is defending well.
van Bommel not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Bommel has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hernandez striking off his back but it's not causing van Bommel any problems.

Hernandez has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. van Bommel is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hernandez.
Hernandez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Hernandez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hernandez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
van Bommel controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from van Bommel.
Hernandez tries to get to full guard but van Bommel has control of the leg.
Hernandez is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
van Bommel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Hernandez is looking for a sweep. van Bommel is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Hernandez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hernandez tries to get to full guard but van Bommel has control of the leg.
van Bommel is trying to control the action in half guard but Hernandez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hernandez manages to get to full guard.
van Bommel trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.

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.
van Bommel postures up in Hernandez's guard and throws a big left but Hernandez blocks it.
van Bommel trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hernandez throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
van Bommel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
van Bommel seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hernandez working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark van Bommel dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

van Bommel slips under a jab from Hernandez.
Hernandez does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
van Bommel slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Hernandez throws a head kick but van Bommel moves out of range.
Hernandez moves away from the strike by van Bommel.
Hernandez doesn't manage to clinch there - van Bommel circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
van Bommel cracks Hernandez with a good jab.
Hernandez tries to land a leg kick but van Bommel saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Bommel dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
van Bommel misses the jab.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Hernandez, right into the meat.
van Bommel scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Hernandez doesn't seem bothered though.
Hernandez wants to slow van Bommel down by chopping away at his legs.
Hernandez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hernandez throws a predictable looking body shot
and van Bommel counters with a right hand to the body.
Hernandez closes the distance looking to clinch
and van Bommel cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from van Bommel misses its intended target.
van Bommel misses with a wild body shot.
van Bommel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hernandez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and van Bommel counters with a nice uppercut.
van Bommel swings for the body but Hernandez moves out of range.

van Bommel looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
van Bommel landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
van Bommel trying to control the action but Hernandez is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hernandez defending well though.
Hernandez is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute van Bommel jumps into side control!
Hernandez is being controlled here.
Hernandez manages to work his way to half guard, despite van Bommel's best efforts.
van Bommel performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Hernandez is looking to improve his position.
van Bommel is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mark van Bommel overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hernandez is pressing down on van Bommel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hernandez is on top in guard.
Hernandez advances to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernandez is pressing down on van Bommel's thigh, looking to free his foot. van Bommel is holding on for now.
van Bommel on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if van Bommel tries to get out of the position.

van Bommel kicks Hernandez off and gets back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark van Bommel clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A shot to the body from Hernandez misses

and van Bommel counters with a shoot takedown. Hernandez fights it but they end up in guard.
van Bommel wants to control from the top but Hernandez keeps moving.
Hernandez has momentary wrist control but van Bommel slips an elbow through the middle.

Hernandez has an active guard here but van Bommel has managed to pass into half guard.
van Bommel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hernandez has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. van Bommel is working away from the top position though.

Hernandez looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to improve his position.
van Bommel controlling the pace.
van Bommel is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Hernandez is looking to get to half guard.
van Bommel scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel with good strikes from the mount here!
van Bommel looking to control but Hernandez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hernandez wants to control but van Bommel is having none of it.
van Bommel landing shots from mount.
Hernandez working to try and regain half guard.
van Bommel in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Hernandez is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
van Bommel controlling the position easily from mount.
van Bommel scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hernandez regains half guard.
van Bommel lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
van Bommel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
It looks like van Bommel is going to stand back up.
van Bommel not doing much here.
van Bommel is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Hernandez reverses the position - he's now on top in van Bommel's guard.
Hernandez won't allow van Bommel to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark van Bommel had his way with Albert Hernandez in that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Hernandez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but van Bommel moves away.
A solid body kick from Hernandez.
Hernandez scores with a nice body kick.
Hernandez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernandez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as van Bommel throws out the jab.
van Bommel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
van Bommel scores with a shot to the body.
Hernandez throws a head kick that misses
and van Bommel counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
van Bommel misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hernandez uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by van Bommel.
Hernandez moves in looking to clinch but van Bommel pushes him off.

van Bommel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Hernandez is looking for a triangle here but van Bommel uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Hernandez is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Still in half guard, van Bommel seems content to control.
Albert Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
van Bommel perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Hernandez is looking to get back to full guard here but van Bommel has managed to pass to side control instead.
Hernandez swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Hernandez really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
A nice elbow there by van Bommel.
van Bommel lands a heavy elbow.
Hernandez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Mark van Bommel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel controlling from mount.
Hernandez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hernandez is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
The referee warns Hernandez that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hernandez tries to reverse the position but van Bommel maintains control.
Hernandez is squirming around, avoiding van Bommel's attempts to control the action.
van Bommel prevents Hernandez from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Bommel controlling his opponent.
van Bommel lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hernandez sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
van Bommel seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
van Bommel sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Hernandez has a hand on van Bommel's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. van Bommel takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark van Bommel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well van Bommel has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 50:45
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 50:45
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark van Bommel!
Mark van Bommel retains his welterweight title!