PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sean Herring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Lithgow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herring
vs
Lithgow

198 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sean Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Lithgow!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lithgow keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Herring fails to land the takedown.
Herring shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lithgow pinned against the cage. Lithgow gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Herring shoots for a takedown but Lithgow saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Herring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herring shoots in looking for a takedown. Lithgow tries to sprawl out of it but Herring keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lithgow manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lithgow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lithgow misses with the combination.
Herring doesn't manage to clinch there - Lithgow circles away.
Lithgow misses with a few strikes there.
Herring fails with an attempt to clinch.
Herring is looking to clinch.
Herring looks for a takedown but Lithgow sprawls well.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Herring 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 Lithgow has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Lithgow and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Herring throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combo that has Herring backing up. Herring nods at Lithgow to acknowledge the strikes.
Herring tries for a takedown but Lithgow circles away easily
and Lithgow counters with a left and a right that stings Herring.
Herring doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
Herring is breathing heavily.
Lithgow looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Herring misses with a takedown attempt
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
Herring shoots and misses
and Lithgow counters with a two punch combo.
A nice combination there by Lithgow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lithgow swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Herring counters with a single leg into guard. Lithgow didn't expect that.
Herring won't allow Lithgow to get back to his feet.
Herring not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Herring stops Lithgow from standing up.
Herring will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herring pushing down on Lithgow's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Herring looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Herring performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
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 Sean Herring will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lithgow circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lithgow counters with a left and a right that stings Herring.
Herring misses with a leg kick
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
A head kick by Herring misses
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lithgow circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring throws a sloppy head kick and Lithgow moves out of range easily.
Herring gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lithgow counters with a left and a right that stings Herring.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring closes the distance looking to clinch
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lithgow throws a right and a left that Herring avoids nicely.
Herring throws a left and a right that both miss
and Lithgow counters with a one-two to the body.
Herring tries for a takedown but Lithgow circles away easily
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
Lithgow scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Sean Herring is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herring throws a lazy head kick
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lithgow throws a combination that misses

and Herring counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Herring.
Lithgow keeping full guard, as Herring tries to pass.
Herring wants to control from the top but Lithgow keeps moving.
Herring really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lithgow wants to get back to his feet but Herring is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Herring trying to control the position from guard on top but Lithgow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lithgow wants to get back to his feet but Herring is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lithgow keeping moving, preventing Herring from controlling successfully.

Lithgow uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Herring tries to clinch but Lithgow moves away
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combo that has Herring backing up. Herring nods at Lithgow to acknowledge the strikes.
Herring shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Herring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Some wild striking there from Lithgow.
Herring misses with a takedown attempt
and Lithgow counters with a one-two to the body.
Herring tries for a takedown but Lithgow circles away easily
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combo that has Herring backing up. Herring nods at Lithgow to acknowledge the strikes.

Herring drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sean Herring will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Herring fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Herring with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Herring tries for a takedown but Lithgow circles away easily
and Lithgow counters with a two punch combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Herring. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lithgow fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Herring looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Herring doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lithgow counters with a one-two to the body.
Lithgow is working the combinations to good effect here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring avoids a punch combination nicely.
Herring misses with a takedown attempt
and Lithgow counters with a two punch combo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Herring throws a predictable looking body shot
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combo that has Herring backing up. Herring nods at Lithgow to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lithgow throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Herring avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lithgow misses with a two punch combination.
Herring slips a jab and a cross from Lithgow.
Herring with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lithgow counters with a one-two to the body.
Herring slips a jab and a cross from Lithgow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herring swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Herring clinches but Lithgow breaks the clinch
and Lithgow counters with a two punch combo.
Herring doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lithgow counters with a left and a right that stings Herring.
Herring shoots and misses
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.

Herring feints and as Lithgow raises his hands in defense, Herring changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Herring trying to control the position from guard on top but Lithgow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herring is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Lithgow is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring looking to pass the guard.
Herring trying to control the position from guard on top but Lithgow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Lithgow is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Herring breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herring misses with a takedown
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combo that has Herring backing up. Herring nods at Lithgow to acknowledge the strikes.
Herring doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lithgow counters with a series of strikes. Herring will be more careful next time no doubt.
Herring doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lithgow counters with a three punch combo that has Herring backing up. Herring nods at Lithgow to acknowledge the strikes.
Lithgow swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Herring counters with a shoot takedown. Lithgow fights it but they end up in guard.
Herring controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Michael Lithgow has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sean Herring.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Herring, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Herring!