PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Raul Hernadez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeff McDaniel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McDaniel has chosen The Prodigy: Warrior's Dance as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hernadez
vs
McDaniel

164 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Raul Hernadez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jeff McDaniel!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Alexandre Firmino and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hernadez shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
McDaniel is trying to maintain the position but Hernadez is very close to passing his half guard.
McDaniel is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDaniel pushes Hernadez off but Hernadez dives into side control.
McDaniel tries to bench press Hernadez off him but Hernadez keeps the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hernadez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel taking some punishment here, with Hernadez in his half guard.

McDaniel pushes Hernadez off and gets back to his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hernadez.
Hernadez throws a chopping leg kick but McDaniel manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Hernadez tries to clinch up but McDaniel circles away and keeps his distance.
McDaniel circles away from the clinch attempt.
McDaniel feints and then cracks Hernadez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Hernadez down.

McDaniel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hernadez's guard.
McDaniel must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

McDaniel stands and steps away. Hernadez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
McDaniel looks gassed!
Hernadez cracks the inside of McDaniel's front leg.
Hernadez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McDaniel counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Hernadez!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McDaniel is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Hernadez has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Hernadez!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
McDaniel keeping moving, preventing Hernadez from controlling successfully.
McDaniel is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McDaniel throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

McDaniel looking for a guillotine here but Hernadez defends easily.
McDaniel working a defensive guard here.

McDaniel manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McDaniel drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hernadez can't keep his opponent in guard - McDaniel advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

McDaniel is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hernadez defends it well.
McDaniel is thwarting Hernadez's attempts to control the position.
Hernadez regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from McDaniel.
Hernadez trying to control the position.
McDaniel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McDaniel tries to free his leg and advance position but Hernadez is retaining full guard.
McDaniel stopping the sweep attempt from Hernadez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel wants to control from the top but Hernadez keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Hernadez misses with the combination.
McDaniel throws a front kick aimed at Hernadez's knee but Hernadez avoids it well.

McDaniel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McDaniel prevents Hernadez from getting back to his feet.
McDaniel wants to pass the guard but Hernadez is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDaniel trying to control but Hernadez is working from the bottom.

McDaniel stands up and waves to Hernadez to follow him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff McDaniel dominated 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.

McDaniel pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernadez tries for a takedown but McDaniel circles away easily

so McDaniel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hernadez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McDaniel is looking to stand up but Hernadez won't let him.

McDaniel drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Hernadez manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now McDaniel has Hernadez in his guard.

McDaniel kicks Hernadez off and gets to his feet.
Hernadez tries to clinch up

and McDaniel counters with a single leg into guard. Hernadez didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDaniel drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Hernadez dives on top into guard.
McDaniel is breathing heavily.

McDaniel throws his legs up looking for a submission but Hernadez uses it to pass to side control.
McDaniel tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hernadez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hernadez landing strikes.
Hernadez is looking to take a break and control but McDaniel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDaniel is trying to improve his position.

That's two 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.
McDaniel sneaks back into half guard.
Hernadez wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDaniel keeps working.
Hernadez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hernadez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Hernadez ducks right into an uppercut from McDaniel.
McDaniel has his takedown stuffed

and Hernadez decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McDaniel's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDaniel looking to control.
McDaniel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

McDaniel looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Hernadez postures up in McDaniel's guard and throws a big left but McDaniel blocks it.
Jeff McDaniel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hernadez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
McDaniel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hernadez is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hernadez throws a solid leg kick but McDaniel takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hernadez.

McDaniel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
McDaniel looking to pass the guard.
Hernadez keeping moving, preventing McDaniel from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McDaniel drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McDaniel jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
McDaniel slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
McDaniel wants to control but Hernadez is keeping him busy.
McDaniel tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
McDaniel laying and praying for a moment but Hernadez takes advantage and regains half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hernadez works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeff McDaniel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hernadez misses with a low kick.
McDaniel moves out of range of the body kick from Hernadez.
Raul Hernadez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDaniel stuns Hernadez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

McDaniel scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
McDaniel tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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

McDaniel wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Hernadez, who protects the arm well.
Hernadez is not content to let McDaniel control the position.
McDaniel prevents Hernadez from escaping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDaniel wants to control but Hernadez is keeping him busy.
McDaniel looks up at the clock and then as Hernadez takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, McDaniel smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

McDaniel has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

McDaniel looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hernadez wants to sweep but no luck.
Hernadez pulls McDaniel in to control the position.
McDaniel throws a strike but Hernadez rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McDaniel looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hernadez passes into half guard.
Hernadez passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
McDaniel is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hernadez's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The fighters are battling for position here. McDaniel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

McDaniel looking for a guillotine here but Hernadez defends easily.
McDaniel wants to sweep here but Hernadez controlling him for the moment.

Hernadez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Hernadez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernadez tries to clinch up

and McDaniel decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hernadez's guard.
Hernadez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

McDaniel is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
McDaniel tries to free his leg and advance position but Hernadez is retaining full guard.
McDaniel passes into half guard.

McDaniel is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Hernadez still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Hernadez has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
McDaniel is trying to control Hernadez's posture but Hernadez avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDaniel is trying to get back to half guard.
McDaniel regains half guard.

McDaniel kicks off Hernadez and gets to his feet.
Hernadez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and McDaniel makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Raul Hernadez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McDaniel fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hernadez darts in trying to clinch

and McDaniel counters with a single leg into guard. Hernadez didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McDaniel throwing strikes but missing.
Raul Hernadez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
McDaniel works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeff McDaniel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well McDaniel 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 Seu Braga scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeff McDaniel!