PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave Herman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Mitrione (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dave Herman has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Herman
vs
Mitrione

196 cm
22
248 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

193 cm
25
255 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

GR Design - Elegance and Comfort (Made in Italy)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Herman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Mitrione!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Columbo Gatti and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herman scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mitrione doesn't seem bothered though.
Mitrione looks gassed!
Herman closes the distance and clinches up with Mitrione, looking for a takedown. Herman pushes Mitrione against the cage but Mitrione circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Herman. Those never looked like landing.
Herman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Herman shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Mitrione as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Herman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Herman throws a low kick but Mitrione moves out of range easily.
Herman tries to clinch but Mitrione moves out of range.
Mitrione gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Herman.

Herman scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Herman thows a huge punch but Mitrione dodges it nicely.
Herman wants to control but Mitrione is keeping him busy.
Herman moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herman moves into full mount!
Herman controlling his opponent.
Mitrione should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mitrione is trying to stand but he's just given Herman his back.

Mitrione defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Herman's arms.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitrione is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Herman.
Mitrione is taking damage to the body and head.
Herman missing with punches from the back.
Mitrione prevents Herman from getting a body triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herman has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Herman lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Will Herman go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Mitrione is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Herman is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mitrione looking very determined here, making life difficult for Herman.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mitrione has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Herman.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Herman dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Herman has Mitrione up against the cage in a clinch.

Herman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Herman closes the distance looking to clinch
and Mitrione counters with a three punch combo that has Herman backing up. Herman nods at Mitrione to acknowledge the strikes.
Herman shoots for a takedown but Mitrione saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mitrione stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mitrione wants it to stay on the feet.
Herman shoots in but Mitrione avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Herman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herman doesn't manage to clinch there - Mitrione circles away.
Mitrione misses with a two punch combination.
Mitrione slaps away a takedown attempt from Herman, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mitrione is breathing heavily.

Herman gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herman manages to break the clinch.
Herman shoots in but Mitrione avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Herman tries to clinch but Mitrione moves out of range.
Dave Herman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herman uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mitrione has time to react.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Herman.
Herman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Mitrione but Mitrione pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Herman takes the fight into the clinch.
Herman will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mitrione up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Herman.
Herman slows down the pace here.

Herman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dave Herman is winning the standup battle so far.
Herman avoids a kick to the body.

A jab-cross combination lands for Herman and sends Mitrione crashing to the mat! Herman follows him down to the mat - Mitrione regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Mitrione is rocked!

It looks like Matt Mitrione has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Herman in particular looking to stall.
Mitrione is still in real trouble! Can Herman finish him?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitrione is staying active underneath Herman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Herman moves nicely into side control.
Mitrione seems to have recovered his senses.

Herman tries for a kimura but Mitrione is defending well.
Mitrione is not content to let Herman control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herman tries to advance to mount but Mitrione denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Herman dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Mitrione's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Herman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Mitrione sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Herman somewhat.

Herman clinches up with Mitrione and pushes him back against the cage.
Herman manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Mitrione has clasped his hands together around Herman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Herman is trying to control Mitrione's posture but Mitrione avoids it.
Herman keeping his opponent close.
Mitrione takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitrione tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Herman manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Herman content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Herman passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herman looking to control but Mitrione is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dave Herman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Herman is really struggling to control Mitrione but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Herman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Herman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Mitrione is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Mitrione is squirming around, avoiding Herman's attempts to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dave Herman.
Herman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mitrione circles away.
Herman tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mitrione swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Herman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mitrione can do to turn this around?

Herman has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herman misses with an elbow strike.
Herman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Mitrione's defenses.
Herman just leaning against Mitrione, taking a breather.

Herman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mitrione stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Herman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herman moves out of range of the body kick from Mitrione.

Herman closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Mitrione to the mat! Mitrione manages to get full guard.
Herman wants to control from the top but Mitrione keeps moving.
Dave Herman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mitrione keeping full guard, as Herman tries to pass.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Herman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Herman 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:26
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:26
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Herman!
An out of breath and clearly excited Dave Herman thanked GR Design - Elegance and Comfort (Made in Italy) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).