PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joao Herdy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keaton Bullard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keaton Bullard told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Herdy
vs
Bullard

176 cm
19
167 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

185 cm
24
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Herdy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keaton Bullard!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herdy tries for a takedown but Bullard sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Herdy dodges the punch combination from Bullard.

Bullard clinches.
Bullard holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Herdy is trying to pull guard but Bullard has him pressed against the cage.
Bullard softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Herdy pulls guard effortlessly.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bullard wants to pass the guard but Herdy is keeping the position.
Bullard preventing the sweep.
Bullard postures up.
Bullard looking to pass the guard.
Herdy controls Bullard momentarily but Bullard frees himself.
Bullard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Herdy. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Herdy looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herdy working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bullard.
Herdy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Herdy controls Bullard momentarily but Bullard frees himself.
Herdy is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Herdy looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Herdy is looking for a kimura but Bullard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Herdy to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herdy wants to free his trapped foot but Bullard is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Herdy not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herdy is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bullard is trying to maintain the position but Herdy is very close to passing his half guard.
Herdy trying to mount his opponent but Bullard defends it.
Herdy thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bullard's head.

Herdy seems to be working for a kimura but Bullard defends the submission attempt.
Herdy prevents Bullard from improving his position.
Herdy is pressing down on Bullard's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bullard is holding on for now.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Herdy is looking to take a break and control but Bullard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bullard is in trouble now - Herdy has advanced to mount!
Herdy with a couple of short strikes.
Herdy tries to control but Bullard wriggling away.

Herdy swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bullard is now in Herdy's guard. A big mistake from Herdy there, giving up the dominant position!
Bullard trying to control but Herdy is working from the bottom.
Herdy wants to sweep but no luck.
Herdy is trying to control the position but Bullard postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herdy tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Herdy is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Herdy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bullard manages to get himself to full guard.
Herdy trying to control but Bullard is working from the bottom.

Herdy drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bullard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bullard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bullard!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herdy is not content to let Bullard control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bullard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Herdy has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A head kick misses from Bullard.
Herdy misses with a looping right.
Herdy shoots for a double leg takedown but Bullard sprawls well. He's pushed Herdy's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Herdy scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Herdy is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bullard has managed to free his arm - good work.
Herdy seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Joao Herdy overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Herdy is looking to advance position but Bullard won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herdy passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bullard!
Herdy looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bullard is bucking up trying to escape but Herdy cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bullard is looking to improve his position but Herdy isn't that keen on the idea.
Herdy connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herdy lands a nice shot to the head.
Herdy looking to control but Bullard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Herdy sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Herdy lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bullard takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Herdy wants to control the pace but Bullard is squirming around nicely.
Bullard is looking to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herdy throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Herdy avoids the attempt from Bullard to control.
Bullard is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Herdy is staying active.
BOOM! Herdy connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Herdy in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Herdy with good strikes from the mount here!

Bullard is rocked!
Herdy connects with a bit shot that sees Bullard covering up! More strikes from Herdy and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Herdy is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joao Herdy!
Joao Herdy seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.