PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hector Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Opal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernandez comes to the cage accompanied by What's the Difference. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hernandez
vs
Opal

165 cm
20
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

156 cm
29
135 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS - AJFC ↑ DOUBLE 160Q *

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Hector Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Opal!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Phil Schofield and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Opal scores with a takedown into Hernandez's guard.
Hernandez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Hernandez working for a triangle but Opal defends it easily.

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

Opal decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hernandez, up you get!
Hernandez checks a leg kick.

Opal gets a takedown into half guard.
Opal works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opal lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hernandez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Opal working for a guillotine from mount but Hernandez is in no mood to give up.

Opal is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hernandez is surviving well by controlling Opal's body position as best he can.
Hernandez tries to reverse the position but Opal maintains control.
Opal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hernandez is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Opal has control of Hernandez's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hernandez regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Opal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Opal trying to control but Hernandez is having none of it.
Opal landing shots from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opal landing strikes from the mount and Hernandez is in trouble!
Hernandez tries to lock up and control but Opal gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hernandez can't escape the position.
Opal lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Hernandez in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hernandez wants to control but Opal is having none of it.
Hernandez is trying desperately to improve position.
Opal lands a big elbow.
Opal looking to finish Hernandez with some ground and pound. This is bad for Hernandez!
Hernandez tries to reverse the position but Opal maintains control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Opal landing strikes, looking to finish!

Hernandez is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Opal punishing his opponent with strikes.
Oh Hernandez is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Opal working for a submission but Hernandez is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernandez working to try and regain half guard.
Opal trying to control but Hernandez is having none of it.
Hernandez seems to have got his legs back now.
Hernandez is looking to get to half guard.
Opal connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Opal controlling the position easily from mount.
Hernandez wants to control but Opal is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Opal dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Hernandez throws a nice inside leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Opal looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Opal shoots in and bounces Hernandez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hernandez trying to control the position.
Opal pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hernandez is keeping the position for now.

Opal stands up from Hernandez's guard - Opal perhaps looking for a knockout.

Opal shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Hernandez manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hernandez wants to hit a switch here but Opal passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Hernandez there!

Opal wants to finish this one by submission but Hernandez is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Opal.
Hernandez is looking to get to half guard.
Hernandez reaches up to try and control the position but Opal seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Hernandez rolls and tries to escape and now Opal has his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to roll but Opal sticks to his back.
Opal struggling to keep hold of the position.
Opal misses with a punch to the head.
Hernandez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Opal just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Will Opal go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Hernandez turns into Opal and is now in his guard.
Hernandez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Opal swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Opal has his foot on Hernandez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hernandez works his way back into a safe position though.
Hernandez stands and throws Opal's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Opal tries to bench press Hernandez off him but Hernandez keeps the position.

Hernandez stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Opal walks into a left hand.
Hector Hernandez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A slapping body kick lands there for Hernandez.

Hernandez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hernandez looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Opal has picked Hernandez up and slammed him! Hernandez can't keep hold of the triangle and Opal manages to pass to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hernandez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Opal wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Opal throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Hernandez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Opal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Opal asserts his dominance and retains side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hernandez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hernandez is trying to get back to full guard.

Opal is looking for a kimura here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Opal decides to stand and escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Opal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Hernandez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Hernandez connects with a solid leg kick.
Hernandez lands a body shot.
Hernandez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Opal moves out of range of the body kick from Hernandez.
Hernandez lands a nice hook to Opal's body. Opal takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Opal clinches.
Hernandez can't find room to land a body shot as Opal controls the action.

Opal has picked Hernandez up - he's going for a ride! Opal dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Hernandez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Opal preventing the sweep.
Hernandez lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Opal!
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!
Opal is trying to get back to his feet but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Opal is desperately trying to improve his position but Hernandez has a good base and remains in mount.
Hernandez tries to control but Opal wriggling away.

Hernandez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Opal turns into him and now he's in Hernandez's guard.

Opal stands and steps away. Hernandez gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Hernandez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Denis Opal is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Opal takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hernandez fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Opal misses with a head kick.
Hernandez throws a good cross that connects.
Hernandez with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Opal on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hernandez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Opal has time to react.
Hernandez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Opal.
Opal 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.
Hernandez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Opal has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hernandez is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hernandez will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Opal crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Hernandez - the referee stops the clock and Opal gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Hernandez. Opal manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Hernandez throws a lazy head kick

and Opal counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Hernandez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Hernandez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Opal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Hector Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Opal stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Opal trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Opal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Denis Opal has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hernandez throws a quick inside leg kick.
A solid body kick from Hernandez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Opal takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Opal shoots in for a double leg but Hernandez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Opal scores a takedown into full mount!
Opal takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hernandez is desperately trying to improve his position but Opal has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Opal takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Denis Opal is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hernandez is squirming around, avoiding Opal's attempts to control the action.

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 Hector Hernandez.
I think Opal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Opal!