PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Herald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Helio Margules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Herald
vs
Margules

190 cm
25
281 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

189 cm
29
248 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Justin Herald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Helio Margules!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Margules looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Herald is fending him off so far but Margules persists. Nope, Herald circles away and we're back to standing.
Herald misses with a double jab.
Herald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Margules moves away.
Herald keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

It looks like Helio Margules has been cut.
Margules shoots for a double leg takedown but Herald sprawls well. He's pushed Margules's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herald throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A swing and a miss from Herald.
Margules shoots in but Herald avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Justin Herald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Margules.
Some wild striking there from Herald.
Herald misses with a looping right.
Herald misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Herald thows a left - swing and a miss!
Herald throws a series of punches but Margules moves out of range.
Herald misses with a right hand

and Margules counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Margules is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Margules wants to pass the guard but Herald is defending well.
Herald is looking for a sweep. Margules is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Margules 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.
Herald is pressing down on Margules's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Margules trying to control the position from guard on top but Herald is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Margules passes Herald's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Margules wants to lay and pray for a moment but Herald keeps working.
Herald trying to control but Margules postures up.
Margules tries to pass the half guard into mount. Herald knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herald is refusing to be controlled, as Margules sits in half guard.
Margules is looking to advance position but Herald won't allow it.
Herald works his way to full guard. Good work.
Herald has control of Margules's left arm, preventing Margules from doing any damage.
Margules tries to free his leg and advance position but Herald is retaining full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Margules fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Margules needs to keep his hands up - Herald had a free shot at his head there.
Herald throws a head kick that misses.
Herald misses the body punch
and Margules counters with a stiff right hand.
Herald punishes Margules's body with a nice straight punch.
Nice body punch from Herald.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Herald misses the jab.
Herald slaps away a takedown attempt from Margules, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herald misses with a looping right.
Margules steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Herald.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Herald dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Helio Margules's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Margules uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Herald.
Justin Herald is winning the standup battle so far.
Margules defending well as Herald loads up on a big left hand.
No joy there for Herald, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Margules walks into a left hand.
Herald listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Herald misses with a body kick.
Margules shoots for a takedown but Herald saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Herald misses with a head kick.
Herald misses with a wild body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Herald as Margules shoots in.
Herald throws out a leg kick but Margules moves out of range and Herald only half commits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herald misses with a hook

and Margules decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Herald's guard.
Herald manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Margules manages to get himself to full guard.
Herald trying to control but Margules is working from the bottom.
Herald trying to stand up but can't free himself from Margules's guard.
Herald wants to control from the top but Margules keeps moving.

Margules escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Herald gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herald trying to control the position from guard on top but Margules is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Justin Herald has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Herald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Margules moves away.
Herald throws a low kick but Margules moves out of range easily.
Herald throws a sloppy body shot
and Margules counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herald fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Margules looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Margules takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Herald lands with a hook. Margules tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Herald scores with a nice strike.
Herald throws an overhand right that lands on Margules's shoulder, as Margules tries to avoid the shot.
Herald moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herald throws a push kick but Margules slaps the foot to one side.
Herald lands a nice looking body kick.
Margules is breathing heavily.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Herald.
Margules blocks a head kick by Herald.
Margules looks for a takedown but Herald sprawls well.
Justin Herald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Margules.
Herald throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Herald scores with a jab to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Margules uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Herald.
Margules shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Herald.
Herald looks to land a combination but Margules avoids it well.
Herald throws a head kick but Margules moves out of range.
Herald connects with a high kick.

That has opened up Helio Margules's cut even more.
Margules misses with a takedown attempt - Herald sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herald throws a right hand that misses

and Margules counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Herald!
Herald gets back to half guard.
Herald is looking to control Margules's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Herald avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herald is looking to improve his position.
Herald desperately trying to maintain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Herald dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Helio Margules's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Herald misses the shot to the body.
Herald looks to land a left hand but Margules moved out of range nicely.
Margules moves out of range as Herald throws a body kick.
Herald displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Margules.
Herald chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Herald throws a hook but Margules avoids it easily.
Margules looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Herald throws an off balance right hand
and Margules counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Margules shoots in for a double leg but Herald sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Justin Herald has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Helio Margules.
Margules blocks a head kick by Herald.
Margules throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Herald misses with a looping left.
Margules moves out of range of the leg kick from Herald.
Margules moves out of range of the strikes.
Herald swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Herald lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Herald leaves Margules with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Herald throws an off balance right hand

so Margules counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Helio Margules has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Herald holds on and takes a little breather.
Herald is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Margules can do to turn this around?
Margules wants to pass the guard but Herald is keeping the position.
Margules wants to control from the top but Herald keeps moving.
Margules wants to pass the guard but Herald is keeping the position.
Margules is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Margules is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Margules on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herald throws a jab but it's blocked by Margules.
Margules throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Herald stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Nice sprawl there from Herald as Margules shoots in.
Margules takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Herald lands with an overhand left.
Herald throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Herald thows a body shot but no joy.
A combination from Herald does no damage.
Herald scores with a hook to the body. Margules takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Margules takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Herald misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Herald.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herald scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Herald lands a lovely overhand right.
Herald scores with a hook to the body. Margules takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Crunch! Herald slams his shin into Margules's torso.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Herald, right into the meat.
Herald dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herald lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Herald connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Margules's hands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Herald showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Herald, 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Justin Herald!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Justin Herald!
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight for Justin Herald!

Justin Herald wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Justin Herald started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.