PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Diego Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Herdy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rios might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Nas- Hate Me Now. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Rios
vs
Herdy

200 cm
31
168 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

176 cm
20
167 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diego Rios!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joao Herdy!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rios misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Herdy tries to clinch there but Rios circles away.

Herdy looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Herdy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herdy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Herdy trying to control from half guard but Rios is working away.
Rios tries to get to full guard but Herdy has control of the leg.
Herdy wants to pass to mount but Rios is defending the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herdy thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Herdy trying to control the action but Rios is working from the bottom.
Herdy sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Herdy seems to be looking for submissions.
Herdy not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herdy missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Herdy trying to mount his opponent but Rios defends it.
Herdy looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Herdy trying to pass the guard but Rios defending well.
Herdy wants to control but Rios is keeping him busy.
Herdy trying to pass the guard but Rios defending well.
Herdy passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herdy decides to stand up, so the ref orders Rios to his feet.
Herdy thows a left - swing and a miss!

Herdy looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rios!
Herdy content just to control the position here.
Herdy throwing strikes here but Rios is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Herdy there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Herdy throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Herdy throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Herdy punching from mount but Rios doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Rios really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Herdy is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Rios to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Rios shrugs it off.
Herdy working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Rios slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
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!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rios is refusing to be controlled, as Herdy sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Herdy dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Herdy rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rios connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Herdy misses the jab.
Rios throws a right hand that Herdy ducks under and follows up with a left that Herdy also avoids with ease.
Herdy fails to land with a series of punches.
Rios misses with a few strikes there.

Herdy gets a takedown into half guard.
Herdy wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rios keeps working.
Herdy tries to pass to full mount but Rios defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios is looking to escape.
Rios knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Herdy on the ground.
Herdy trying to pass the guard but Rios defending well.
Herdy throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Rios to regain full guard.
Herdy passes Rios's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Herdy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Herdy trying to control the action but Rios is working from the bottom.

Herdy seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herdy is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Rios is trying desperately to improve position.
Herdy throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Herdy takes Rios's back.

Herdy is looking for the choke from the back position but Rios is controlling his hands well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herdy struggling to land strikes to the head as Rios covers up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rios looking very determined here, making life difficult for Herdy.
Rios avoids the strikes from Herdy.

Herdy tightening his grip on Rios, looking for the choke.

Herdy is looking for the choke from the back position but Rios is controlling his hands well.

Herdy looking for the RNC.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rios is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Herdy gets his way!
Herdy lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Rios.
Herdy trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Herdy looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joao Herdy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Rios fails to land with a series of punches.
Rios misses with a few strikes there.
Herdy misses with a right hand
and Rios counters with a straight right hand.
Herdy tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rios paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Herdy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rios checks a leg kick.
Herdy fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rios throws a nice looking combination but Herdy bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rios throws a series of punches but Herdy moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herdy fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rios avoids it really well and circles away.
Rios throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Herdy manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rios on his heels. He'll look to pass Rios's guard now, I'm sure.
Herdy sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Rios's guard.
Herdy has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Herdy throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rios because Herdy loaded up on that one.
Joao Herdy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herdy can't control as he wanted to and Rios manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Herdy trying to pass the guard but Rios defending well.
Herdy perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Herdy is pressing down on Rios's thigh, looking to free his foot. Rios is holding on for now.
Herdy throwing shots but Rios is blocking nicely.

Rios is defending against the submission attempts here by Herdy.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herdy throwing shots but Rios is blocking nicely.
Herdy has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herdy working the head and body with strikes.
Rios is staying active underneath Herdy, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Rios is looking for a sweep. Herdy is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Herdy throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Herdy is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Herdy throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herdy seems to be working for a kimura but Rios defends the submission attempt.
Herdy passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Rios!
Herdy wants to control the pace but Rios is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joao Herdy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Herdy winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... 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.