PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Label (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vanlal Hneknaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Label
vs
Hneknaa

188 cm
24
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
186 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, John Label!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vanlal Hneknaa!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Steven Brown and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hneknaa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hneknaa shoots in but Label avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Hneknaa scores a takedown into full mount!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Hneknaa moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Label has worked his arm free - good work by Label!

Label explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Label lands a nice shot that snaps Hneknaa's head back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Label blocks a head kick by Hneknaa.
Label takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Label wants to clinch.
Label doesn't manage to clinch there - Hneknaa circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Label tries to clinch up.
Hneknaa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Label finds it's way round the side to connect with Hneknaa's head.
John Label is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hneknaa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Label as he avoids it easily.
Hneknaa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
John Label has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vanlal Hneknaa.
Hneknaa looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Hneknaa is rocked!
Label moves in looking to clinch but Hneknaa pushes him off.
Hneknaa is still on wobbly legs! Can Label finish him?

Label instigates a clinch.
Hneknaa seems to have recovered his senses.
Label looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Label throws an elbow but misses.
Nice elbow from Label.
Label lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hneknaa tries to pull guard but Label won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike.
Label creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Label creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Hneknaa's defenses.

Hneknaa wants the takedown. Label is fighting it off but Hneknaa persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Label's guard against the cage.
Hneknaa looks gassed!
Hneknaa stops Label from standing up.
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.
Hneknaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Label is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Label uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Label tries to close the distance and clinch but Hneknaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hneknaa looks to land a right hand but Label moved out of range.

Label moves into the clinch successfully.
Hneknaa drops down looking for an ankle pick but Label pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Hneknaa.
Label fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Label moves out of range as Hneknaa throws a body kick.
Label misses with a head kick.
John Label seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Label wants to clinch up but Hneknaa keeps it at a distance.

Hneknaa closes the distance and clinches.
Hneknaa avoids the elbow strike from Label, against the cage.
Label pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Hneknaa takes an elbow to the temple.
Hneknaa blocks the elbow strike.
Label looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hneknaa dodges an elbow strike from Label.
Label throws an elbow but it misses.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike.
Hneknaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Label throws an elbow that misses.
Label pushes off an throws an elbow but Hneknaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Label throws an elbow but misses.
Label throws an elbow that misses.
Label takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Label looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Hneknaa is looking to break free of the clinch but Label has double underhooks.
Hneknaa tries to pull guard but Label won't allow it.
A head punch on the inside from Hneknaa fails to land.
Label throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Label pushes off an throws an elbow but Hneknaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Label lands a nice elbow.
Label throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike.
Label throws an elbow but it misses.
Label lands an elbow inside that Hneknaa shrugs off.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike.
Label throws an elbow that misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hneknaa avoids a wild elbow strike from Label.
Label lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hneknaa avoids a wild elbow strike from Label.
Hneknaa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Label pulls him back up using the underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Label dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Label uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Hneknaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Label fails in his attempt to clinch.
Label tries a head kick but it misses.
John Label is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The fight stays on the outside here - Label looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Label tries to clinch up.
Label misses with a body shot.

Hneknaa moves into the clinch successfully.
Hneknaa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Label gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hneknaa is trying to force a seperation but Label has the dominant position.
Hneknaa tries to break the clinch but Label is controlling the position.
Hneknaa blocks the elbow strike.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike from Label.
Label avoiding damage as Hneknaa throws knees to the body.
Hneknaa blocks the elbow strike.
Hneknaa trying to control the position but instead, Label has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hneknaa into the cage.
Label stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hneknaa blocks the elbow strike.

Hneknaa turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Hneknaa manages to end up in side control.
Label dodges the ground and pound from Hneknaa.

Hneknaa goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Label has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Hneknaa but great work by Label.

Label stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Label tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hneknaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Label tries to clinch but Hneknaa moves out of range.
Label misses with a jab to the body
and Hneknaa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hneknaa throws a leg kick but Label sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Label is looking to clinch.
Label just misses with a punch to the body.
Hneknaa blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hneknaa closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Label to the mat! Label manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hneknaa trying to control the position from guard on top but Label is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Label manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Hneknaa blocks a head kick by Label.
John Label is winning the standup battle so far.

Label clinches with his opponent.
Label gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Label looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hneknaa has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Label clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Hneknaa working for the choke.

Hneknaa working for a choke but Label reverses nicely into Hneknaa 's guard.

Label decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Label stuffs the takedown attempt from Hneknaa. Hneknaa gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Label gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Label misses with an elbow over the top.
Hneknaa can't get the takedown.
John Label has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vanlal Hneknaa.
Label comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Hneknaa is trying to pull guard but Label has him pressed against the cage.

Hneknaa drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Label decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Label gets in close and instigates a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Label looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Label lands a nice elbow.
Label throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that John Label will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Label wants to clinch.
Label tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hneknaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Label fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hneknaa, pushing him back against the cage.
Label gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Label throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hneknaa scores with a shot to the side of Label's head.
Label misses with an elbow strike.
Hneknaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Label smiles and moves away.
Hneknaa jabs Label to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Label connects with a jab.
Hneknaa tries to clinch but Label moves out of range.

Hneknaa closes the distance and clinches.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Label just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hneknaa's brow.
Hneknaa jumps guard but Label stands there with Hneknaa around his waist. Hneknaa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hneknaa misses with some punches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Label throws an elbow but misses.
Hneknaa blocks the elbow strike.
Label prevents the takedown attempt.
John Label has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vanlal Hneknaa.
A frustrated look appears on Hneknaa's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hneknaa is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Hneknaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Label looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Label just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hneknaa's brow.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike.
Label pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Label throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hneknaa throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Label misses with a knee strike.
Hneknaa blocks an elbow strike from Label.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hneknaa dodges an elbow strike from Label.
Hneknaa dodges an elbow strike from Label.
John Label has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Label pushes off an throws an elbow but Hneknaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Label breaks the clinch.
Label tries to close the distance and clinch but Hneknaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A punch combination from Hneknaa misses.
Hneknaa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Label swivels and escapes.
A punch combination from Label misses.
Hneknaa takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Label throws a series of punches but Hneknaa moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Label looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Label tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hneknaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hneknaa throws a series of strikes that have Label backpedaling.
Hneknaa lands a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Label looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hneknaa looks to land a combination. Label sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like John Label has been cut.
Hneknaa goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hneknaa moves out of range of the body kick from Label.
Hneknaa tries to clinch there but Label circles away.

Hneknaa throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Label tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hneknaa is in Label's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hneknaa wants to control from the top but Label keeps moving.
Label wants to stand and escape but Hneknaa is having none of it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Label keeping moving, preventing Hneknaa from controlling successfully.
Hneknaa must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vanlal Hneknaa.
Hneknaa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Label tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hneknaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Label throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Label lands a head kick. Hneknaa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Hneknaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Label swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Label tries to sprawl but Hneknaa drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Hneknaa wants to stand up but Label manages to regain full guard.
Vanlal Hneknaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hneknaa throwing strikes but missing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vanlal Hneknaa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Label has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... John Label!