PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Larry Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jon Drexler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larry Hernandez had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Jon Drexler was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hernandez
vs
Drexler

179 cm
20
168 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
162 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Good gas tank

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 Las Vegas, Larry Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jon Drexler!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez lands a right hook to the body.
Drexler ducks under a wild hook from Hernandez.
Hernandez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hernandez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drexler was well out of range. Poor timing from Hernandez.
Hernandez misses with a double jab.

Drexler clinches with his opponent.
Drexler slows down the pace here.

Drexler gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Drexler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hernandez is looking to control Drexler's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hernandez avoid being mounted?
Drexler content to control rather than advance.

Drexler is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drexler trying to pass the guard but Hernandez defending well.
Drexler not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Drexler is keen to just control but Hernandez is a slippery customer.
Drexler takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Drexler wants to take a breather but Hernandez is having none of it.
Drexler trying to mount his opponent but Hernandez defends it.
Drexler not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Drexler is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hernandez is just riding it out for now. Drexler eventually gives up the hold.
Hernandez is trying to control but can't.
Drexler drops an elbow to the side of Hernandez's head.

Drexler is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hernandez defends it well.
Hernandez trying to control but Drexler postures up.
Hernandez tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Drexler has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drexler in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Drexler controlling the position easily from mount.
Drexler is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hernandez can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hernandez wants to control but Drexler is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drexler lands a nice shot to the head.
Drexler tries to control but Hernandez wriggling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Drexler controlling from the full mount.
Hernandez wants to control but Drexler is having none of it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Drexler looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Drexler dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hernandez works Drexler's body with a nice hook.
Hernandez looks to score with a jab to the body but Drexler is just out of range.
Larry Hernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hernandez with a hook.
Drexler slips a jab from Hernandez.
Drexler lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Hernandez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Drexler shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Drexler is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Drexler wants to pass the guard but Hernandez is keeping the position.

Drexler postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hernandez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Drexler, into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drexler is trying to control the position but Hernandez postures up.
Hernandez being controlled here momentarily.

Drexler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hernandez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hernandez is looking to stand up but Drexler won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Drexler pulls Hernandez in close to prevent any damage.

Drexler had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hernandez defends it easily.
Hernandez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Drexler's guard.
Drexler looking for a sweep. Not yet Drexler, not yet.
Hernandez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Drexler is on top in guard.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Drexler from controlling successfully.
Drexler pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hernandez is keeping the position for now.
Drexler pushes down on Hernandez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Well, if Drexler is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hernandez wants to control but Drexler is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Jon Drexler has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drexler performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Drexler trying to control the action but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Hernandez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Drexler scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drexler trying to mount his opponent but Hernandez defends it.
Still in half guard, Drexler seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jon Drexler showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Hernandez misses with a body shot.
Drexler takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hernandez lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Drexler uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hernandez.
Hernandez gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hernandez lands a jab to Drexler's midsection.
Hernandez swings away with a body shot that misses
and Drexler counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hernandez thinking.
Hernandez throws a body punch but Drexler moves out of range.
Hernandez misses with a hook.
Sloppy strikes from Hernandez. Those never looked like landing.
A big right from Hernandez misses.
Hernandez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Drexler.
Drexler tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hernandez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hernandez throws a lazy uppercut

and Drexler moves into the clinch.
Drexler landing knees to the body.
Drexler has Hernandez pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drexler continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.

Drexler turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Drexler manages to end up in side control.
A lull in the action here as Drexler stalls from top position.
Drexler misses with the ground and pound.
Drexler landing a few strikes.
Drexler creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Hernandez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Hernandez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Larry Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Drexler.
Drexler is putting a hurting on Hernandez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee asks Drexler politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Drexler prefers to stall for the moment though.
Drexler scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hernandez to see if he's OK.
Sloppy strikes there by Drexler.
Drexler is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hernandez's shoulder. That is not cool.
Drexler in side control lands a decent elbow.
Drexler gets to mount! Hernandez was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drexler lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Drexler putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

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

Drexler working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Drexler wants to control but Hernandez is keeping him busy.
Drexler is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Hernandez's shoulder. That is not cool.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Drexler is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hernandez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Drexler is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hernandez knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Drexler is staying tight to Hernandez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hernandez striking from the bottom but nothing landed.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jon Drexler comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Drexler 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jon Drexler!