PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrea Hermias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nando Rafael (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nando Rafael has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hermias
vs
Rafael

170 cm
28
159 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

170 cm
28
145 lbs
17 - 8 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andrea Hermias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Nando Rafael!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Jonathan Paton and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hermias checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rafael wants to clinch.
Rafael throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rafael dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Hermias. That did some damage!
Hermias closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rafael circles away.
Hermias rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rafael counters with a good, hard body kick but Hermias shrugs it off.
Rafael walks into a left hand.
Hermias slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rafael is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Hermias misses the target.
Hermias misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rafael.
Hermias works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Rafael tries to clinch but Hermias is having none of it.
Hermias moves out of range of the body kick.

Rafael gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rafael lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermias blocks a body shot from Rafael.
Hermias blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Rafael.
Rafael misses with a punch to the body.
Rafael misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rafael swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rafael tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Hermias controls his hands.
Rafael lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rafael is looking to control Hermias's arms but Hermias gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rafael has his back to the cage.
Rafael lands a hook that snaps the head of Hermias backwards.
Rafael misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rafael misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Hermias trying to stall but Rafael improves his position.
Rafael misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermias content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hermias blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Rafael misses with a punch to the body.
Hermias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Hermias controls his hands.
Rafael keeps control of Hermias as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Rafael lands a body punch in the clinch.
Rafael working aggressively here.
A short right from Rafael on the inside.
Rafael misses with the head strike.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Hermias lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Hermias controls his hands.
Hermias blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A right hook to the body lands for Rafael.
Rafael can't find room to land a body shot as Hermias controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Hermias backwards.
Hermias blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rafael stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hermias is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Rafael is keeping busy.
Hermias blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Hermias blocks an uppercut.
Rafael is working Hermias over against the cage.
Rafael is working Hermias over against the cage.
Hermias misses with some punches.
Rafael lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rafael is looking to control Hermias's arms but Hermias gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rafael has his back to the cage.
Hermias's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Hermias blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hermias working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rafael throws a punch but it's blocked by Hermias.
Rafael swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hermias prevents a body shot from Rafael.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hermias working aggressively here.
Rafael goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rafael misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hermias prevents a body shot from Rafael.
Rafael throws a head punch that misses.
Hermias leaning against his opponent.
Rafael taking a breather.
Rafael tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rafael is trying to maintain a safe position but Hermias gets an underhook and turns Rafael into the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermias lands a body punch.
Rafael has a couple of punches blocked by Hermias.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hermias.
Rafael stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nando Rafael dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Hermias keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hermias tries to score with a low kick but Rafael moves his leg out of the way.
Hermias takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hermias's corner calls for a 1-2. Hermias obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Rafael gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Rafael takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Rafael moves out of range as Hermias throws a body kick.
Hermias thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rafael bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A low kick from Hermias is predictable there
and Rafael counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hermias's knee momentarily.
Hermias with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hermias connects with a jab.
Hermias throws out a loose jab but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rafael wants to clinch but Hermias slips to the side
letting Hermias counter with a right hand.
Rafael ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hermias moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermias throws a leg kick
and Rafael counters with a straight right hand.
Hermias uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rafael.
A jab from Hermias misses.
Rafael takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hermias throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Hermias misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rafael.
Hermias moves out of range of the leg kick from Rafael.
Hermias scores with a jab to the head.
Rafael tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Hermias counter with a right hand.
Rafael fails to land with a series of punches.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rafael.
Rafael is looking to slow Hermias down with leg kicks.
Hermias keeps the fight on the outside.
Rafael takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hermias throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rafael throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rafael cracks the inside of Hermias's front leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hermias misses the shot to the body.
Hermias checks a low kick from Rafael.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rafael.
Hermias misses with a straight right.
Hermias throws out a loose jab but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hermias swings for the body but Rafael moves out of range.
Rafael misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rafael works Hermias's body with a nice hook.
Rafael ducks under a wild hook from Hermias.
Rafael connects with the punch.
Hermias connects with the punch.
Rafael slips a jab from Hermias.
Rafael misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rafael throws a wild body kick that Hermias sees coming a mile off.
Hermias shoots in looking for a takedown but Rafael manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hermias's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Rafael misses with a low kick as Hermias jumps back.
Hermias throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Andrea Hermias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hermias scores with a nice strike.
Hermias fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rafael manages to avoid it.
Rafael gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hermias.
Hermias misses with a looping left.
Rafael throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Hermias shoots in and bounces Rafael off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rafael preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermias controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rafael has momentary wrist control but Hermias slips an elbow through the middle.
Hermias postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hermias not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rafael has Hermias pulled in close to control his posture.
Hermias throws a big elbow that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermias slips nicely into half guard.
Hermias thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rafael's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrea Hermias dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rafael pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hermias fails with the takedown.
Hermias takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rafael slips under a jab from Hermias.
Rafael wants to clinch.
Hermias sizes up Rafael with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rafael thumps Hermias with a low kick.
Rafael takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rafael.
Hermias fails with a takedown attempt.
Hermias ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermias is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rafael sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrea Hermias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hermias misses with a hook. Rafael ducked under it nicely.
Nando Rafael is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rafael attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Rafael tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rafael misses with a head kick.
Hermias scores with a body shot.
Hermias lands a really nice looking cross but Rafael seems unphased.
Hermias is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Jab, jab by Hermias - just one landing.
Hermias fails to land with a series of punches.
Hermias throws out a loose jab but Rafael uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hermias connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rafael's hands.
Hermias circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hermias shoots in looking for a takedown. Rafael tries to sprawl out of it but Hermias keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rafael manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Rafael gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafael misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rafael lands with a short shot to the head.
Rafael misses with some punches.
Rafael tries a body shot but Hermias blocks it.
Rafael blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rafael gets through Hermias's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hermias's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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!
A body shot lands from Rafael.
Rafael can't find room to land a body shot as Hermias controls the action.
Rafael struggles to land a body shot inside as Hermias controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rafael.
Nando Rafael seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rafael misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Rafael.
Rafael tries a body shot but Hermias blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafael lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Rafael misses with a punch on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rafael as Hermias tries to tie him up.
Rafael misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rafael has a couple of punches blocked by Hermias.
Rafael tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hermias's elbow.
Rafael tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rafael can't find room to land a body shot as Hermias controls the action.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rafael as Hermias tries to tie him up.
Rafael lands with a left to the head.

Hermias has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rafael is trying to keep an underhook but Hermias manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Rafael is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermias trying to control the action but Rafael is working from the bottom.
Rafael wants to control but Hermias is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rafael blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hermias.
Hermias throwing shots but Rafael is blocking nicely.
Hermias missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
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!
Hermias throwing shots but Rafael is blocking nicely.
Hermias is thwarting Rafael's attempts to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermias is looking to stall here but Rafael recovers full guard.
Hermias working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nando Rafael comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rafael 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nando Rafael!
Nando Rafael thanked the fans post fight for their support.