PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Derrick Johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romeo Hernanes (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.

Johnson
vs
Hernanes

175 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Derrick Johnson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romeo Hernanes!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernanes tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hernanes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hernanes tries to clinch up.
Hernanes tries to clinch up.
Hernanes is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Danga de danga de dang - Hernanes scores with a four punch combination!
Johnson throws a front kick aimed at Hernanes's knee but Hernanes avoids it well.
Hernanes throws a one two combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Johnson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Nice body kick from Hernanes.

Hernanes cracks Johnson with an uppercut from hell and Johnson crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Hernanes's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Johnson is rocked!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Hernanes wants to control from the top but Johnson keeps moving.
Oh Johnson is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Johnson wants to sweep here but Hernanes controlling him for the moment.
Hernanes trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Johnson seems to have got his legs back now.
Johnson pulls Hernanes in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernanes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Johnson is keeping the position for now.
Hernanes wants to get up but he can't break Johnson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Romeo Hernanes.
Hernanes throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Johnson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Johnson works his way into full mount!

Hernanes defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Johnson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernanes is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Johnson is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Hernanes is surviving well by controlling Johnson's body position as best he can.
Johnson prevents Hernanes from getting the reversal.
Johnson trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Johnson has control of Hernanes's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Hernanes regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Hernanes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hernanes is refusing to be controlled, as Johnson sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Hernanes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Johnson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Johnson is pulling down on Hernanes's head to control his posture.
Hernanes trying to control but Johnson is working from the bottom.
Hernanes passes into half guard.
Hernanes tries to stand and escape but Johnson is controlling the position.
Johnson is concentrating on defense, preventing Hernanes from advancing position.
Hernanes wants to take a breather but Johnson is having none of it.

Hernanes is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes trying to mount his opponent but Johnson defends it.

Hernanes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Johnson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hernanes.
Johnson manages to get to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Johnson keeping moving, preventing Hernanes from controlling successfully.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Johnson controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romeo Hernanes dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hernanes looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hernanes tries to close the distance and clinch but Johnson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hernanes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hernanes lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hernanes lands with a slapping head kick.
Johnson circles away from the clinch attempt.
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!
Hernanes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Johnson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Romeo Hernanes seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hernanes scores with a jab to the head.
Johnson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hernanes throws a one two combo.
Hernanes lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Johnson backs up against the cage.
Hernanes misses with a two punch combination.
Hernanes fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jab, jab by Hernanes - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernanes scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Hernanes looks to land a combination but Johnson avoids it well.
Johnson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Hernanes is breathing heavily.
Hernanes tries to clinch up but Johnson circles away and keeps his distance.
Hernanes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hernanes throws a right and a left that Johnson avoids nicely.

Johnson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hernanes's guard.
Johnson pushes down on Hernanes's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hernanes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Johnson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hernanes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hernanes is looking for a sweep. Johnson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hernanes is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Hernanes won't allow Johnson to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hernanes actively working from the bottom here.
Johnson wants to pass to mount but Hernanes is defending the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Johnson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Johnson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hernanes knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Hernanes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Hernanes is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Johnson trying to pass the guard but Hernanes defending well.
Hernanes is trying to control but can't.
Johnson is keen to just control but Hernanes is a slippery customer.
Johnson is pressing down on Hernanes's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hernanes is holding on for now.
Johnson wants to control but Hernanes is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Derrick Johnson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hernanes lands a lovely overhand right.
Hernanes looks to land a combination. Johnson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Hernanes misses with a series of wild punches.
Romeo Hernanes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Johnson slips a jab and a cross from Hernanes.
Hernanes fails to land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hernanes misses.
Hernanes works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Hernanes scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hernanes throws a nice looking combination but Johnson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hernanes connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Johnson momentarily.

Johnson shoots in and bounces Hernanes off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Johnson pushing down on Hernanes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Johnson is trying to control. Hernanes wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Johnson wants to work for an arm triangle but Hernanes is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Johnson in particular looking to stall.
Johnson tries to pass to full mount but Hernanes defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romeo Hernanes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hernanes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hernanes misses with a wild combination.
Hernanes misses with a few strikes there.
Hernanes bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Johnson's head backwards.
Hernanes punishes Johnson's body with a nice straight punch.
Hernanes scores with a push kick.
Hernanes is looking to clinch but Johnson is avoiding it.
Johnson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hernanes as he avoids it easily.
Johnson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hernanes lands with a kick to the ribs.
Hernanes lands with a cross.
Derrick Johnson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hernanes doesn't manage to clinch there - Johnson circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernanes scoring well with a low kick there.
Johnson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Johnson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Hernanes!
Hernanes manages to get back to half guard.
Johnson working over Hernanes with some ground and pound. Hernanes looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Hernanes is not content to let Johnson control the position.
Johnson working Hernanes over with strikes.
Hernanes is trying to maintain the position but Johnson is very close to passing his half guard.
Hernanes is staying active underneath Johnson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
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!

Johnson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hernanes has managed to free his arm - good work.
Johnson wants to pass the guard but Hernanes is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Johnson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Johnson's back!

Hernanes has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Johnson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Johnson tries to roll but Hernanes sticks to his back.

Johnson 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 Hernanes gets his way!
You can see the frustration on Johnson's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Johnson just trying to survive but Hernanes is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Hernanes keeps control of the position as Johnson tries to break free.

Johnson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Hernanes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes has the hooks in. Johnson is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Johnson wants to control his opponent's hands but Hernanes gets his hands free.

Johnson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Johnson breaks Hernanes's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Johnson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Johnson pushing down on Hernanes's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Hernanes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Johnson works his way into full mount!
Johnson controlling from mount.
Johnson's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Johnson with the ground and pound from mount.
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.
Hernanes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hernanes bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Derrick Johnson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romeo Hernanes is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Hernanes wanted to stand there but Johnson had control of the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romeo Hernanes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hernanes 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romeo Hernanes!