PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Romeo Hernanes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Israel Stephens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernanes comes into the arena with Awolnation - Sail blaring out of the sound system. Israel Stephens told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Hernanes
vs
Stephens

170 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romeo Hernanes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Israel Stephens!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stephens ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Israel Stephens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stephens thows a body kick. Hernanes tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hernanes lands a nice shot that snaps Stephens's head back.
Hernanes blocks a head kick by Stephens.
Hernanes tries to clinch up but Stephens circles away and keeps his distance.
Stephens throws a leg kick that is checked
and Hernanes cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Hernanes checks the leg kick nicely there.
Stephens looks for the body kick but Hernanes saw that one coming.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Stephens.
A looping hook to the body misses from Stephens. Hernanes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hernanes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernanes avoids the head kick by Stephens.
Stephens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hernanes is looking to clinch.
Stephens throws a leg kick
and Hernanes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernanes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hernanes moves out of range of the leg kick from Stephens.
Hernanes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hernanes tries to bum rush Stephens with a series of wild strikes but Stephens uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hernanes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Hernanes fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stephens looks to score with a jab to the body but Hernanes is just out of range.
Hernanes misses with a jab, cross combination.
Stephens swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hernanes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hernanes looks for the body kick but Stephens saw that one coming.
Hernanes misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A slapping body kick lands there for Stephens.
Stephens throws a right hand that misses
and Hernanes counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hernanes avoids the head kick by Stephens.
Hernanes throws a head kick that misses.
Stephens throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Hernanes counters with a left and a right that stings Stephens.
Hernanes lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Stephens tries a low kick but Hernanes avoids it.
Stephens throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Stephens throws a push kick but Hernanes slaps the foot to one side.
An inside leg kick lands from Stephens.
Stephens throws a leg kick
and Hernanes counters with a three punch combo that has Stephens backing up. Stephens nods at Hernanes to acknowledge the strikes.
Hernanes scores with a push kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stephens dodges the punch combination from Hernanes.
Hernanes tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hernanes avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hernanes thumps Stephens with a low kick.
Stephens displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Stephens misses with a wild combination.
Hernanes scores with a one two! Stephens had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Stephens throws a low kick but Hernanes avoids it.
Sloppy strikes from Hernanes. Those never looked like landing.
Stephens buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Hernanes, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Stephens moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Stephens throws a leg kick
enabling Hernanes to counter with a crisp jab.
Hernanes tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Hernanes misses with a series of wild punches.
Hernanes scores with a head kick. Stephens tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hernanes is working the combinations to good effect here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice uppercut lands for Hernanes. That snapped Stephens's head back.
Stephens misses with a body shot.
Stephens uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hernanes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stephens throws out a loose jab but Hernanes uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hernanes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stephens is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hernanes rather than just go for the knockout.
Stephens throws a leg kick but Hernanes sees it coming and moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Romeo Hernanes will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Hernanes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stephens misses with a leg kick
and Hernanes counters with an inside leg kick.
Stephens tried to score with a low kick but Hernanes checks it.
Stephens slips a jab and a cross from Hernanes.
Hernanes throws a right and a left that Stephens avoids nicely.
Stephens swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Stephens tries to land a leg kick but Hernanes saw it coming and moves away.
Hernanes swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Romeo Hernanes is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stephens tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stephens tries to land a leg kick but Hernanes saw it coming and moves away.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses.
Stephens swats away the attempt to clinch by Hernanes.
Hernanes looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernanes tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Stephens manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Stephens scores with a head kick.
Hernanes misses with the combination.
Stephens looks to land a body kick but Hernanes moved away.
Hernanes tries to clinch there but Stephens circles away.
Stephens throws a sloppy head kick and Hernanes moves out of range easily.
Stephens throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hernanes sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hernanes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hernanes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hernanes wants to clinch up but Stephens keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hernanes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hernanes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Stephens swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Stephens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hernanes dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Stephens. That did some damage!
A looping hook to the body misses from Stephens. Hernanes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Stephens throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Romeo Hernanes is winning the standup battle so far.
Stephens misses with a hook
and Hernanes counters with a nice kick to the body.
Stephens throws the left hand but Hernanes avoids the punch easily.
Hernanes tries to clinch but Stephens moves out of range.
Stephens throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Stephens misses
and Hernanes counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hernanes takes one to the side of the head.
Hernanes looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stephens thows a body shot but no joy.
Hernanes staying out of range there.
Stephens is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Hernanes throws a nice looking combination but Stephens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A low kick from Stephens is predictable there
and Stephens takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Hernanes connects with an inside leg kick.
Hernanes throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stephens will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Hernanes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stephens tries to work over Hernanes's front leg with a kick but Hernanes checks it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hernanes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stephens chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Stephens looks to land a combination but Hernanes avoids it well.
Stephens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hernanes.
Hernanes lands a jab-cross combination.
Hernanes tries to clinch there but Stephens circles away.
Stephens thows a leg kick but Hernanes checks it
and Hernanes counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Some bone on bone action there as Hernanes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
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 is looking to clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A clash of legs there as Hernanes blocks the low kick.
Hernanes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Hernanes tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
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 Romeo Hernanes will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stephens throws a lazy body kick
and Hernanes counters with a three punch combo that has Stephens backing up. Stephens nods at Hernanes to acknowledge the strikes.
A low kick from Stephens is predictable there
and Hernanes counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Stephens is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Stephens circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hernanes tries to close the distance and clinch but Stephens swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stephens swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Hernanes. Those never looked like landing.
Hernanes avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Hernanes throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stephens.
Hernanes lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Stephens looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stephens throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Stephens swats away the attempt to clinch by Hernanes.
Hernanes is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stephens throws a low kick but Hernanes avoids it.
Stephens looks to throw a body kick
and Hernanes counters with a head kick. That will keep Stephens thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hernanes wants to clinch up but Stephens keeps it at a distance.
Sloppy strikes from Hernanes. Those never looked like landing.
Hernanes scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Stephens takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hernanes wants to clinch.
Stephens misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hernanes.
Israel Stephens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Stephens motions for Hernanes to come forward. Stephens throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Hernanes moves out of range of the body kick from Stephens.
Donk. Stephens catches Hernanes right on the button with a cross.
Hernanes throws a series of strikes that have Stephens backpedaling.
Hernanes is looking to clinch but Stephens is avoiding it.
Hernanes falls off balance throwing a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hernanes looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stephens misses with a two punch combination.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hernanes moves in looking to clinch but Stephens pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernanes avoids the head kick by Stephens.
Stephens has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Hernanes.
Stephens takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hernanes throws a nice looking combination but Stephens bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Hernanes tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stephens scores with a nice body kick.
Hernanes throws a right and a left that both miss.

Stephens tries to keep at a distance but Hernanes has taken the fight into the clinch.
Hernanes using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Stephens has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Stephens escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stephens throws a hook to the side of Hernanes's head but Hernanes sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Stephens throws a nice head kick!
Stephens misses with a double jab
and Hernanes makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Hernanes checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hernanes shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Stephens eats them both and turns towards Hernanes to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Stephens pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Hernanes connects with a leg kick. Stephens looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hernanes misses with a wild combination.
Stephens throws a body kick that misses.
Hernanes wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A left and a right from Hernanes both land. Nice combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Romeo Hernanes showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Hernanes has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Romeo Hernanes!
Romeo Hernanes thanked the fans post fight for their support.