PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rajon Rondo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rondo comes into the arena with Cassidy - Rondo blaring out of the sound system. Hernandez is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Danza kuduro. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rondo
vs
Hernandez

150 cm
22
135 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

170 cm
23
142 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Good elbows
Powerful

Damnfield clothing

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rajon Rondo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Javier Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Sam Margolis and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rondo throws out the jab.
Rondo keeps the fight on the outside.
Rondo lands a body shot.
Rondo misses with a two punch combination.

Hernandez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hernandez passes into half guard.
Hernandez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rondo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Hernandez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hernandez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hernandez thows a huge punch but Rondo dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hernandez seems to be looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rondo is refusing to be controlled, as Hernandez sits in half guard.
Rondo is holding on to half guard well.
Hernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rondo keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rondo tries to roll over but Hernandez keeps him under control.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Javier Hernandez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hernandez tries to clinch but Rondo moves out of range.
Rondo throws a wild body kick that Hernandez sees coming a mile off.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rondo, right into the meat.
Rondo scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rondo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Hernandez tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A slow jab from Rondo misses its intended target.
Rondo lands a jab to the nose.
Rondo throws a series of punches but Hernandez avoids them all with ease.
Rondo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hernandez.
Hernandez checks a leg kick.
Rajon Rondo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hernandez moves out of range of the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Rondo as Hernandez shoots in.
Rondo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
An inside leg kick from Rondo misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Rondo misses.
Rondo misses with a hook. Hernandez ducked under it nicely.
Rondo thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Rondo does it's job there.
Rondo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rondo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hernandez moves away.
Rondo swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hernandez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rondo misses with a looping right.
Rondo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hernandez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Rondo is looking to slow Hernandez down with leg kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A combination from Rondo does no damage.
Rondo cracks Hernandez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Rondo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rondo misses with a series of wild punches.
Rondo lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rondo looks to land a right hand but Hernandez moved out of range.
Rondo looks to score with a jab to the body but Hernandez is just out of range.
Rondo tests Hernandez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rondo throws a front kick aimed at Hernandez's knee but Hernandez avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rondo thuds his right hand into Hernandez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Hernandez is rocked!
Rondo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hernandez.
Rondo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hernandez moves away.
Hernandez tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rondo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hernandez somewhat.
Rondo throws a shot from downtown. Hernandez moves away and avoids it.
Rajon Rondo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rondo misses with a left hand

and Hernandez counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rondo!
Hernandez working the ground and pound but Rondo is defending the strikes.
Hernandez wants to control but Rondo is keeping him busy.

Hernandez is trying to get an arm triangle but Rondo is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Rondo trying to remain calm as Hernandez controls from the top position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hernandez works to advance to full mount. Rondo defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez looking for a guillotine from mount but Rondo is having none of it.
Hernandez looking to control and managing it successfully.

Hernandez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Rondo blocking the ground and pound.
Hernandez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez controlling the pace for now.
Rondo tries to reverse the position but Hernandez maintains control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hernandez fails to move to back control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Javier Hernandez 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Rondo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hernandez manages to avoid it.
Rondo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rondo tries a head kick but it misses.
Hernandez slips a jab from Rondo.
Hernandez checks a leg kick.
Rondo fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Rondo cracks the inside of Hernandez's front leg.
Rajon Rondo is winning the standup battle so far.
Rondo fails to land with a series of punches.
Hernandez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Rondo. Rondo obviously looking to wear him down.
Rondo tries a head kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hernandez is defended easily by Rondo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rondo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hernandez.
Rondo is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hernandez.
Rondo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rondo misses with an attempted mid kick.
Rondo misses with a hook. Hernandez ducked under it nicely.
Rondo connects with a high kick.
Hernandez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rondo misses with a straight left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rondo throws a hook to the side of Hernandez's head but Hernandez sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rondo lands with a good body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hernandez is defended easily by Rondo.
Rajon Rondo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Javier Hernandez.
Rondo misses the jab.
Rondo throws out a leg kick but Hernandez moves out of range and Rondo only half commits.
Hernandez slips under a jab from Rondo.
Rondo fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Hernandez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hernandez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Hernandez tries to clinch there but Rondo circles away.
Rondo misses with a double jab

and Hernandez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rondo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rondo keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Hernandez's efforts to push away.
Rondo tries to circle away but Hernandez has him pinned against the cage.
Hernandez looks to throw an elbow but misses.

Rondo manages to break the clinch.
Good leg kick by Rondo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rondo.
Rondo misses with a straight left.
Rondo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rondo scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to move into range but Rondo moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Rondo misses with a wild body shot.
Hernandez defending well as Rondo loads up on a big left hand.
Hernandez moves in looking to clinch but Rondo pushes him off.
Rondo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hernandez.
Rondo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rondo throws a body punch but Hernandez moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rondo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Hernandez manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rondo on his heels. He'll look to pass Rondo's guard now, I'm sure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rajon Rondo showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rondo 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rajon Rondo!
During a confident post fight interview, Rajon Rondo thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.