PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yury Vesnev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Herzog is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Takida - Curly Sue. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Vesnev
vs
Herzog

170 cm
31
159 lbs
21 - 9 - 0

175 cm
41
158 lbs
39 - 23 - 3

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Just Fight (Everything 7$)

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 21 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yury Vesnev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 23 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Herzog!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Donald Grub and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herzog throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Vesnev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vesnev throws a big right hand that misses.
Vesnev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vesnev postures up in Herzog's guard and throws a big left but Herzog blocks it.
Herzog is trying to control the position but Vesnev postures up.
Vesnev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vesnev wants to pass the guard but Herzog is keeping the position.
Herzog keeping moving, preventing Vesnev from controlling successfully.
Herzog trying to keep a closed guard but Vesnev is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chris Herzog has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Herzog uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Vesnev.
Vesnev misses with a wild body shot.
Vesnev misses with a hook to the body
and Herzog counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Vesnev clinches with his opponent.

Herzog lands a takedown into guard.
Vesnev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vesnev is trying to keep Herzog in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vesnev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Herzog defends well.
Herzog postures up.
Herzog is fighting to break Vesnev's control of his arms but Vesnev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Herzog wants to control from the top but Vesnev keeps moving.
Herzog preventing the sweep.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vesnev wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Herzog throws an elbow that misses. Vesnev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Herzog's guard. Nice move by Vesnev!
Herzog trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Herzog walks into a left hand.
Herzog throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Vesnev lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Vesnev takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Vesnev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Herzog.
Vesnev feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Herzog's calf.
Vesnev shoots in looking for a takedown. Herzog tries to sprawl out of it but Vesnev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Herzog manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog misses the shot to the body.
Vesnev throws a leg kick

and Herzog counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Vesnev is refusing to be controlled, as Herzog sits in half guard.
Herzog missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ground and pound from Herzog.
Vesnev keeping control of the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzog sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vesnev defending well though.
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 Yury Vesnev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice straight punches there by Vesnev. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Vesnev.
Vesnev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Herzog looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Herzog throws a one two combo.
Vesnev is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Vesnev's corner calls for a 1-2. Vesnev obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Vesnev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Vesnev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Herzog paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Herzog on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Vesnev. Vesnev obviously looking to wear him down.
Vesnev goes for a double leg but Herzog avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Herzog continues to drive forward.
Herzog is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vesnev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Vesnev is struggling to control the position.
Vesnev swings wildly with an uppercut but Herzog uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vesnev lands with a light punch inside.
Vesnev swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A shot in the inside from Vesnev.
Herzog tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vesnev's elbow.
Vesnev tries to work over Herzog's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Vesnev has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Herzog after a bit of a struggle.
Vesnev fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Vesnev is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Herzog drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vesnev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Yury Vesnev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Herzog.
Vesnev misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Herzog.
Vesnev manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Vesnev is looking to control Herzog's arms but Herzog gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vesnev has his back to the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Herzog.

Vesnev has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Herzog clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Vesnev thows a strike but Herzog uses the opportunity to reverse the position! Great move by Herzog as he ends up in Vesnev 's guard!
Herzog with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yury Vesnev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Herzog looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vesnev is on top in guard.
Vesnev wants to control from the top but Herzog keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herzog working for a triangle but Vesnev defends it easily.
Vesnev throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Vesnev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Vesnev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Herzog is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Herzog tries to buck Vesnev off but Vesnev is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herzog tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Vesnev easily slips into full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vesnev misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yury Vesnev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Herzog misses with a low kick as Vesnev jumps back.
Vesnev misses with a low kick.
Vesnev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Herzog with a jab.
Vesnev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Herzog looks to land a right hand but Vesnev moved out of range.
The fighters circling - Herzog throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jab from Herzog.
Vesnev lands a nice shot to the body.
Vesnev throws out a loose jab but Herzog uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice uppercut lands for Herzog. That snapped Vesnev's head back.
Herzog uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Vesnev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesnev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Vesnev closes the distance and clinches up with Herzog, looking for a takedown. Vesnev pushes Herzog against the cage but Herzog circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Vesnev, as that shot connected.
Vesnev swinging wildly here.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Vesnev.
Vesnev misses with a body shot.
Herzog's jab looks to have found its range, popping Vesnev under the eye.
Herzog ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Herzog takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Herzog misses with an uppercut

and Vesnev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Chris Herzog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vesnev stands and throws Herzog's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Herzog looking for a sweep but Vesnev has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Herzog tries to reverse the position but Vesnev maintains control.
Vesnev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Herzog tries to hold on but Vesnev pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesnev is trying to control here but Herzog has managed to regain half guard.
Vesnev is stalling here. Herzog is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Vesnev seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Herzog has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Vesnev sneaks back into half guard.
Vesnev is holding on to half guard well.

Herzog wants to work for an arm triangle but Vesnev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vesnev trying to control but Herzog postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vesnev gets full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Herzog's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vesnev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Herzog missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herzog with a flurry of punches that miss.
Herzog scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzog in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Herzog in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Herzog stands up over Vesnev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yury Vesnev.
Well Vesnev 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yury Vesnev!
An out of breath Yury Vesnev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.