PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Francisco Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pavel Tats (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pavel Tats is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hernandez
vs
Tats

180 cm
21
189 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francisco Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Pavel Tats!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Sandra Marshall and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tats shoots in for a takedown but Hernandez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Hernandez misses with a body shot.
Tats stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Tats wants it to stay on the feet.
Tats scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Hernandez moves into the clinch successfully.
Tats wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hernandez has him pressed against the cage.
Tats drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hernandez pulls his leg out and moves away.
Hernandez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tats's waist but Tats gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hernandez off to one side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez slaps away a takedown attempt from Tats, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Francisco Hernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Tats.
Tats fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tats swivels and escapes.
Tats shoots for a takedown but Hernandez saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hernandez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hernandez scores with a jab to the head.
Tats stuffs the takedown.
Tats displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Hernandez.
Hernandez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez clinches with his opponent.
Tats wants to get back to striking at distance but Hernandez won't allow it.
Hernandez has been working on his balance at Foot Loves, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Tats.

Tats escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hernandez shoots in but Tats avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hernandez throws a series of punches but Tats moves out of range.
Hernandez tries to clinch but Tats is having none of it.

Hernandez darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Hernandez is breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hernandez stalling away here and it's allowed Tats to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tats pushes Hernandez off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Hernandez throws a right and a left that Tats avoids nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Tats. No joy for Hernandez on that attempt.
Tats looks for a takedown but Hernandez sprawls well.
Francisco Hernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tats will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've been informed that Tats has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hernandez has a takedown stuffed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tats dives in for a single leg takedown but Hernandez sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Hernandez pulls guard effortlessly.
Tats throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hernandez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Tats avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tats must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tats trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Hernandez is pulling down on Tats's head. It's preventing any offense from Tats, at least for the moment.
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 Francisco Hernandez will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tats tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hernandez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Tats somewhat.
Tats looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hernandez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tats as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tats avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez moves in looking to clinch but Tats pushes him off.
Tats shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Hernandez eats them both and turns towards Tats to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Tats has closed the distance and engaged Hernandez in a clinch.
Tats taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Hernandez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tats is defending well for now.
Tats is trying to force a seperation but Hernandez has the dominant position.
Tats is trying to drag Hernandez to the mat but Hernandez just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Francisco Hernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pavel Tats.
Hernandez letting Tats take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tats manages to break the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Tats.
Tats doesn't manage to clinch there - Hernandez circles away.
Hernandez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Hernandez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Tats's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hernandez prevents Tats from standing back up.
Hernandez throwing shots but Tats is blocking nicely.

Tats looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez controlling the action here.
Tats tries to get to full guard but Hernandez has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Hernandez is looking for a kimura here.
Well, if Hernandez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tats throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
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 Francisco Hernandez will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hernandez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hernandez darts in and clinches Tats up against the cage.
Tats tries to pull guard but Hernandez holds him up against the cage and eventually Tats drops back down to his feet.

Tats gets control of Hernandez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tats will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Hernandez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hernandez stopping the sweep attempt from Tats.
Hernandez is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez tries to free his leg and advance position but Tats is retaining full guard.
Hernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Tats is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez passes Tats's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Tats won't allow Hernandez to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Well, if Hernandez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hernandez needs to keep his hands up - Tats had a free shot at his head there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hernandez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hernandez darts in looking for a takedown but Tats gets double underhooks and turns Hernandez into the cage.
Hernandez keeps control of Tats as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tats stops a takedown attempt from Hernandez.

Tats breaks the clinch.
A head kick from Tats lands but Hernandez takes it in his stride.
Francisco Hernandez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hernandez shoots in looking for a takedown but Tats manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hernandez's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Francisco Hernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tats wants to clinch up but Hernandez keeps it at a distance.

Hernandez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Tats!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tats is looking for a sweep.

Hernandez tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Tats is pushing Hernandez's head away, looking to escape. Hernandez manages to hold on to the position though.
Hernandez is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Tats's shoulder. That is not cool.
Tats is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Hernandez asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tats is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tats taking punishment in the form of punches.
Tats wants to control but Hernandez postures up.
Hernandez wants to stand but Tats is controlling his arm.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hernandez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Pavel Tats has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francisco Hernandez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Tats gets caught napping as Hernandez dives in and scores a takedown. Tats manages to retain guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Francisco Hernandez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hernandez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27
Judge Santiago Holmes scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Francisco Hernandez!