PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between A J Hearts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tiago Renato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renato has chosen I Want My Tears Back as his entrance music. Tiago Renato has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with A J Hearts's chin.

J Hearts
vs
Renato

179 cm
35
222 lbs
37 - 10 - 0

184 cm
29
206 lbs
22 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

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Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 37 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, A J Hearts!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tiago Renato!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hearts throws a body shot but no joy.
Renato has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Hearts takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Jab by Hearts.
Renato misses with a straight right.
Renato throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Renato slips under a jab.
Hearts feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Renato's calf.
Renato chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Renato looks to score with a jab to the body but Hearts is just out of range.
Hearts drops down looking for a counter takedown but Renato sprawls and moves away.
We've been hearing reports that Hearts has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Renato slips a straight right by Hearts.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Renato.
Hearts blocks a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Renato throws a half hearted mid kick.
Renato doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Renato pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Renato takes a swing at Hearts's ribcage but misses.
Renato lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renato misses with a body shot.
Hearts misses with a jab to the body
and Renato makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Hearts uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Renato.
Hearts attempts a counter takedown but Renato avoids it well and moves away.
Renato uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hearts.
Hearts fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Renato misses the shot to the body.
Hearts looks to score with a jab to the body but Renato is just out of range.
Renato scores with a nice right hand.
Renato throws out a leg kick but Hearts moves out of range and Renato only half commits.
Tiago Renato is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Renato wants to slow Hearts down by chopping away at his legs.
Renato throws a hook but Hearts blocks it.
Renato lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hearts at a distance.
Renato throws a leg kick

and Hearts counters with a single leg into guard. Renato didn't expect that.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hearts trying to control but Renato is working from the bottom.
Hearts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Renato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearts throws a big right hand that misses.
Renato pulls Hearts in close to prevent any damage.
Hearts wants to pass the guard but Renato is keeping the position.
Renato keeping moving, preventing Hearts from controlling successfully.
Hearts pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Renato is keeping the position for now.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hearts has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Renato.
Renato throws a leg kick which misses Hearts's front leg but catches the back leg as Hearts tries to avoid it.
Renato lands a leg kick that knocks Hearts off balance momentarily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Renato. Hearts does a little dance to reset his feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Renato.
Renato swats away the attempt to clinch by Hearts.
Renato tries a quick counter leg kick but Hearts is wise to it.
Hearts lands a jab to Renato's midsection.
Renato throws a low kick but Hearts moves out of range easily.
Renato misses with a kick to the body.
Hearts misses with a wild body shot.
Renato tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Renato takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Hearts wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Renato.
Hearts throws a solid leg kick but Renato takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Hearts.
Hearts misses with a hook
and Renato counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hearts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Renato.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Renato throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Hearts doesn't manage to clinch there - Renato circles away.
Hearts checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hearts avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Renato displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hearts throws out the jab.
A combination from Hearts does no damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hearts. Renato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Renato misses with an uppercut. Hearts saw that one coming.
Hearts appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Hearts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Renato.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hearts throws a looping overhand right but Renato ducks down to avoid it.
A little jabbing left from Renato on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Renato tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Hearts was well out of range. Poor timing from Renato.
Hearts fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Renato looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hearts avoids the body shot from Renato.
An inside leg kick from Renato misses.
Renato is looking to land body kicks.
Hearts defending well as Renato loads up on a big left hand.
Renato swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Hearts decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Renato's guard.
Hearts trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Renato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hearts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Renato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hearts wants to pass the guard but Renato is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts throwing strikes from guard but Renato blocks nicely.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hearts trying to control but Renato is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Hearts just misses with a punch to the body.
Renato looks to land a body kick but Hearts moved away.
Renato misses with a kick to the body.
Hearts misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Renato.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hearts looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hearts loads up on a big right hand but Renato slips the punch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hearts. Renato does a little dance to reset his feet.
An inside leg kick lands from Renato.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hearts scores with a sloppy right hand. Renato should have avoided that one.
Tiago Renato seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Renato on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Renato stuns Hearts with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Renato moves out of range of the strikes.
Renato is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hearts misses with a kick to the body
and Renato counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hearts swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Renato throws a shot from downtown. Hearts moves away and avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Renato fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hearts manages to avoid it.
Hearts drops down looking for a counter takedown but Renato sprawls and moves away.
Renato drops his hands momentarily and Hearts takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Renato thows a left - swing and a miss!
Hearts misses with a wild body shot.
Renato misses with a straight right.
A big right from Renato misses.
Hearts swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Hearts ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Renato moves away.
Renato throws a solid leg kick but Hearts takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Renato.
Renato moves out of range of the strikes.
Hearts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Renato.
Hearts takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Renato walks into a jab.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hearts.
Hearts working the strikes but Renato uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hearts trying to control the action but Renato is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearts looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hearts seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Renato does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hearts tries to pass to full mount but Renato defends it.
Hearts not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hearts with the ground and pound but Renato uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Hearts wants to control from the top but Renato keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A J Hearts dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hearts ducks under a wild hook from Renato.
Renato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hearts.
Renato throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hearts misses with a body shot.
Hearts scores with a leg kick.
Hearts throws a leg kick
enabling Renato to counter with a crisp jab.
Hearts misses with a jab to the body
letting Renato counter with a right hand.
Hearts ducks under a wild hook from Renato.
Sloppy strikes from Renato. Those never looked like landing.
Hearts misses with a low kick.
Renato shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Renato scores with a nice right hand.
Nice uppercut there from Renato.
Renato misses with a kick to the body.
Renato uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hearts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renato lands a nice looking body shot.

Hearts has taken the fight to the clinch.
Renato scores with a shoulder strike.
Renato lands a body shot in the clinch.
Renato throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Renato looking to stall.
Hearts misses with a body punch.
Renato pushes Hearts back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

Renato breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Renato.

Hearts moves into the clinch successfully.
Hearts misses with a punch on the inside.
Hearts blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Hearts fails to land.
Renato doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renato tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hearts's elbow.

Hearts has clasped his hands together around Renato's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes there by Hearts.
The strikes coming from Hearts are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Renato prevents Hearts from improving position.
Hearts throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hearts misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Hearts grinds an elbow into Renato's temple.
Renato managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Hearts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato struggling a bit here.
Hearts tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Hearts scores with punches from side control.
Renato is looking to regain half guard here but Hearts keeps moving and retains side control.
Hearts tries to move to mount but Renato blocks the move with his legs.
Hearts working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Renato parries the strikes from Hearts easily there. Hearts is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Renato to escape.
Hearts misses with the ground and pound.
Hearts in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Hearts scores with punches from side control.
Hearts postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Hearts fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Renato is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but A J Hearts did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
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.

Hearts lands a two punch combo.
Hearts connects with a body shot that sends Renato's belly button to the back.
Hearts misses the jab.
Renato lands a nice looking body shot.
Renato digs a good body shot into Hearts's ribs.
Hearts throws a series of strikes that have Renato backpedaling.
Hearts throws an overhand right that lands on Renato's shoulder, as Renato tries to avoid the shot.
Renato lands a lovely overhand right.
Renato jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Renato loads up on a big right hand but Hearts slips the punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Renato lands a head shot.
Renato throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Hearts lands a jab to the nose.
Hearts dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Hearts shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Hearts showed some decent athleticism there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hearts tries to pass the half guard into mount. Renato knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hearts performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Renato has hold of Hearts's hands but Hearts slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

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.
Hearts wants to lay and pray for a moment but Renato keeps working.
Renato wants to get back to full guard.
Hearts throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hearts landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hearts throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Renato to regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hearts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Renato swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hearts chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hearts with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hearts. Renato does a little dance to reset his feet.
Renato throws a body punch but Hearts moves out of range.
Hearts throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hearts swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hearts throws a poor cross that misses
and Renato counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Renato clobbers Hearts with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Renato moves out of range of the strikes.

Hearts shoots in and bounces Renato off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hearts stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Renato swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hearts trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hearts 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.
Renato working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hearts.
Hearts working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hearts in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Renato is trying to keep Hearts in close.
Hearts throwing strikes but missing.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A J Hearts had his way with Tiago Renato in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Renato scores with a nice strike.
Renato lands a body shot.
Hearts loads up on a big right hand but Renato slips the punch.
Renato only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Hearts takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hearts digs a good hook to Renato's body.
Renato jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hearts changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Renato takes a swing at Hearts's ribcage but misses.
Hearts needs to keep his hands up - Renato had a free shot at his head there.
Renato scores with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice uppercut lands for Hearts. That snapped Renato's head back.
Renato ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hearts moves away.
Hearts on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Renato misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hearts checks a leg kick nicely.
Hearts moves away from the strike by Renato.
Renato goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
The fighters circling - Hearts throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd cheers as Hearts lands an impressive looking overhand right. Renato doesn't seem phased though.
Hearts steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Renato.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hearts.
Hearts moves out of range of the strikes.
Renato throws a jab when Hearts was well out of range.
Hearts cracks Renato with a right hand to the side of the head.
Hearts tries to clinch there but Renato circles away.
Renato was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Renato throws a chopping leg kick but Hearts manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Renato moves out of range of the leg kick from Hearts.

Hearts looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Renato!
Tiago Renato has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A J Hearts is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hearts wants to take a breather but Renato manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Hearts.
Hearts showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hearts looking to pass the guard.
Hearts controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renato looking to control.
Hearts's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Renato digs a good hook to Hearts's body.
Renato throws a body shot but no joy.
Hearts looks to land a combination but Renato avoids it well.
Hearts has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Renato.
Renato steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hearts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renato finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Renato throws a head kick that misses.
Hearts uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Renato.
Renato slips under a jab.
Renato stuffs the takedown attempt from Hearts. Hearts gets slowly back to his feet.
Renato swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Renato misses with a body punch.
Hearts prevents a body shot from Renato.
Renato lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hearts is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Renato gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Hearts tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Renato on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tiago Renato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hearts 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge William Gold scores the fight 47:48
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 48:47
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 48:47

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