PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Brayan Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rocco Joaquin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brayan Fernandez has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Fernandez
vs
Joaquin

225 cm
26
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Brayan Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Rocco Joaquin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Jeff Smith and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez lands a jab to the nose.
Fernandez stuffs the takedown.
Joaquin fails with a takedown attempt.
Fernandez misses with an attempted mid kick.

Fernandez is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Joaquin's half guard.

Joaquin looking for subs from the bottom but Fernandez mounts him!
Joaquin is looking to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joaquin is squirming around, avoiding Fernandez's attempts to control the action.
Joaquin gets back to half guard.
Fernandez with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Joaquin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Fernandez is working away from the top position though.
Joaquin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Fernandez.
Joaquin tries to kick Fernandez off but Fernandez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Fernandez wants to pass the guard but Joaquin is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Joaquin defending well though.
Joaquin wants to improve his position but Fernandez is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Joaquin manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Joaquin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Fernandez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fernandez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez slaps away a takedown attempt from Joaquin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Brayan Fernandez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rocco Joaquin.

Fernandez gets a clinch.
Fernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Joaquin wants the takedown. Fernandez is fighting it off but Joaquin persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Fernandez's guard against the cage.
Joaquin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Fernandez is controlling Joaquin's posture.
Joaquin prevents Fernandez from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin trying to control but Fernandez is working from the bottom.
Joaquin won't allow Fernandez to get back to his feet.
Fernandez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Fernandez gets a clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Joaquin is stalling here.

Joaquin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Fernandez regains guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brayan Fernandez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fernandez throws a combination that misses

and Joaquin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fernandez won't be happy with that.
Joaquin working away.
Fernandez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Joaquin off and has taken his back!
Fernandez tries to keep control of the position but Joaquin is staying busy.
Joaquin tries to break free.
Joaquin keeps trying to improve his position.
Fernandez controlling the position well here. Joaquin rolled but Fernandez kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Fernandez is looking for a choke. Joaquin gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Joaquin manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez wants to control but Joaquin passes easily into half guard.
Fernandez wants to get back to full guard.
Fernandez is trying to control but can't.

Joaquin is looking for a kimura here.
Fernandez tries to get to full guard but Joaquin has control of the leg.

That's two 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.
Joaquin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Joaquin avoids the attempt from Fernandez to control.

Joaquin with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez really wants to buck Joaquin off and get back to his feet.
Joaquin fails to advance to Fernandez's back.
Joaquin avoids the attempt from Fernandez to control.
Fernandez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Joaquin.
Joaquin with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fernandez blocking the ground and pound.
Joaquin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fernandez is looking to escape.
Fernandez is looking to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Joaquin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Fernandez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joaquin's waist but Joaquin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fernandez off to one side.

Fernandez takes the fight into the clinch.
Fernandez taking a breather.

Fernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Fernandez moves into range and clinches up with Joaquin.

Fernandez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Joaquin stuffs the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fernandez wants to clinch.

Fernandez shoots in and gets a takedown into Joaquin's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Joaquin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fernandez will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fernandez sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fernandez wants to control from the top but Joaquin keeps moving.
Joaquin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fernandez prevents Joaquin from getting back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Joaquin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rocco Joaquin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joaquin forces his way into half guard.
Joaquin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Fernandez wants to get back to his feet.
Fernandez wants to control but Joaquin is keeping busy.
Fernandez misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joaquin controlling the action here.
Joaquin not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Joaquin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Joaquin prevents Fernandez from getting back to his feet.

Joaquin has gone for a leg lock! Fernandez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Joaquin's guard.

Joaquin is trying to hold Fernandez in close to prevent damage but Fernandez has managed to pass into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joaquin is looking to improve his position.
Fernandez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joaquin is trying to maintain the position but Fernandez is very close to passing his half guard.

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 Brayan Fernandez.
I think Fernandez 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Brayan Fernandez!