PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Caleb Herrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nelson Mandela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herrera
vs
Mandela

223 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
18
216 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Caleb Herrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nelson Mandela!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Herrera tries to keep at a distance but Mandela has taken the fight into the clinch.
Herrera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Mandela has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Herrera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Mandela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Herrera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Herrera is defended easily by Mandela.
Mandela steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Herrera.
Herrera tries to clinch but Mandela moves out of range.
Mandela fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mandela shoots in but no luck this time.
Caleb Herrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Mandela.
Herrera throws a hook but Mandela blocks it.
Danga de danga de dang - Mandela scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Caleb Herrera has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herrera gets tackled into the cage by Mandela. Mandela maintains the clinch.

Mandela manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Herrera slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Herrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Mandela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herrera content to stall in guard here.
Mandela looking to hit a scissor sweep but Herrera is one step ahead there.
Herrera throwing strikes from guard but Mandela blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mandela is trying to keep Herrera in close.
Mandela pulls Herrera in to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Herrera stuffs the takedown.
Herrera tries to clinch but Mandela is having none of it.
Herrera throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Mandela pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Mandela has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mandela trying to stall but Herrera improves his position.

Mandela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Herrera takes a swing at Mandela's ribcage but misses.
Mandela only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Herrera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Mandela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Mandela is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Herrera with a body shot.
Mandela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Herrera's waist but Herrera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mandela off to one side.
Herrera ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mandela moves away.
Nelson Mandela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Mandela instigates a clinch.
Mandela managing to block the knees to the body from Herrera.
Mandela has Herrera pressed against the cage, preventing Herrera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Herrera scores a nice knee to the body.
Mandela drops down looking for an ankle pick but Herrera pulls his leg out and moves away.
Mandela looks winded!
Mandela tries for a takedown but Herrera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mandela throws a combination that misses
and Herrera counters with a stiff right hand.

Herrera clinches.
Herrera tries to land knees in the clinch but Mandela avoids the damage to the body.
Herrera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mandela blocks it with crossed arms.
Herrera misses with an elbow over the top.
Herrera throws an elbow that misses.
Mandela has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Herrera pushes Mandela back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mandela's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Herrera tries to work over Mandela's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
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 Caleb Herrera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Caleb Herrera's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Mandela misses with a takedown attempt - Herrera sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mandela misses with a wild body shot.
Herrera throws a body shot but no joy.
Mandela darts in looking for a takedown but Herrera gets double underhooks and turns Mandela into the cage.

Mandela rushes Herrera and presses him up against the cage.
Herrera misses with a hook to the ribs.

Mandela breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herrera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mandela.
Caleb Herrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Mandela.
Herrera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Mandela sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Herrera instigates a clinch.
Mandela prevents a body shot from Herrera.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mandela breaks the clinch.

Mandela tries to keep at a distance but Herrera has taken the fight into the clinch.
Mandela fails to pull guard.
Mandela tries for a takedown. No joy.
Mandela is breathing heavily.
Mandela jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Herrera walks away with a smile on his face. Mandela gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Herrera leaves Mandela with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Herrera misses with the combination.
Mandela fails with the takedown

and Herrera moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mandela looking for a takedown.
Herrera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Herrera tries to land knees in the clinch but Mandela avoids the damage to the body.
Herrera tries to land knees in the clinch but Mandela avoids the damage to the body.
Herrera throws an elbow but it misses.
Herrera throws an elbow but it misses.
Herrera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Herrera cracks Mandela with a nice body shot.
Mandela is trying to break the clinch but Herrera has him pressed against the cage.
Nice body punch from Herrera - that landed with a thud.

Herrera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Herrera throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mandela.
Caleb Herrera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera cracks Mandela with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

It looks like Nelson Mandela has been cut.
Herrera really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Mandela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Herrera sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mandela somewhat.

Mandela tries to keep at a distance but Herrera has taken the fight into the clinch.

Herrera breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Herrera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mandela tries to keep at a distance but Herrera has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mandela pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Herrera fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mandela sprawls well initially but Herrera persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Herrera is controlling the pace.
Mandela is not content to let Herrera control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mandela tries to roll over but Herrera keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caleb Herrera dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Mandela dodges the punch combination from Herrera.
Herrera leaves Mandela with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mandela fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Herrera avoids it really well and circles away.
Herrera misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herrera dives in and grabs Mandela's left leg, looking for a takedown. Mandela pushes down on Herrera's head and hops out.
Mandela misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Caleb Herrera has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nelson Mandela.
Mandela takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mandela tries for a takedown but Herrera circles away easily
enabling Herrera to counter with a crisp jab.
Mandela shoots in but Herrera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A little feinted left hand from Herrera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Herrera lands a lovely overhand right.
Mandela takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Mandela pushes Herrera up against the cage in a clinch.
Herrera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Mandela avoids it.
Mandela is trying to pull guard but Herrera has him pressed against the cage.
Caleb Herrera has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Mandela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera misses with a knee to the head.
Herrera doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Mandela tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Herrera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Herrera can't find room to land a body shot as Mandela controls the action.
Mandela wants to take the fight to the mat but Herrera manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Herrera is looking to take this one to the mat.
Mandela tries to break free but Herrera pushes him back against the cage.

Mandela breaks from the clinch.

Herrera dives in and scores a takedown into Mandela's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herrera sitting in guard here, content to control.
Mandela working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herrera stands up and waves to Mandela to follow him.
Herrera lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Mandela shoots in for a double leg but Herrera sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Herrera looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mandela pushes Herrera off, looking to escape but Herrera dives into side control. He's locked up a kimura now - that was fast! He's cranking on it and Mandela is forced to tap! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Caleb Herrera!