PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Herman Botha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oliver Hernandez (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.

Botha
vs
Hernandez

181 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
178 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Fanatic Inc. [50]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Herman Botha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Oliver Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez lands a right hook to the body.
Hernandez missing with a left hand there. Botha was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hernandez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Botha looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hernandez just misses with a punch to the body.
Hernandez throws a jab when Botha was well out of range.
Hernandez scores with a body shot.
Hernandez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

It looks like Herman Botha has been cut.
Botha has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Botha there as he acknowledges the shot.
Botha closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Botha takes one to the chin there.

Botha is rocked!
Hernandez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Oh Botha is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Botha fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hernandez to the ground. Botha is now in Hernandez's guard.
Botha scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hernandez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Botha seems to have got his legs back now.
Botha throws a big elbow that misses.
Botha throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Botha forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botha missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hernandez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Botha.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Botha thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hernandez's head.
Botha looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Botha looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Botha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Botha missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Botha lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Botha thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Hernandez's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botha not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Botha sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Botha is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Botha looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Hernandez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hernandez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hernandez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Botha.
Botha with the ground and pound but Hernandez uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Botha chips away with some ground and pound.
Botha throws an elbow that misses. Hernandez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Botha's guard. Nice move by Hernandez!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to free his leg and advance position but Botha is retaining full guard.
Botha is controlling Hernandez's posture.
Hernandez slips nicely into half guard.
Botha wants to improve his position but Hernandez is controlling well.
Botha won't allow Hernandez to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Botha is doing well to control the position and prevent Hernandez from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Botha is looking for a sweep. Hernandez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Botha is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Hernandez is looking to take a break and control but Botha is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hernandez stalling away here and it's allowed Botha to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Botha looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Botha keeping full guard, as Hernandez tries to pass.
Hernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Botha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Botha lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Oliver Hernandez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Herman Botha's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Hernandez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Botha moves away.
Botha moves forwards but Hernandez connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Hernandez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Botha.
Hernandez lands with a shot to the body.
Hernandez swings for the body but Botha moves out of range.

Botha darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Botha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hernandez defending well though.
Hernandez wants to control but Botha is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Botha throws a strike but Hernandez avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Botha lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botha throws a big right hand that misses.
Botha in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Botha connects with a couple of short punches.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Botha from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Botha's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Botha trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Botha scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Botha trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Botha is looking to work some ground and pound but Hernandez has wrist control.
Botha cracks Hernandez with a solid left hand.
Botha with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hernandez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Botha's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Botha postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Botha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Botha controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hernandez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Botha throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Botha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Botha is looking to work some ground and pound but Hernandez has wrist control.
Botha postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botha lands a couple of elbows.
Botha lands a couple of elbows.
Botha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hernandez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Botha.
Botha throwing strikes from guard but Hernandez blocks nicely.
Hernandez is breathing heavily.
Botha scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Botha throwing strikes from guard but Hernandez blocks nicely.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Botha's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Botha controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botha throws a big elbow that misses.
Botha throwing strikes from guard but Hernandez blocks nicely.
Botha throws an elbow that misses. Hernandez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Botha's guard. Nice move by Hernandez!

Botha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Botha bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hernandez's guard.

Botha throwing strikes but missing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hernandez has momentary wrist control but Botha slips an elbow through the middle.
Botha throwing strikes from guard but Hernandez blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herman Botha dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Herman Botha's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Botha shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Hernandez's guard.
Hernandez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Botha controls the pace.
Botha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Botha scoring with punches to the head and body.
Botha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Botha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hernandez keeping full guard, as Botha tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Botha with a nice head shot there.
Botha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Botha lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botha throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Botha controls from within his opponent's guard.
Botha throwing strikes but missing.
Hernandez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Botha with a flurry of punches that miss.
Botha preventing the sweep.
Botha sitting in guard here, content to control.
Botha working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Botha looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Botha lands a couple of elbows.
Hernandez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Botha's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Botha throws an elbow that misses. Hernandez uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Botha's guard. Nice move by Hernandez!

Botha is wriggling around but Hernandez manages to pass to half guard.
Herman Botha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Botha moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Botha is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botha is working hard here to advance position.
Botha being controlled here, momentarily.
Botha wants to improve his position but instead Hernandez has moved into half guard.
Hernandez is keen to just control but Botha is a slippery customer.
Botha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Botha tries to get out of the position.

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.
Botha keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Botha wants to get back to full guard.
Botha gets full guard.
Botha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Botha pulls Hernandez in to control the position.
Hernandez preventing the sweep.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Herman Botha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Botha 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Herman Botha!