PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elmo Herring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Moran Elishav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elishav comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Empire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Herring
vs
Elishav

188 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

177 cm
25
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elmo Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Moran Elishav!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elishav shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Herring as he jumps to the side.
Herring is looking for a counter combo.
Herring slaps away a takedown attempt from Elishav, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Elishav rushes Herring and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Herring stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Herring has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Elishav avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elishav lands a hook that snaps the head of Herring backwards.
Elishav goes for a takedown in the clinch but Herring prevents it.
Elmo Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moran Elishav.
Herring working hard to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herring breaks from the clinch.
Elishav tests Herring's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Elishav attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

Elishav looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Elishav missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Elishav is looking for a kimura here.
Herring trying to hold on to Elishav's head to control him but Elishav postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elishav is looking to take a break and control but Herring is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Herring looking for submissions off his back.
Elishav not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Elishav is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Elishav content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elishav looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Herring wants to control but Elishav is keeping busy.
It looks like Elishav is going to stand back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.

Herring is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Elishav pulls his head out easily.
Elishav wants to lay and pray for a moment but Herring keeps working.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Elishav looks to throw a body kick

and Herring counters with a shoot takedown. Elishav fights it but they end up in guard.
Elishav is trying to keep Herring in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elishav wants to sweep but no luck.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elishav is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

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

Elishav throws a head kick that misses.
Herring shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Elishav has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Elishav drives through and clinches with Herring against the cage.

Elishav breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elishav shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Herring defends it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elishav fails with the takedown.

Herring gets a double leg takedown into Elishav's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring with a flurry of punches that miss.
Herring with a nice head shot there.
Elishav looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Herring will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Herring makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Elishav is trying to keep Herring in close.
Herring with a nice head shot there.
Herring lands a couple of digs.
Herring stopping the sweep attempt from Elishav.
Elishav is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elishav is adopting a defensive guard.
Elishav not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Herring scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Elishav has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Herring can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Elishav has Herring pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Herring working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elishav closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Elishav drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Herring gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Elmo Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moran Elishav.
Herring gets underhooks to prevent Elishav's takedown attempt.
Herring really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Herring breaks the clinch.
Herring shoots in for a takedown but Elishav shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Elishav pushes Herring up against the cage in a clinch.
Herring jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Elishav walks away with a smile on his face. Herring gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Elishav throws a low kick but Herring moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Elishav. No joy for Herring on that attempt.
Elishav throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Elishav shoots in but no luck this time.
Herring attempts a counter takedown but Elishav avoids it well and moves away.
Elishav goes for a double leg but Herring avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Herring continues to drive forward.
Elishav throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Elishav displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Herring.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Herring has taken the fight to the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Moran Elishav will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Herring gets a takedown into half guard.

Elishav makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Elishav shoots in for a takedown but Herring shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Elishav looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Herring is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Elishav.
A head kick misses from Elishav.
Elishav fails to land the takedown.
Elishav takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Elishav with a poor takedown

and Herring counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Elmo Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Moran Elishav.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Herring.
Nice strikes from Herring there.
Ground and pound from Herring.
Herring seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Herring slows the pace down in half guard.
Herring working Elishav over with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herring lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Herring performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Herring lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Herring lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring is nestled in close to Elishav, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Elishav is trying to stand up here but Herring is controlling him well.
Herring scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Elishav wants to get back to full guard.
Elmo Herring overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Elishav tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Elishav looks like he's trying to stand up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Herring is nestled in close to Elishav, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Herring in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Elishav has hold of Herring's hands but Herring slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Herring winds up and cracks Elishav with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Herring slips a nice elbow through Elishav's hands, connecting with Elishav's forehead.
Herring prevents Elishav from improving his position.
Herring throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Elishav fails with the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elmo Herring showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Elishav has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Moran Elishav!
Moran Elishav decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.