PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Elmo Herring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Herring
vs
Hart

188 cm
19
151 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
147 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Elmo Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Hart!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herring has his takedown stuffed

and Hart decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Herring's guard.
Hart trying to move into half guard but instead Herring has managed to sweep!

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.
Hart is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Herring throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hart manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Herring manages to get himself to full guard.

Herring is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Herring will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Hart is stalling in the full guard.
Let's hope that Hart has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

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.
Hart trying to stand up but can't free himself from Herring's guard.
Herring trying to control the position.

Herring working for a triangle but Hart defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring keeping moving, preventing Hart from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hart shoots for a takedown but Herring saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Hart gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hart pushes Herring off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herring dives in for a single leg takedown but Hart sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Hart throws out a counter right but Herring avoids it with no problem.

Hart darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hart seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Herring does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Herring trying to control from the bottom.
Herring has a hand on Hart's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hart takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hart dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hart fails with a takedown attempt.
Herring looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hart tries to counter with a clinch but Herring shakes him off and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring scores with a head kick.
Elmo Herring is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart has his takedown stuffed
and Herring counters with a one-two to the body.

Hart shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Herring's guard.
Hart wants to pass the guard but Herring is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Herring is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Herring working a defensive guard but Hart manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hart decides to stand back up. Hart steps back and let's Herring get back to his feet.
Herring slaps away a takedown attempt from Hart, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Elmo Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Hart.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Herring enables Hart to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Herring manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hart passes Herring's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hart is thwarting Herring's attempts to control the position.
Hart stalling away here and it's allowed Herring to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

Hart gets to his feet. Herring looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Hart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Herring sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hart somewhat.
Hart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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.

Hart closes the distance and clinches.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hart wants to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Hart showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Herring's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hart shoots in for a takedown but Herring shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Herring went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Herring tries a low kick but Hart avoids it.
Hart tries to counter with a clinch but Herring shakes him off and moves away.

Hart drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Hart is looking to take a break and control but Herring is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hart tries for a kimura but Herring is defending well.
Hart tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Hart tries to advance to mount but Herring denies him.
Herring is not content to let Hart control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

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.
Herring is trying to control Hart's posture but Hart avoids it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Hart gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Herring counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
John Hart has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hart trying to control but Herring postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Herring not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Herring not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Herring throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Herring missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Hart blocking the ground and pound attempt from Herring.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Herring closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hart to the mat! Hart manages to get full guard.
Herring is standing up over Hart. Hart looks to escape but Herring dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herring landing a few strikes.
Herring tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Herring working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
You can see the frustration on Hart's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Herring misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elmo Herring showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hart 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Hart!