PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hideaki Inoue (ranked 3083 p4p, 155 weight class) and Braxton Hernando (ranked 21398 p4p, 392 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Inoue
vs
Hernando

176 cm
25
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hideaki Inoue!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Braxton Hernando!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Inoue throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Inoue throws an overhand right that lands on Hernando's shoulder, as Hernando tries to avoid the shot.
Hernando throws a right hand that misses
and Inoue connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hernando connects with a right hand. Inoue shakes it off.
Hernando takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
We've been informed that Hernando has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Inoue bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Hernando throws a predictable looking body shot
and Hernando takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Inoue swings for the body but Hernando moves out of range.
Hernando ducks under a wild hook from Inoue.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernando lands with an overhand left.
Hernando misses with a hook. Inoue ducked under it nicely.
Hernando lands a body shot.
Hernando throws a sloppy head kick
and Inoue counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Hernando.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoue takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Hernando pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
An attempted straight right counter from Inoue misses the target.
Braxton Hernando seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hernando gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Inoue trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Hernando manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Inoue looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hernando working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Inoue 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.
Hernando passes Inoue's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Inoue manages to get to full guard.

Inoue looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernando is pushing down on Inoue's leg trying to pass to half guard. Inoue is fighting to maintain full guard but Hernando has managed to sneak the leg through.
Inoue has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Inoue wants to control but Hernando is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hernando seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Hernando is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hernando working Inoue over with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Inoue wants to improve his position but Hernando is controlling well.
Hernando wants to take a breather but Inoue is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernando controlling the action here.
Hernando seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Inoue does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Inoue is trying to control but can't.
Inoue is doing well to control the position and prevent Hernando from advancing to side control.

Inoue is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Hernando pulls his head out easily.

Inoue looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.

Hernando seems to be looking for submissions.
Inoue trying to control from the bottom.
Inoue regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Hernando.
Hernando trying to control but Inoue is working from the bottom.
Inoue is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Inoue throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hernando advances position into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Inoue steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Hernando.
Inoue lands a lovely overhand right.
Hernando throws a leg kick
and Inoue counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Inoue shoots in and drives through. Hernando sprawls well.
A combination from Hernando does no damage.
Hernando jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hernando circles away from the clinch attempt.
Inoue avoids the body shot from Hernando.
Hernando throws a lazy uppercut
and Inoue counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Inoue fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hernando to the ground. Inoue is now in Hernando's guard.
Inoue pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hernando is keeping the position for now.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hernando avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Inoue sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Inoue wants to control from the top but Hernando keeps moving.
Inoue working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Inoue trying to control but Hernando is working from the bottom.
Hernando looking to control.
Inoue is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Inoue on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Hernando misses with a two punch combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Inoue takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Hernando feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Inoues jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Braxton Hernando seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Inoue takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice body punch from Hernando.
Inoue looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Inoue is rocked!
Inoue misses with a right hand

and Hernando counters by clinching up.
Oh Inoue is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Hernando makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hernando creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Hernando works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Hernando has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Hernando lands a right hand that snaps the head of Inoue backwards.
Hernando creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Inoue with a big uppercut! Inoue tries to clinch up but Hernando pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Inoue to the mat! Inoue covers up and Hernando unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Braxton Hernando!