PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Julian Tran (ranked 5034 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harald Hexum (ranked 6044 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Tran
vs
Hexum

173 cm
20
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
176 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Julian Tran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harald Hexum!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tran manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hexum on his heels. He'll look to pass Hexum's guard now, I'm sure.
Hexum wants to get back to his feet but Tran passes into half guard.
Hexum looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Tran tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Tran is keen to just control but Hexum is a slippery customer.
Tran is taking a breather. Hexum says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Tran is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Hexum has managed to free his arm - good work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hexum gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Tran is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hexum tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tran's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tran has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tran trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tran trying to control but Hexum is working from the bottom.

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.

Hexum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Tran cracks Hexum with a good jab.

Hexum shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Hexum preventing the sweep.
Tran keeping moving, preventing Hexum from controlling successfully.
Tran could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran is looking to stand up but Hexum isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tran 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
We've been informed that Hexum has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Hexum trying to control the position from guard on top but Tran is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tran dives in for a single leg takedown but Hexum sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Tran tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hexum swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tran looks for a takedown but Hexum sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Tran. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tran is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Hexum's half guard.

Tran is looking for a kimura but Hexum is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tran to get the leverage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hexum keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hexum trying to hold on to Tran's head to control him but Tran postures up.
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 Julian Tran will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Tran.
Tran circles away from the clinch attempt.
A combination from Hexum does no damage.
Tran changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice takedown defense from Hexum. No joy for Tran on that attempt.
Tran lands with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tran gets caught flat footed, as Hexum shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tran wants to sweep here but Hexum controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hexum looking to sit in guard and control but Tran gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tran thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tran postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Hexum working for a triangle but Tran defends it easily.
Hexum keeping moving, preventing Tran from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Hexum looking to control.
Tran looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tran throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tran thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hexum pulls Tran in close to his closed guard and prevents Tran from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tran tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Hexum defends well and Tran ends up having to push Hexum into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Tran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tran looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hexum is fending him off so far but Tran persists. Nope, Hexum circles away and we're back to standing.
Hexum lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Julian Tran is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tran throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hexum was covering up waiting for the punch and Tran finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Hexum working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tran got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hexum has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tran has managed to get both his arms back between Hexum's legs - danger averted.
Hexum trying to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tran is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Julian Tran will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Tran darts in looking for a takedown but Hexum gets double underhooks and turns Tran into the cage.
Hexum is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Tran misses with a takedown attempt - Hexum sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Harald Hexum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tran shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hexum sprawls well. Hexum wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tran gets slowly back to his feet.
As Tran backs off Hexum throws a huge counter combo but Tran manages to avoid it all.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Tran. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hexum takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tran shoots in for a takedown but Hexum shows good takedown defense.
Hexum walks forward, straight into a front kick from Tran.
Tran avoids a punch combination nicely.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tran is defended easily by Hexum.
Tran blocks the body kick.
Tran shoots for a takedown but Hexum saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tran thows a body kick. Hexum tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Tran gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A head punch on the inside from Tran fails to land.

Tran has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Hexum uses from the top position.

Tran has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hexum off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Hexum fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tran, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Tran is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hexum is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tran to the mat. Tran regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hexum postures up.
Julian Tran overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tran keeping moving, preventing Hexum from controlling successfully.
Tran trying to keep a closed guard but Hexum is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hexum trying to control but Tran is working from the bottom.
Hexum stops Tran from standing up.

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.
Hexum looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hexum trying to control but Tran is working from the bottom.

Hexum gets to his feet - Tran follows without any prompting.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tran is defended easily by Hexum.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harald Hexum.
I think Tran 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Tran!