PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Hernandez (ranked 2424 p4p, 3298 weight class) and Dominick Poirier (ranked 250 p4p, 301 weight class). The key to victory for Daniel Hernandez has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Hernandez
vs
Poirier

170 cm
25
151
3 - 1 - 0

176 cm
26
145
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Daniel Hernandez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dominick Poirier!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hernandez misses the shot to the body.
Hernandez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Poirier throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Hernandez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Poirier is in Hernandez's guard.
Poirier is pushing down on Hernandez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Hernandez is fighting to maintain full guard but Poirier has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hernandez is looking to control Poirier's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hernandez avoid being mounted?
Hernandez is trying to stand up here but Poirier is controlling him well.
Hernandez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hernandez is controlling Poirier's trapped leg to prevent Poirier from advancing to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poirier looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Hernandez slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hernandez tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier is in close to Hernandez's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Hernandez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hernandez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Poirier advances position into side control!

Poirier tries for a kimura but Hernandez is defending well.
Poirier lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Poirier really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hernandez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Poirier decides to stand back up.
Hernandez throws a series of punches but Poirier moves out of range.
Hernandez backing away here, and Poirier unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Hernandez misses with a two punch combination.
Poirier feints the counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Hernandez duly obliges.
Hernandez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Poirier counters with a single leg into guard. Hernandez didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Poirier advances to half guard.
Poirier is trying to control. Hernandez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ground and pound from Poirier.
Poirier trying to control the action but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Hernandez pushes Poirier off looking to stand but Poirier dives back in and keeps control.
Hernandez wants to get back to full guard.
Poirier is looking to take a break and control but Hernandez is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Poirier passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Hernandez!
Poirier trying to control but Hernandez is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poirier looking to control and managing it successfully.
Hernandez regains half guard.
Hernandez trying to control from the bottom.
Poirier content to control rather than advance.

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.
Hernandez moves into full guard.
Poirier scoring with punches to the head and body.
Poirier connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hernandez is on top in guard.

Poirier controls Hernandez momentarily but Hernandez frees himself.

Hernandez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Poirier shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Poirier showed some decent athleticism there.

Hernandez has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Poirier is on him like a limpet, forcing Hernandez back against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dominick Poirier will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hernandez throws out a powerful jab.
Poirier is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Poirier swings for the body but Hernandez moves out of range.
Hernandez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hernandez throws a left and a right that both miss

and Poirier counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Hernandez pushes Poirier off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hernandez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Poirier circles away quickly and effectively.

Poirier moves into the clinch successfully.
A short right from Poirier on the inside.

Poirier is trying to trip Hernandez. He has hold of a leg but Hernandez is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Poirier persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hernandez working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Poirier has passed into half guard!
Dominick Poirier has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hernandez is trying to control but can't.

Hernandez actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier is pressing down on Hernandez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hernandez is holding on for now.
Hernandez tries to roll over but Poirier keeps him under control.
Hernandez is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Poirier scores with a couple of nice shots.

Hernandez kicks Poirier off and gets back to his feet.
Poirier takes one to the side of the head.
Hernandez misses with a few strikes there.
Hernandez jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hernandez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No joy there for Hernandez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Poirier moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As Hernandez backs off Poirier throws a huge counter combo but Hernandez manages to avoid it all.
Hernandez misses with a combination

and Poirier counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poirier trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hernandez working a defensive guard here.
Hernandez keeping moving, preventing Poirier from controlling successfully.

Hernandez has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Poirier doesn't defend quickly enough and Hernandez has managed to lock this one up! Can Poirier escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Hernandez on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Daniel Hernandez!
Daniel Hernandez is the new featherweight champion!