PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Hernandez (ranked 183 p4p, 436 weight class) and Olan Zapina (ranked 19 p4p, 43 weight class). Hernandez comes to the cage accompanied by Journey - Only The Young. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hernandez
vs
Zapina

170 cm
27
147
15 - 2 - 0

174 cm
33
150
14 - 11 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Fast

Conquer
Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Hernandez!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Olan Zapina!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Donald Grub and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Hernandez.
Zapina throws a jab but it's blocked by Hernandez.

Hernandez feints and as Zapina raises his hands in defense, Hernandez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Hernandez throws a big right hand that misses.
Hernandez lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Zapina wants to stand but Hernandez is controlling the position.
Hernandez working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zapina's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zapina can do anything to dispel that myth.
Zapina keeping moving, preventing Hernandez from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez with a nice head shot there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zapina wants to stand up but Hernandez is controlling him.
Hernandez controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hernandez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hernandez is pushing down on Zapina's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zapina is fighting to maintain full guard but Hernandez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Hernandez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zapina avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hernandez.
Hernandez working Zapina over with strikes.
Hernandez trying to control from half guard but Zapina is working away.
Hernandez working Zapina over with strikes.
Hernandez winds up and cracks Zapina with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Zapina is refusing to be controlled, as Hernandez sits in half guard.
Well, if Hernandez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hernandez stops Zapina from getting back to his feet.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zapina has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Brooklyn Mixed Martial Arts. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Hernandez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zapina doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hernandez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zapina 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.
Zapina is trying to stand back up but Hernandez is controlling him
Well, if Hernandez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hernandez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Hernandez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Hernandez is working for a kimura but Zapina is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Hernandez lands with a punch from half guard.
Zapina wants to get back to his feet.
Hernandez sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Zapina is trying to stand.
Hernandez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hernandez is trying to control. Zapina wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Hernandez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Hernandez closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Zapina manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Hernandez keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Zapina scores with a hook to the body.
Hernandez avoids the elbow strike from Zapina, against the cage.

Hernandez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Zapina ducks right into an uppercut from Hernandez.
Hernandez throws the left hand but Zapina avoids the punch easily.
Hernandez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Hernandez looking to score a takedown here. Zapina is defending well but Hernandez drives through and ends up in Zapina's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hernandez throwing strikes from guard but Zapina blocks nicely.
Hernandez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hernandez passes into half guard.
Zapina is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hernandez scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Well, if Hernandez is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Zapina is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hernandez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hernandez prevents Zapina from standing back up.
Hernandez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hernandez keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Zapina avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hernandez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez working the head and body with strikes.
Hernandez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zapina looks like he's trying to stand up.

Zapina manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Hernandez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Zapina takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Hernandez slips a jab from Zapina.
Hernandez feinted with a counter takedown.
Hernandez avoids the body shot from Zapina.
A slow jab from Zapina misses its intended target.
Zapina moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Frank Hernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zapina misses with an uppercut. Hernandez saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zapina on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Zapina misses with a body shot.
Hernandez feinted with a counter takedown.
Zapina uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hernandez.
Zapina appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Hernandez lands with an overhand left.
Hernandez cracks Zapina with a right hand to the side of the head.
Zapina takes one on the button.
Zapina drops his hands momentarily and Hernandez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hernandez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Zapina stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Zapina drops his hands momentarily and Hernandez takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Hernandez moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hernandez throws a jab but it's blocked by Zapina.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zapina is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hernandez is controlling him.
Hernandez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Hernandez landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hernandez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zapina works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hernandez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zapina can do to turn this around?
Hernandez throws a big elbow that misses.
Hernandez showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hernandez advances to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Hernandez dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hernandez scores with a nice right hand.

Hernandez closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Zapina quickly recovers to half guard.
Hernandez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zapina with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Zapina blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hernandez.
Hernandez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hernandez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hernandez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Hernandez prevents Zapina from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zapina with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hernandez lands strikes from half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Hernandez in particular looking to stall.

Hernandez seems to be looking for submissions.
Zapina on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Hernandez is trying to work for a kimura but Zapina is defending well.
Hernandez performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zapina wants to get back to his feet.
Hernandez is trying to control the action in half guard but Zapina is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Hernandez is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Hernandez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zapina sees it coming and defends easily.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Hernandez connects with a nice short shot to Zapina's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hernandez stops Zapina from getting back to his feet.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zapina blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hernandez.
Hernandez is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Hernandez working the head and body with strikes.
Hernandez trying to control from half guard but Zapina is working away.
Hernandez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Hernandez is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Zapina is defending against the submission attempts here by Hernandez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez working over Zapina with some ground and pound. Zapina looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zapina wants to get back to his feet.
Hernandez lands with a punch from half guard.
Hernandez is keen to just control but Zapina is a slippery customer.
Hernandez winds up and cracks Zapina with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hernandez is nestled in close to Zapina, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Hernandez lands with a punch from half guard.
Hernandez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hernandez stops Zapina from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Hernandez clearly takes that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zapina throws a lazy head kick

and Hernandez counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hernandez.
Hernandez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zapina wants to stand but Hernandez is controlling the position.
Hernandez's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hernandez scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hernandez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hernandez landing with the ground and pound.
Hernandez postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez with a nice head shot there.
Hernandez sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez scoring with some ground and pound.
Hernandez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hernandez has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hernandez is working Zapina over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Frank Hernandez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zapina is looking to stand back up but Hernandez counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Zapina.
Hernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two 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 takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Hernandez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zapina doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Hernandez.
Hernandez working the head and body with strikes.
Hernandez drops an elbow to the side of Zapina's head.
Zapina looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hernandez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Zapina with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Hernandez tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zapina knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hernandez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hernandez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Hernandez working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Zapina trying desperately to get to his feet.
Hernandez landing punches.
BOOM! Hernandez connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hernandez landing strikes from the mount.

Zapina is rocked!
Hernandez lands a big elbow - Zapina is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Zapina is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Frank Hernandez!
Frank Hernandez retains his featherweight title!
An out of breath Frank Hernandez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.