PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Faruq Farquaad (ranked 2653 p4p, 4867 weight class) and Leandro Hernandez (ranked 211 p4p, 325 weight class). Faruq Farquaad has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Farquaad
vs
Hernandez

192 cm
25
155
5 - 0 - 0

178 cm
25
146
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Faruq Farquaad!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leandro Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Jonathan Paton and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Farquaad misses with a looping left.
Farquaad sets himself, and Hernandez steps forward looking for the clinch! Farquaad avoids it this time.
Hernandez is looking to clinch but Farquaad is avoiding it.
Farquaad jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hernandez misses with a head kick.
Farquaad looks to throw the jab but Hernandez is out of range.
Hernandez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Farquaad.
Farquaad fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hernandez manages to avoid it.
Hernandez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Farquaad.
Farquaad really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Farquaad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Hernandez looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Hernandez tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Farquaad defends well and Hernandez ends up having to push Farquaad into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farquaad connects with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hernandez is defended easily by Farquaad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farquaad throws a looping overhand right but Hernandez ducks down to avoid it.
Hernandez is looking to clinch but Farquaad is avoiding it.
Hernandez fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Farquaad was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Faruq Farquaad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leandro Hernandez.
Hernandez staying out of range there.
Hernandez with a poor takedown
and Farquaad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hernandez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Farquaad.
Hernandez unleashes a big counter combination but Farquaad bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Farquaad connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Hernandez momentarily.
A head kick misses from Hernandez.
Hernandez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Farquaad throws out the jab.
Farquaad scores with a nice right hand.
Farquaad looks to land a right hand but Hernandez moved out of range.
Hernandez tries a head kick but it misses.
Farquaad checks the leg kick nicely there.
Farquaad swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Farquaad misses the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farquaad throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hernandez sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Farquaad looks to land a left hand but Hernandez moved out of range nicely.
Hernandez tries to clinch there but Farquaad circles away.

Hernandez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Farquaad pressing his opponent against the cage.
Farquaad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Hernandez can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Farquaad just stands there and leans against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Farquaad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hernandez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hernandez takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hernandez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Hernandez shoots in but Farquaad avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Farquaad looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Farquaad throws a hook but Hernandez blocks it.
Hernandez looks for a takedown but Farquaad sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Farquaad throws a series of punches but Hernandez moves out of range.
Farquaad leaves Hernandez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Farquaad misses with an uppercut.
Farquaad throws a jab but it's blocked by Hernandez.
Hernandez staying out of range there.

Hernandez closes the distance and clinches.
Hernandez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Farquaad smiles and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hernandez tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Farquaad counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hernandez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Farquaad avoids it really well and circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Faruq Farquaad dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Farquaad leaves Hernandez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hernandez slips a jab from Farquaad.
Farquaad is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Nice defenses there by Hernandez.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Hernandez! But no joy.
A jab from Farquaad misses.
Hernandez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A jab from Farquaad misses.
Farquaad circles away from the clinch attempt.
Farquaad swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Farquaad has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
A big right from Farquaad misses.
Farquaad is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Farquaad feints a jab promting Hernandez to slip. Farquaad then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Hernandez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Farquaad sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hernandez shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Farquaad but Farquaad pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Faruq Farquaad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leandro Hernandez.
Hernandez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Farquaad counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Farquaad.
Leandro Hernandez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Farquaad loads up on a big right hand but Hernandez slips the punch.
Farquaad cracks Hernandez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Farquaad lands a jab to Hernandez's midsection.
Faruq Farquaad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hernandez darts in looking for a takedown but Farquaad gets double underhooks and turns Hernandez into the cage.
Farquaad is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hernandez can do to turn this around?
Hernandez is breathing heavily.
Farquaad lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Hernandez tries to clinch but Farquaad is having none of it.
Farquaad is looking to counter punch.
A big left from Farquaad misses.
Hernandez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hernandez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
It looked like Farquaad was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Hernandez.
Hernandez defending well as Farquaad loads up on a big left hand.
Farquaad lands a jab to Hernandez's midsection.
Faruq Farquaad is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Farquaad bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Farquaad connects with a right hand. Hernandez shakes it off.
Hernandez uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Farquaad.
Hernandez drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Farquaad defends it well.
A nice combination there by Hernandez.
A lazy body kick from Hernandez
and Farquaad counters with a nice uppercut.
Hernandez looks to clinch
and Farquaad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Farquaad looks to land a left hand but Hernandez moved out of range nicely.
A telegraphed right hand from Farquaad misses the target.
Farquaad avoids a punch combination nicely.
Farquaad swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Hernandez defending well as Farquaad loads up on a big left hand.
Hernandez tries to counter by closing the distance.
Farquaad takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Farquaad misses with an uppercut. Hernandez saw that one coming.
Nice cross by Farquaad.
Farquaad missing with a left hand there. Hernandez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hernandez throws a predictable looking body shot
and Farquaad counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Hernandez dives in for a single leg takedown but Farquaad sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Farquaad digs a good body shot into Hernandez's ribs.
Farquaad will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Hernandez stuns Farquaad with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Hernandez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hernandez swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Farquaad counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farquaad waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hernandez.
Hernandez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Farquaad.
Despite the aggression on Hernandez's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A big right from Farquaad misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hernandez has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Farquaad finds it's way round the side to connect with Hernandez's head.
Hernandez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Farquaad counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Farquaad works the jab nicely.
Hernandez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hernandez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Hernandez is trying desperately to land a takedown but Farquaad is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Hernandez.
Farquaad swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Hernandez.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Faruq Farquaad dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Nice jab there from Farquaad.
Farquaad throws a jab but it's blocked by Hernandez.
Farquaad misses with a two punch combination.
A jab from Farquaad does it's job there.
Hernandez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Farquaad sprawls well. Farquaad wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hernandez gets slowly back to his feet.
Hernandez ducks under a wild hook from Farquaad.
Hernandez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Farquaad is fending him off so far but Hernandez persists. Nope, Farquaad circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Farquaad avoids the head kick by Hernandez.
Hernandez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Farquaad scores with a jab to the jaw.
Hernandez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Farquaad misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Farquaad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Farquaad misses with a wild combination.
Hernandez slips a straight right by Farquaad.
Hernandez wants to counter the offense by Farquaad and move into the clinch position.
A swing and a miss from Farquaad.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Farquaad cracks Hernandez with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Farquaad, as that shot connected.
Hernandez takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Farquaad throws a hook but Hernandez avoids it easily.
No luck for Hernandez with that takedown attempt.
A little feinted left hand from Farquaad on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Faruq Farquaad has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leandro Hernandez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Hernandez misses.
A quick step to the side and Farquaad tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Farquaad misses with a body shot.
Hernandez moves out of range of the strikes.
Hernandez takes one to the side of the head.
Hernandez shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Farquaad cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Farquaad ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hernandez moves away.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hernandez tries to clinch but Farquaad is having none of it.
Hernandez has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Hernandez doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Farquaad counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Farquaad loads up on a big right hand but Hernandez slips the punch.
Farquaad throws a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez ducks under a wild hook from Farquaad.
Farquaad circles away from the clinch attempt
and Farquaad counters with a straight right hand.
Farquaad throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Hernandez on the side of the head.
Hernandez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Farquaad misses with a hook. Hernandez ducked under it nicely.
Hernandez tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Farquaad scores with a hook.
Farquaad throws a lazy right hand but Hernandez sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hernandez is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Farquaad missing with a left hand there. Hernandez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Hernandez lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Hernandez defending well as Farquaad loads up on a big left hand.
No joy there for Farquaad, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Farquaad misses with a looping left.
Hernandez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Farquaad sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Hernandez doesn't manage to clinch there - Farquaad circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Farquaad misses the target.
Hernandez tries to clinch up but Farquaad circles away and keeps his distance.
Hernandez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Farquaad looks to land a combination but Hernandez avoids it well.
Hernandez gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Farquaad.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Farquaad misses with a hook.
Farquaad fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Hernandez moves out of range as Farquaad strikes.
Leandro Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hernandez dives in for a single leg takedown but Farquaad sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Faruq Farquaad showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Farquaad, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Faruq Farquaad!