PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kyrie James (ranked 5053 p4p, 4299 weight class) and Joey Hernandez (ranked 292 p4p, 265 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

James
vs
Hernandez

177 cm
18
143
0 - 1 - 0

160 cm
18
135
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Conquest Nutrition™ (160Q) $97
Tokzik Dope L.A.

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Kyrie James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joey Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hernandez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches James napping and manages to drive through into side control!

James throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Hernandez shoots in and bounces James off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

James pushes Hernandez off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

James drops Hernandez with a beautiful combination! Hernandez stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - James is looking for the KO!

Hernandez is rocked!
James throws a sloppy head kick and Hernandez moves out of range easily.
Hernandez is still on wobbly legs! Can James finish him?
James stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and James wants it to stay on the feet.
Hernandez seems to have recovered his senses.
Hernandez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? James is fending him off so far but Hernandez persists. Nope, James circles away and we're back to standing.

Hernandez closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. James did well to prevent Hernandez getting side control.

James manages to escape and get back to his feet!

James closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Hernandez did well to prevent James getting side control.
Hernandez is controlling James's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James content to control rather than advance.
Hernandez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

James is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Hernandez defends it well.
James controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
James's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Hernandez wants to get back to full guard.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hernandez defending well though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hernandez manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as James accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
James preventing the sweep.
Hernandez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
James tries to clinch there but Hernandez circles away.
Hernandez shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has James pinned against the cage. James gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
James is looking to counter the offense by Hernandez and move into the clinch.
Kyrie James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Hernandez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez dives in for a single leg takedown but James sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

James gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

James manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Hernandez shoots in and gets a takedown into James's guard.

James is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
This has been an exciting period of action!
James goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
James is pressed up against the cage. Hernandez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hernandez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. James tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hernandez is in James's guard.

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

James gets caught napping as Hernandez dives in and scores a takedown. James manages to retain guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Hernandez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with James. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

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

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hernandez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hernandez trying to control but James is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyrie James dominated 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.

A momentary lapse in concentration from James enables Hernandez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. James manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

James manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hernandez is looking for a takedown.
Hernandez tries to score a body lock takedown but James shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hernandez goes for a takedown in the clinch but James prevents it.
Kyrie James has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Hernandez.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hernandez closes this distance looking for a takedown but James circles away.

James gets a clinch.
Hernandez can't get the takedown.
Hernandez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but James gets the underhooks and prevents it.
James wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James has picked Hernandez up - he's going for a ride! James dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
James sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hernandez defending well though.
James trying to control from half guard but Hernandez is working away.
James trying to control from Hernandez's half guard. Hernandez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hernandez is trying to keep James in close.
James wants to pass the guard but Hernandez is keeping the position.
Hernandez wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James trying to control the position from guard on top but Hernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
James passes easily into side control. Nice work.
James trying to control the action but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
James sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hernandez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
James working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez looks to move to half guard but instead James has passed into mount! Damn!
James is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hernandez can do to turn this around?
Hernandez is trying desperately to improve position.
James throwing strikes here but Hernandez is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
James throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Hernandez because James loaded up on that one.
James wants to control the pace but Hernandez is squirming around nicely.
Hernandez tries to hold on but James pushes him away.
James will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hernandez is looking to escape.
Hernandez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hernandez is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
James trying to control but he's not successful this time.
James is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Hernandez is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hernandez looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kyrie James dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hernandez.
James can't do much from the bottom here.
James gets back to half guard.

James has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Hernandez is on him like a limpet, forcing James back against the cage.
James swings wildly with an uppercut but Hernandez uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hernandez has dropped down and is working for a takedown. James is trying to keep an underhook but Hernandez manages to get the takedown into half guard.
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 trying to control from half guard but James is working away.
James is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James won't allow Hernandez to pass to mount.
James is trying to get back to full guard.
Hernandez works his way into full mount!

Hernandez is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But James has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from James!
Hernandez can't keep his opponent in guard - James advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
James is thwarting Hernandez's attempts to control the position.
James trying to control from Hernandez's half guard. Hernandez has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Hernandez has control of James's left arm, preventing James from doing any damage.
Hernandez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
James won't allow Hernandez to sweep him here.
James looking to sit in guard and control but Hernandez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

James tries to land a sweep but no joy.
James controls Hernandez momentarily but Hernandez frees himself.

James looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to free his leg and advance position but James is retaining full guard.
Hernandez looking to sit in guard and control but James gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

James would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Joey Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kyrie James.
Well James has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyrie James!