PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Javier Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Siphiwe Tshabalala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Hernandez
vs
Tshabalala

185 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\
Los Diablos Rojos FightGear//$10 Apparel on Sale\\

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Javier Hernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Siphiwe Tshabalala!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from Hernandez does no damage.
Hernandez misses with a double jab.
Hernandez dives in and grabs Tshabalala's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tshabalala pushes down on Hernandez's head and hops out.
Tshabalala tries to close the distance and clinch but Hernandez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Tshabalala scores with a takedown into Hernandez's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tshabalala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tshabalala is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Hernandez controls Tshabalala momentarily but Tshabalala frees himself.
Hernandez wants to sweep here but Tshabalala controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez is trying to hold Tshabalala in close to prevent damage but Tshabalala has managed to pass into half guard.
Tshabalala looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hernandez is trying to get back to full guard.
Tshabalala prevents Hernandez from standing back up.
Hernandez really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Hernandez is breathing heavily.
Hernandez is looking to control Tshabalala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hernandez avoid being mounted?
Tshabalala controlling the action here.
Tshabalala works his way into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Hernandez is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hernandez knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tshabalala on the ground.
Tshabalala content just to control the position here.
Tshabalala manages to capitalize on a mistake by Hernandez to take his back!

Tshabalala is persistently looking for the submission but Hernandez is defending it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Hernandez is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Tshabalala is working the ground and pound. Can Hernandez escape?
Hernandez trying to control the action but Tshabalala just sinks the hooks in.
Tshabalala slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Tshabalala lands strikes to the head.

That's four 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.
Tshabalala loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Hernandez hold on?

Hernandez is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Tshabalala gets his way!
Tshabalala is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Hernandez trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Tshabalala is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala dominated that 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.

Tshabalala takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Tshabalala has managed to clinch.

Hernandez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hernandez tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Tshabalala paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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

Tshabalala decides to stand back up. Tshabalala steps back and let's Hernandez get back to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tshabalala.
Hernandez shoots in and drives through. Tshabalala sprawls well.
Tshabalala slips a jab and a cross from Hernandez.
Javier Hernandez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hernandez tries to clinch there but Tshabalala circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hernandez is defended easily by Tshabalala.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tshabalala throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hernandez was covering up waiting for the punch and Tshabalala finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tshabalala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hernandez wants to control the position but Tshabalala says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Tshabalala looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Tshabalala prevents Hernandez from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tshabalala wants to work for an arm triangle but Hernandez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hernandez is looking for a sweep. Tshabalala is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tshabalala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hernandez trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tshabalala passes into side control, despite Hernandez's attempt to control the position.
Hernandez takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Tshabalala cracks Hernandez with a big elbow.
Tshabalala just content to control the position.
Hernandez is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Hernandez is letting Tshabalala control him for a moment.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Tshabalala decides to stand back up.
Good exchange - Tshabalala coming out on top.
Hernandez misses with a takedown attempt

and Tshabalala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Javier Hernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tshabalala lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hernandez tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tshabalala smiles and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Siphiwe Tshabalala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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.

Tshabalala scores a takedown into full mount!
Tshabalala prevents Hernandez from getting the reversal.
Tshabalala controlling the pace for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tshabalala cracks Hernandez with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Hernandez tries to improve his position but instead Tshabalala has taken his back!
Hernandez looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Tshabalala is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Hernandez is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Siphiwe Tshabalala!