PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arsham Eslami (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vincent Herrera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Eslami
vs
Herrera

177 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Arsham Eslami!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Vincent Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Trevor Gratis and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herrera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Eslami moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Eslami with a poor takedown

and Herrera counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Herrera.

Herrera has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Eslami is trying to keep an underhook but Herrera manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Herrera escapes and gets back to his feet.
Eslami fails with the takedown

and Herrera counters by moving into the clinch.

Herrera wants the takedown. Eslami is fighting it off but Herrera persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Eslami's guard against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herrera is in close to Eslami's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Herrera slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Eslami has his foot on Herrera's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Herrera works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herrera is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
I looks like Herrera might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Herrera prevents Eslami from getting back to his feet.
Eslami wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Herrera manages to pass to side control.

That's two 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.
Herrera performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vincent Herrera just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Eslami tries to clinch but Herrera moves away

and Herrera counters with a takedown into side control.
Eslami is letting Herrera control him for a moment.
Eslami tries to contro but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Herrera takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Eslami tries to hold on but Herrera pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera controlling his opponent.
Eslami is desperately trying to improve his position but Herrera has a good base and remains in mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Eslami in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Herrera controlling his opponent.

Herrera looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Herrera looks gassed!
Herrera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Eslami can't escape the position.
Eslami is working hard here to advance position.
Herrera controlling the pace for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Eslami working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Eslami stuffs the takedown.
Eslami tries to clinch but Herrera moves away

and Herrera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Eslami won't be happy with that.
A control attempt from Eslami but he's now mounted!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Herrera cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Herrera lands a big shot there that rocks Eslami but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Herrera working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Eslami is trying to escape the mount.
Eslami in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eslami taking shots to the head.
Herrera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Herrera scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Eslami?
Herrera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vincent Herrera has got the better of the ground game so far.
Herrera working the ground and pound effectively.
Eslami throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Herrera controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eslami wants to control but Herrera is having none of it.
Herrera with the ground and pound from mount.
Herrera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Herrera working Eslami over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eslami is trying to escape the mount.
Herrera sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Herrera landing strikes from the mount and Eslami is in trouble!
Herrera lands a big shot there that rocks Eslami but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Herrera controlling from mount.
Herrera lands a nice shot to the head.
Eslami is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera landing strikes from the mount and Eslami is in trouble!
Herrera scoring with strikes but Eslami is staying in there.
Herrera working Eslami over with strikes here.
Herrera breaks from Eslami's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Herrera with good strikes from the mount here!
Eslami is looking to improve his position but Herrera isn't that keen on the idea.
Herrera looking to control and managing it successfully.
Eslami can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Herrera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Herrera feints and as Eslami raises his hands in defense, Herrera changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Herrera looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Eslami looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera controls from within his opponent's guard.
Eslami looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Herrera slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vincent Herrera just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Herrera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Eslami as he avoids it easily.
Herrera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Eslami clinches but Herrera breaks the clinch

and Herrera counters with a single leg into guard. Eslami didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera controlling from the top position.
Eslami is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Herrera is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Eslami not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Eslami can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Herrera controls the pace.
Let's hope that Herrera has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera postures up.
Eslami being controlled here, momentarily.
Eslami trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herrera stopping the sweep attempt from Eslami.
Herrera content to stall in guard here.
Eslami wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Eslami leaves Herrera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Herrera looks for a takedown but Eslami sprawls well.
Arsham Eslami has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vincent Herrera is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Arsham Eslami has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vincent Herrera.
Eslami misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vincent Herrera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Herrera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Herrera!