PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Trampling (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Herzog
vs
Trampling

177 cm
28
134 lbs
21 - 8 - 0

170 cm
29
141 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

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 21 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Viktor Herzog!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Matt Trampling!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Ryoma Takatsuka and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Trampling.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Trampling with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Herzog dodges the punch combination from Trampling.
Herzog lands a head shot.
Trampling tried to score with a low kick but Herzog checks it.
Herzog displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Trampling throws out the jab.

Herzog shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trampling wants to control but Herzog is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Herzog working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Trampling's thigh. Trampling counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Herzog really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Herzog is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Trampling is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Herzog in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trampling wants to sweep but no luck.
Herzog trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Herzog trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Trampling working a defensive guard here.
Herzog throwing strikes but missing.
Herzog loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Trampling keeping moving, preventing Herzog from controlling successfully.

Herzog is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Trampling looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Herzog is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Herzog 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trampling is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Trampling wants to sweep here but Herzog controlling him for the moment.
Herzog stands up over Trampling, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Herzog forces his way into half guard.
Herzog is looking to take a break and control but Trampling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Trampling has hold of Herzog's hands but Herzog slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
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!
Trampling has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Herzog is working away from the top position though.
Herzog prevents Trampling from improving his position.

Herzog is looking for a kimura here.
Herzog prevents Trampling from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trampling trying to hold on to Herzog's head to control him but Herzog postures up.
Herzog is looking to take a break and control but Trampling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Trampling has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Herzog is working away from the top position though.
Herzog throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Herzog is looking to take a break and control but Trampling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Herzog wants to pass to mount but Trampling is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog trying to control from half guard but Trampling is working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Herzog bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Trampling will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Decent striking displayed by Trampling there.
Herzog sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Trampling chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Trampling misses with a wild body shot.
Trampling throws a leg kick but Herzog sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Trampling throws a sloppy head kick and Herzog moves out of range easily.
Trampling cracks the inside of Herzog's front leg.
Trampling swats away the attempt to clinch by Herzog.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Trampling closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Trampling lands in his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzog keeping moving, preventing Trampling from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Viktor Herzog will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Herzog walks forward, straight into a front kick from Trampling.
Herzog ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Good work by Herzog as he checks the leg kick.
Trampling is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Trampling throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Herzog sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Trampling throws a nice inside leg kick.

Herzog shoots in and bounces Trampling off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Herzog postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Herzog with a flurry of punches that miss.
Herzog lands a couple of digs.
Trampling looking to control.
Trampling keeping moving, preventing Herzog from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trampling isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Herzog stacks Trampling on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Herzog!
Herzog working the body and head with strikes.

Herzog is trying to get an arm triangle but Trampling is defending well.
Herzog working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Herzog connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Trampling some visible discomfort.
Herzog working away.
Herzog is chipping away with strikes.
Trampling struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trampling is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Herzog seems content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Trampling is looking to control Herzog's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Trampling avoid being mounted?
Herzog trying to mount his opponent but Trampling defends it.
Ground and pound from Herzog.
Herzog wants to pass the guard but Trampling is defending well.
Trampling wants to get back to full guard.
Herzog thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Trampling's head.
Herzog is looking to take a break and control but Trampling is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Trampling makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Trampling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trampling is trying to control the position but Herzog postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Herzog accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herzog is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Herzog makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Trampling utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Trampling is controlling Herzog's posture.
Herzog passes Trampling's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Trampling is trying to maintain the position but Herzog is very close to passing his half guard.
Trampling really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Herzog. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Trampling is looking to improve his position.
Herzog scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trampling is trying to get back to full guard.

Herzog is trying for a kimura here. Trampling looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Herzog wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Viktor Herzog!
Viktor Herzog decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.