PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Roman Hercules (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and EM Punk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman Hercules had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.5lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hercules
vs
Punk

173 cm
19
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Good low kicks
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Roman Hercules!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, EM Punk!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hercules leaves Punk with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Punk fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hercules avoids it really well and circles away.

Hercules shoots in and gets a takedown into Punk's guard.
Hercules lands a couple of digs.
Hercules with a nice head shot there.
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.
Hercules postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Punk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hercules trying to control the position from guard on top but Punk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Punk working for a triangle but Hercules defends it easily.
Hercules lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hercules slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Hercules lands a couple of elbows.

Punk is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Punk is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hercules works over Punk with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hercules scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hercules makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Punk throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Hercules postures up and lands a big shot to Punk's brow.
Hercules chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Punk looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Hercules pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Punk is keeping the position for now.
Hercules postures up and lands a big shot to Punk's brow.

Hercules got a little sloppy there for a moment and Punk has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Hercules has managed to get both his arms back between Punk's legs - danger averted.
Hercules connects with a couple of short punches.

Hercules avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hercules is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Punk had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Hercules defends it easily.
Hercules landing with the ground and pound.
Hercules scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punk looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Hercules is defending well. Punk quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Hercules has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Punk celebrates on the ropes, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). EM Punk!