PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marc Fuentes (ranked 6444 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harald Hexum (ranked 6648 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Fuentes
vs
Hexum

160 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
176 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marc Fuentes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harald Hexum!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fuentes misses with a left hand
and Hexum counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Hexum looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Hexum ducks under a wild hook from Fuentes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fuentes.
Fuentes misses with a body kick.
Hexum is looking for the big counter here.
Fuentes scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hexum in his tracks.
Fuentes misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hexum swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hexum has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hexum moves out of range of the strikes.

Hexum looking to score a takedown here. Fuentes is defending well but Hexum drives through and ends up in Fuentes's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fuentes pushes Hexum off and scrambles back to his feet.
Fuentes lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Fuentes tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Hexum swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Fuentes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hexum looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hexum wants to clinch up but Fuentes keeps it at a distance.
Fuentes tries to counter with a takedown but Hexum is quick to defend against it.
Hexum moves out of range as Fuentes throws a body kick.
Fuentes lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Fuentes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Hexum gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Fuentes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hexum looking to score a takedown here. Fuentes is defending well but Hexum drives through and ends up in Fuentes's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Fuentes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fuentes stands up over Hexum, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fuentes trying to control but Hexum is working from the bottom.
Fuentes postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fuentes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hexum being controlled here, momentarily.
Fuentes might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Fuentes trying to control the position from guard on top but Hexum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hexum preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes lands a couple of digs.
Fuentes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hexum on the ground.
Fuentes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fuentes postures up and lands a big shot to Hexum's brow.
Fuentes looking to sit in guard and control but Hexum gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Hexum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hexum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hexum stops Fuentes from standing up.
Fuentes 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.
Hexum stops Fuentes from standing up.
Fuentes bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hexum's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fuentes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fuentes trying to control but Hexum is working from the bottom.
Hexum looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fuentes throwing strikes but missing.
Hexum seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Fuentes is in close to Hexum's body, working some short punches and elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Fuentes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fuentes is trying hard to land a takedown here. Hexum sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fuentes getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Marc Fuentes is winning the standup battle so far.
Fuentes sizes up Hexum with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Hexum closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Fuentes really is a fat lump.
Fuentes wants to break free but Hexum has control.
Fuentes wants to get back to striking at distance but Hexum won't allow it.
Fuentes is trying to break the clinch but Hexum is controlling him.

Fuentes pulls guard successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fuentes 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fuentes is on top in guard.

Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fuentes sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fuentes gets to his feet. Hexum looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Hexum clinches with his opponent.

Fuentes pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fuentes will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Fuentes gets caught flat footed, as Hexum shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Fuentes has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Hexum has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Fuentes tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hexum just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Fuentes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fuentes tries to pull guard but Hexum holds him up against the cage and eventually Fuentes drops back down to his feet.
Fuentes can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes working hard to break the clinch.
Fuentes tries to pull guard but Hexum forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Hexum turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Fuentes tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Fuentes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hexum can do to turn this around?
Hexum is trying to stick to Fuentes's back but Fuentes is turning into Hexum. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Hexum's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Fuentes.
Fuentes has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hexum is proving hard to escape from.

Hexum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Marc Fuentes overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fuentes throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hexum keeping moving, preventing Fuentes from controlling successfully.
Fuentes stands up over Hexum, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fuentes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Fuentes decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Harald Hexum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Hexum darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Hexum is looking for a kimura but Fuentes is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hexum to get the leverage.
Hexum wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fuentes keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Fuentes wants to get back to his feet.
Fuentes is trying to get back to full guard.
Fuentes looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Marc Fuentes 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. This is the final round!

Fuentes throws a hook but Hexum blocks it.
Hexum doesn't manage to clinch there - Fuentes circles away.
Fuentes tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hexum swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Fuentes looks to land a body kick but Hexum moved away.
Fuentes shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hexum as he jumps to the side.

Fuentes throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Hexum was covering up waiting for the punch and Fuentes finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hexum avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hexum trying to control the position.
Hexum keeping moving, preventing Fuentes from controlling successfully.
Fuentes lands a couple of elbows.

Fuentes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hexum, up you get!

Fuentes clinches up against the cage.
Fuentes fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Fuentes's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fuentes will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fuentes is defended easily by Hexum.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Fuentes. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hexum scores with a jab.

Fuentes darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Fuentes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hexum wants to control but Fuentes is keeping busy.

Fuentes decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Fuentes wants to clinch
and Hexum makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Fuentes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Harald Hexum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Fuentes gets caught flat footed, as Hexum shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Fuentes is looking to stand back up but Hexum counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Fuentes.

Fuentes scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Hexum manages to mount him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hexum putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fuentes wants to try and get back to his feet.
Fuentes can't escape the position.
Fuentes really wants to buck Hexum off and get back to his feet.
Fuentes can't escape the position.
Fuentes regains half guard.
Harald Hexum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Hexum is nestled in close to Fuentes, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Harald Hexum.
I think Fuentes has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marc Fuentes!