PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Numero Nueve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Herberg (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.

Nueve
vs
Herberg

173 cm
24
162 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
167 lbs
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Numero Nueve!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan Herberg!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Dmitry Maklakov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nueve shoots for a double leg takedown but Herberg sprawls well. He's pushed Nueve's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Herberg throws a nice looking combination but Nueve bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nueve shoots in and drives through. Herberg sprawls well.
No luck for Nueve with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Numero Nueve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nueve fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nueve has a takedown stuffed.
Herberg cracks Nueve with a good jab.
Nueve shoots in but Herberg avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Nueve looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Herberg!
Nueve will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Nueve is breathing heavily.
Herberg tries to reverse the position but Nueve maintains control.
Herberg bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Herberg is looking to work some ground and pound but Nueve has wrist control.
Nueve not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Herberg postures up in Nueve's guard and throws a big left but Nueve blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herberg content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Nueve wants to stand but Herberg is controlling the position.
Herberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Herberg throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Nueve works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Herberg is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Herberg prevents Nueve from getting back to his feet.
Nueve trying to control the position.
Herberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Nueve wants to sweep here but Herberg controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice shot by Herberg.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nueve is defended easily by Herberg.
Nueve closes this distance looking for a takedown but Herberg circles away.

Herberg gets the takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Herberg's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Nueve is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Herberg has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Herberg working the ground and pound.
Herberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nueve keeps working.
Nueve is trying to control Herberg's posture but Herberg avoids it.
Herberg working the head and body with strikes.
Herberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nueve keeps working.
Herberg lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Nueve down.
Herberg tries to score with some ground and pound. Nueve controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Herberg misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Herberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nueve keeps working.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nueve is looking to regain half guard here but Herberg keeps moving and retains side control.
Herberg cracks Nueve with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nueve is not content to let Herberg control the position.
Herberg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Herberg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nueve trying to control here.
Herberg throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nueve is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Herberg's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Herberg's back!

Herberg 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 Nueve gets his way!

Herberg preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Nueve.
Nueve gets his hands free as Herberg looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herberg is in bad spot here.

Nueve is persistently looking for the submission but Herberg is defending it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nueve is persistently looking for the submission but Herberg is defending it well.

Herberg showing good submission defense here.

Nueve is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Herberg defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Herberg fending off the submission attempt from Nueve.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Herberg 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.

Herberg drives through with a takedown into guard.
Herberg chips away with some ground and pound.
Herberg works over Nueve with some ground and pound from guard.
Nueve trying to control the position.
Herberg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Nueve looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Herberg missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Herberg chips away with some ground and pound.
Herberg trying to control but Nueve is working from the bottom.
Herberg stands up over Nueve, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Nueve escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Herberg gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Herberg preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nueve is working hard here to advance position.

Nueve working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Herberg has passed into half guard!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Herberg looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nueve with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Nueve manages to get to full guard.
Nueve is trying to control the position but Herberg postures up.
Herberg prevents Nueve from getting back to his feet.
Herberg controlling from the top position.
Herberg throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nueve keeping moving, preventing Herberg from controlling successfully.
Nueve is pulling down on Herberg's head to control his posture.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Nueve closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Herberg to the mat! Herberg manages to get full guard.
Herberg keeping full guard, as Nueve tries to pass.
Herberg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Herberg landing strikes from the mount and Nueve is in trouble!
Herberg is landing with some decent strikes but Nueve is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Nueve in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Nueve is refusing to be controlled, as Herberg sits in half guard.
Herberg sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Nueve tries to get to full guard but Herberg has control of the leg.
Nueve is trying to control but Herberg passes into side control!
Nueve is trying to control Herberg's posture but Herberg avoids it.
Johan Herberg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Herberg working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Nueve is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herberg prevents Nueve from improving his position.
Herberg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Herberg throwing shots but Nueve is blocking nicely.
Nueve trying to control but Herberg postures up.
Herberg prevents Nueve from improving his position.
Nueve blocking the ground and pound attempt from Herberg.
Nueve keeping hold of Herberg's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herberg lands with a punch from half guard.
Nueve trying to get back to full guard but Herberg takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Nueve tries to hold on but Herberg postures up.
Nueve is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Herberg 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! This is the final round!

Nueve fails with the takedown

and Herberg counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Herberg.
Nueve is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Herberg postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Herberg throws a big right hand that misses.
Herberg is working Nueve over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nueve looking to control.
Herberg is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Herberg scoring with some ground and pound.

Nueve had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Herberg defends it easily.

Nueve is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Herberg won't allow Nueve to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herberg postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Herberg works over Nueve with some ground and pound from guard.
Nueve can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Herberg controls the pace.
Herberg scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Herberg is looking to work some ground and pound but Nueve has wrist control.
Herberg postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nueve is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Herberg landing with the ground and pound.
Nueve wants to control the position but Herberg says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Herberg wants to take a breather but Nueve is having none of it.
Nueve wants to get back to his feet.
Nueve works his way to full guard. Good work.
Nueve preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herberg throws a big right hand that misses.
Herberg thows a big elbow that misses.
Nueve preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Nueve is trying to control the position but Herberg postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nueve with a lazy takedown attempt
and Herberg cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nueve misses with a takedown attempt

and Herberg counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Numero Nueve. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herberg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Nueve trying to control from the bottom.
Herberg lands with a punch from half guard.
Nueve is looking for a sweep. Herberg is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Herberg seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herberg slips a nice elbow through Nueve's hands, connecting with Nueve's forehead.
Herberg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nueve keeps working.
Herberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nueve's head.
Herberg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nueve's head.
Numero Nueve has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nueve is looking to improve his position.
Nueve wants to get back to his feet.
Herberg landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nueve tries to get to full guard but Herberg has control of the leg.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nueve takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nueve uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Herberg.
Nueve gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Herberg counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Herberg wants to control from the top but Nueve keeps moving.

Nueve looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Herberg working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Nueve's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nueve is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Herberg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Herberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Herberg is in close to Nueve's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Herberg stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nueve swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nueve with a poor takedown

and Herberg counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Nueve's guard now.
Nueve wants to sweep here but Herberg controlling him for the moment.
Nueve is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Herberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herberg wants to control from the top but Nueve keeps moving.

Nueve has his foot on Herberg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Herberg works his way back into a safe position though.
Johan Herberg is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Herberg lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johan Herberg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Herberg has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johan Herberg!