PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andrea Hermias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Walsh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hermias's entrance music is Gang Starr - Code Of The Streets . A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hermias
vs
Walsh

170 cm
21
144 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

150 cm
26
145 lbs
12 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Andrea Hermias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Walsh!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hermias shoots in for a double leg but Walsh sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Hermias closes the distance and clinches up with Walsh, looking for a takedown. Hermias pushes Walsh against the cage but Walsh circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Hermias throws a right hand that misses
enabling Walsh to counter with a crisp jab.

Hermias closes the distance and clinches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hermias.
Hermias blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hermias trying to stall but Walsh improves his position.
Walsh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hermias drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Walsh gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrea Hermias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hermias can't find room to land a body shot as Walsh controls the action.
Walsh misses with the head strike.

Hermias pulls guard effortlessly.
Hermias looking to hit a scissor sweep but Walsh is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hermias working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Walsh doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Walsh manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hermias manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Walsh manages to get himself to full guard.
Hermias pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Walsh is keeping the position for now.
Hermias forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermias trying to control the action but Walsh is working from the bottom.

Hermias is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Walsh keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hermias is looking to advance position but Walsh won't allow it.
Hermias takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermias seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Walsh does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Well, if Hermias is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hermias is trying to control the action in half guard but Walsh is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Andrea Hermias just wasn't active enough.
Hermias shoots in looking for a takedown but Walsh manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hermias's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Hermias moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Walsh.
Hermias tries to work over Walsh's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hermias tries to score a body lock takedown but Walsh shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Walsh lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hermias backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hermias tries for a takedown. No joy.
Walsh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hermias is working for takedown but Walsh is calmly controlling the position for now.
Hermias drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hermias tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Walsh smiles and moves away.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Walsh as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Walsh cracks Hermias with an open hand slap.
Hermias fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrea Hermias dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hermias moves into range and clinches up with Walsh.
Hermias tries for a takedown but Walsh manages to get underhooks.
Walsh struggles to land a body shot inside as Hermias controls his hands.
Walsh is pressed up against the cage. Hermias has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Walsh down to the mat. Walsh avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Hermias instigates a clinch.
Hermias has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Walsh is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrea Hermias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Walsh lands with a right to the head.
Walsh throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Walsh lands a left hand that snaps the head of Hermias backwards.
Walsh scores with a nice hook to the head.
Walsh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Walsh is pressed up against the cage. Hermias has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Walsh down to the mat. Walsh avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Walsh tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hermias paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermias throws a hook to the side of Walsh's head but Walsh sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hermias shoots in but Walsh avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Hermias uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Walsh.
Hermias fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Walsh lands with a good body shot.
Hermias shoots in but no luck this time.

Hermias clinches up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walsh lands a nice shot to the body.
A short uppercut from Walsh.
Hermias prevents a body shot from Walsh.
Walsh lands a shoulder strike.
Hermias goes for a takedown attempt but Walsh pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Hermias will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Brian Walsh is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Walsh thuds his right hand into Hermias's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Walsh as he jumps to the side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A swing and a miss from Walsh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermias throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Walsh sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Hermias has Walsh up against the cage in a clinch.
Walsh misses with a hook from the clinch.
Walsh lands a hook that snaps the head of Hermias backwards.
Brian Walsh seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Hermias gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Hermias is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Walsh defends it well.
Hermias thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hermias is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Walsh is just riding it out for now. Hermias eventually gives up the hold.
Walsh is looking to control Hermias's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Walsh avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Walsh is trying to stand back up but Hermias is controlling him
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hermias is trying to control the action in half guard but Walsh is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Brian Walsh will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Walsh keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hermias misses with a takedown attempt - Walsh sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hermias fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Walsh on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Walsh sprawls well. Walsh wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hermias gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrea Hermias. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Walsh sprawls well. Walsh wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Hermias gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hermias shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Walsh pinned against the cage. Walsh gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Hermias walks into a left hand.

Hermias closes the distance and pushes Walsh back into the cage.
Hermias looking for a takedown.
Walsh lands with a short shot to the head.
Hermias drops down looking for an ankle pick but Walsh pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hermias looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Walsh is fending him off so far but Hermias persists. Nope, Walsh circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hermias throws out a loose jab but Walsh uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Walsh but Walsh pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hermias looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Walsh uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Hermias.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hermias throws a looping overhand right but Walsh ducks down to avoid it.
Hermias takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Walsh listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Hermias shoots in looking for a takedown but Walsh manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Hermias's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Hermias uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Walsh.
Hermias looks to land a left hand but Walsh moved out of range nicely.
Hermias shoots in but Walsh avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Walsh connects with a single shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Walsh takes one to the chin there.
Hermias shoots in for a takedown but Walsh shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Walsh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Hermias.
Walsh bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice sprawl there from Walsh as Hermias shoots in.
Walsh slips a straight right by Hermias.
Hermias fails with the takedown.
Walsh connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Brian Walsh.
I think Walsh has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Brian Walsh!