PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nico Lerch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Hum Baby (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.

Lerch
vs
Hum Baby

163 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Nico Lerch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Hum Baby!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, John Mangel and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lerch closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Hum Baby gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Lerch is trying to control but can't.

Hum Baby is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lerch sees it coming and defends easily.
Hum Baby winds up and cracks Lerch with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Hum Baby is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hum Baby not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Hum Baby has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Lerch looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hum Baby is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lerch defends it well.
Hum Baby sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lerch taking some punishment here, with Hum Baby in his half guard.
Hum Baby is nestled in close to Lerch, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lerch is looking to escape.
Hum Baby looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hum Baby wants to take a breather but Lerch is having none of it.

Hum Baby is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hum Baby works his way into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hum Baby thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lerch wants to get back to his feet.
Hum Baby scores with a couple of short elbows.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hum Baby remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Lerch is looking to regain half guard here but Hum Baby keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hum Baby working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Hum Baby landing a few strikes.
Lerch gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Lerch is breathing heavily.
Hum Baby can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lerch is looking to escape.
Hum Baby fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hum Baby tries to control but Lerch wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hum Baby lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The referee warns Lerch that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hum Baby wants to control but instead Lerch manages to regain half guard.
Hum Baby tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lerch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Still in half guard, Hum Baby seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hum Baby keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice body kick from Lerch.
Hum Baby shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lerch as he jumps to the side.
Hum Baby leaves Lerch with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lerch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nico Lerch. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hum Baby finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Hum Baby closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lerch to the mat! Lerch manages to get full guard.
Hum Baby scoring with some ground and pound.
Hum Baby slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hum Baby working the head and body with strikes.
Hum Baby has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Lerch!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hum Baby working the ground and pound effectively.
Johnny Hum Baby has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hum Baby looking to control but Lerch is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Hum Baby scoring with strikes but Lerch is staying in there.

Hum Baby is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lerch is surviving well by controlling Hum Baby's body position as best he can.
Hum Baby breaks from Lerch's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Hum Baby trying to control but Lerch is having none of it.
Lerch in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Lerch might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hum Baby raining down hammerfists from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hum Baby is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Lerch is surviving well by controlling Hum Baby's body position as best he can.
Hum Baby has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Hum Baby looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Hum Baby lands with some strikes.
Lerch taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hum Baby controlling the pace for now.

Hum Baby working for a submission but Lerch is keeping him at bay.
Hum Baby landing strikes from the mount and Lerch is in trouble!
Hum Baby is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lerch in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hum Baby cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hum Baby sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Lerch taking shots to the head.
Lerch could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hum Baby lands with some strikes.
Hum Baby content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Hum Baby showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hum Baby fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice cross by Hum Baby.
Hum Baby scores with a nice right hand.

Lerch is rocked!

Hum Baby dives in and gets a big takedown. He lands in full mount and immediately unloads a series of heavy strikes! Lerch has had enough and taps out.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Johnny Hum Baby!