PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alex Herring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuanjia Huo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herring
vs
Huo

168 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 Tokyo, Alex Herring!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuanjia Huo!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yukihiro Shimada and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Herring misses.
Huo dodges the punch combination from Herring.
A combination from Herring does no damage.
Huo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Herring pinned against the cage. Herring gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Huo slips a jab and a cross from Herring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huo scores with a head kick.
Herring swats away the attempt to clinch by Huo.
Herring swinging wilding here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Herring. No joy for Huo on that attempt.
A thudding body kick lands there by Huo!
Huo scores with a nice body kick.
Huo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Herring as he avoids it easily.
Alex Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuanjia Huo.
Herring fails to land with a series of punches.
Huo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Herring counters with a series of strikes. Huo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Herring throws out a leg kick but Huo moves out of range and Herring only half commits.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herring throws a head kick that misses
and Huo counters with an outside leg kick.
Herring misses with a double jab
and Huo counters with a nice body shot.
Herring throws a combination that misses

and Huo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Herring pushes Huo off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Herring misses with a combination
and Huo counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herring misses with a few strikes there.
Alex Herring is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Huo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Herring.
Huo looks to clinch
and Herring counters with a two punch combo.
Herring looks to land a combination but Huo avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Huo.
Herring throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Huo tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Herring counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herring throws a left and a right that both miss

and Huo moves into the clinch.
Huo stops a takedown attempt from Herring.
Herring is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Huo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Herring is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Huo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Herring looking for a takedown.
Herring drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Huo gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Herring is breathing heavily.
Herring goes for a takedown in the clinch but Huo prevents it.
Herring can't get the takedown.

Huo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Huo misses with a takedown attempt - Herring sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Huo lands a nice looking body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuanjia Huo dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Huo misses with a body punch
and Herring counters with a three punch combo that has Huo backing up. Huo nods at Herring to acknowledge the strikes.
Herring throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Huo misses with a double jab
and Herring counters with a series of strikes. Huo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Herring misses with a combination
and Huo counters with an inside leg kick.
No joy there for Herring, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Huo wants to clinch up but Herring keeps it at a distance.
Herring looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Herring stuffs the takedown attempt from Huo. Huo gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herring rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Huo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Herring misses with a double jab
and Huo counters with a slapping leg kick.
Herring misses with a combination
and Huo counters with a good low kick that Herring was not able to check.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Herring scores with a three punch combo!
Herring scores with a one two! Huo had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Alex Herring is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left and a right from Huo both land. Nice combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Huo tries a head kick but it misses.
Herring throws a combination that misses
and Huo counters with a nice body kick.
Herring throws a combination that misses

so Huo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Herring is looking to stand back up but Huo counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Herring.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Huo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huo works Herring's body with a nice hook.
Herring lands a jab-cross combination.
Huo shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Herring counters with a series of strikes. Huo will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A bone on bone clash there as Herring blocks the leg kick.
Huo shoots and misses
and Herring counters with a three punch combo that has Huo backing up. Huo nods at Herring to acknowledge the strikes.
Alex Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuanjia Huo.
Huo moves away from the strike by Herring.
Huo lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Huo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Herring swivels and escapes.
Herring fails to land with a series of punches.
Herring is working the combinations to good effect here.
Herring misses with a combination
and Huo counters with a big head kick but Herring shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuanjia Huo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Huo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Herring looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Huo throws a right and a left that both miss.
Nice sprawl there from Herring as Huo shoots in.
Herring throws a right and a left that Huo avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Huo.
Alex Herring has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuanjia Huo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herring misses with a double jab
and Huo counters with a head kick.
Huo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Huo looks for a takedown but Herring sprawls well.
Huo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Huo takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Huo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Huo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Huo throws a head kick that misses
and Herring counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Herring misses with a double jab
and Huo makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Herring really felt that one!
Herring blocks a head kick by Huo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Huo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Herring swinging wilding here.
Huo shoots for a takedown but Herring saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Herring misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Herring.
Huo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Herring counters with a head kick. That will keep Huo thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Herring throws a series of punches but Huo moves out of range.
Alex Herring has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Huo tries to clinch but Herring moves out of range.
Huo shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A combination from Herring does no damage.
Herring throws a nice looking combination but Huo bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Herring misses with the combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Herring tries for a takedown but Huo manages to get underhooks.
Herring is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Huo pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Huo trying to stall but Herring improves his position.
Huo misses with some punches.
Herring has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Huo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Herring has Huo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Huo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Herring tries for a takedown. No joy.
Huo prevents the takedown attempt.
Herring tries to score a body lock takedown but Huo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Herring goes for a takedown attempt but Huo pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Herring misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Herring throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Huo counters with a thumping low kick.
A nice combination there by Herring.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Herring blocks a head kick by Huo.
Herring throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Huo counters with a solid body kick.
Huo throws an off balance right hand
and Herring counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Yuanjia Huo.
Well Huo 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuanjia Huo!