PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Mueller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Herzegovina (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.

Mueller
vs
Herzegovina

205 cm
24
350 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
290 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Santiago Mueller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kevin Herzegovina!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herzegovina shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mueller as he jumps to the side.
Mueller shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Herzegovina pinned against the cage. Herzegovina gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Herzegovina fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Herzegovina throws a head kick but Mueller moves out of range.
Herzegovina blocks a head kick by Mueller.
Herzegovina is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Herzegovina tries to clinch up.
Mueller tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Herzegovina tries to clinch there but Mueller circles away.
Mueller fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller goes for a double leg but Herzegovina avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Herzegovina continues to drive forward.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Mueller. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Herzegovina is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mueller can't fight it off and eventually Herzegovina manages to take the fight to the floor. Mueller looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Mueller looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Herzegovina looking to pass the guard.
Herzegovina wants to control from the top but Mueller keeps moving.
Mueller preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mueller keeping full guard, as Herzegovina tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mueller managing to control the position.
Herzegovina should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mueller wants to sweep but no luck.
Mueller is pulling down on Herzegovina's head to control his posture.

Santiago Mueller has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Mueller shoots in for a double leg but Herzegovina sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Herzegovina misses with a takedown attempt - Mueller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Herzegovina lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Mueller is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herzegovina misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzegovina shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mueller as he jumps to the side.
Mueller stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mueller wants it to stay on the feet.
Herzegovina closes the distance and clinches up with Mueller, looking for a takedown. Herzegovina pushes Mueller against the cage but Mueller circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Herzegovina shoots for a takedown but Mueller saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mueller keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nice jab there from Mueller.
Mueller is trying hard to land a takedown here. Herzegovina sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mueller just misses with a punch to the body.
Mueller shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Herzegovina but Herzegovina pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Herzegovina tenderised Mueller's leg. Mueller is trying to keep his angry face on.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Herzegovina is defended easily by Mueller.
Mueller fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Herzegovina avoids it really well and circles away.
Herzegovina shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Mueller sprawls well. Mueller wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Herzegovina gets slowly back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Herzegovina thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Herzegovina 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.

A head kick misses from Herzegovina.
Mueller doesn't manage to clinch there - Herzegovina circles away.
Mueller shoots in for a takedown but Herzegovina shows good takedown defense.
Mueller defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Herzegovina.
Mueller shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Herzegovina as he avoids it easily.
Mueller tries to clinch but Herzegovina is having none of it.
Herzegovina tries a head kick but it misses.

Herzegovina moves into the clinch.
Herzegovina is trying to pull guard but Mueller turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Mueller is trying to pull guard but Herzegovina has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Mueller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mueller is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Herzegovina pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Herzegovina wants a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller stalls.
Herzegovina goes for a takedown attempt but Mueller pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Herzegovina throws a head kick that misses.
Mueller wants to clinch.
Herzegovina circles away from the clinch attempt.
Herzegovina looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mueller is fending him off so far but Herzegovina persists. Nope, Mueller circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzegovina misses with a takedown attempt - Mueller sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mueller misses with a takedown attempt - Herzegovina sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Mueller shoots in for a takedown but Herzegovina shows good takedown defense.
Horrible takedown by Herzegovina or perhaps it was just good defense by Mueller which made him look bad.
Mueller stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mueller wants it to stay on the feet.
Herzegovina shoots in but Mueller avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Mueller moves into the clinch successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mueller tries to pull guard but Herzegovina won't allow it.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Herzegovina. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Herzegovina tries for a takedown but Mueller manages to get underhooks.
Mueller is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Herzegovina gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Herzegovina is trying to pull guard but Mueller turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Herzegovina is trying to drag Mueller to the mat but Mueller just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Mueller.
Mueller has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Herzegovina after a bit of a struggle.

Herzegovina breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Santiago Mueller is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mueller misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herzegovina gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Herzegovina scores with a shoulder strike.
Herzegovina is working for takedown but Mueller is calmly controlling the position for now.
Mueller lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Mueller tries to land knees in the clinch but Herzegovina avoids the damage to the body.
Herzegovina stops a takedown attempt from Mueller.

Herzegovina pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Herzegovina shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Mueller as he jumps to the side.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herzegovina fails with a takedown attempt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Mueller dives in and grabs Herzegovina's left leg, looking for a takedown. Herzegovina pushes down on Mueller's head and hops out.
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 Santiago Mueller will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Herzegovina shoots in and drives through. Mueller sprawls well.
Herzegovina throws a nice looking combination but Mueller bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mueller closes the distance and clinches up with Herzegovina, looking for a takedown. Mueller pushes Herzegovina against the cage but Herzegovina circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Herzegovina shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for Mueller with that takedown attempt.
Herzegovina throws a right and a left that Mueller avoids nicely.
Herzegovina lands a leg kick that knocks Mueller off balance momentarily.
Some wild striking there from Mueller.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Herzegovina looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mueller is fending him off so far but Herzegovina persists. Nope, Mueller circles away and we're back to standing.
Santiago Mueller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kevin Herzegovina.
Herzegovina throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Mueller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mueller fails with the takedown.
Mueller showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Herzegovina.
Herzegovina misses the jab.
Mueller fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Herzegovina manages to avoid it.
Herzegovina fails with a takedown attempt.
Mueller fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Herzegovina manages to avoid it.
Herzegovina has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mueller looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mueller misses the shot to the body.
Mueller avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Herzegovina shoots in for a takedown but Mueller shows good takedown defense.
Herzegovina throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mueller's waist but Mueller gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Herzegovina off to one side.
Mueller fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Herzegovina avoids it really well and circles away.

Herzegovina fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Mueller, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herzegovina breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Mueller moves into the clinch.
Herzegovina managing to block the knees to the body from Mueller.
Mueller jumps guard but Herzegovina turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Herzegovina jumps guard.
Herzegovina looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mueller is one step ahead there.
Mueller postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mueller engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzegovina avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mueller wants to stand but Herzegovina is controlling his posture from full guard.
Mueller slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Santiago Mueller wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mueller shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Herzegovina sprawls well. Herzegovina wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mueller gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kevin Herzegovina.
Well Herzegovina 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:29
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Kevin Herzegovina!