PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renan Barao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Javier Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernandez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Danza kuduro kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Renan Barao had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Barao
vs
Hernandez

170 cm
30
151 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

170 cm
27
142 lbs
8 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Good elbows
Powerful

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Renan Barao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Javier Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Richard Clark and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barao takes one on the button.

Barao clinches up with Hernandez and pushes him back against the cage.
Hernandez misses with an elbow over the top.
Barao blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Barao misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Barao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Barao moves into the clinch successfully.
Hernandez looking to stall.

Barao breaks from the clinch.
Barao throws a one two combo.

Barao has managed to clinch.
Hernandez looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Barao dodges an elbow strike from Hernandez.
Barao lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Hernandez or not.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barao stalling against the cage.

Barao breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez looks to land a left hand but Barao moved out of range nicely.
Barao throws a nice head kick!
Renan Barao is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hernandez pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Barao closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Barao creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Barao misses with a body punch.
Barao prevents a takedown attempt there.
Barao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barao can't get the takedown.
Barao avoids the elbow strike from Hernandez, against the cage.
Barao looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Barao stalling against the cage.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Hernandez has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Barao lands with a right to the head.
Hernandez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Hernandez tries to break the clinch but Barao is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Barao.

Barao jumps guard and drags Hernandez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Hernandez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hernandez is looking to take a break and control but Barao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hernandez is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Barao working for a triangle but Hernandez defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Barao manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Barao trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
Hernandez trying to keep a closed guard but Barao is proving a slippery customer.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Barao trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Barao is aware though and is defending well.
Barao postures up.
Barao with a nice head shot there.
Barao stopping the sweep attempt from Hernandez.
Hernandez working a defensive guard here.
Barao looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Barao trying to control but Hernandez is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Barao closes the distance and pushes Hernandez back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Barao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Barao misses with some punches.
Hernandez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Hernandez manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Barao sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hernandez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Barao showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hernandez is trying to keep Barao in close.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hernandez is on top in guard.

Barao looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hernandez passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hernandez is looking to take a break and control but Barao is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao is looking to reverse the position.
Hernandez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barao keeps working.
Barao gets back to half guard.
Hernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Hernandez is looking for a kimura but Barao is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hernandez to get the leverage.
Javier Hernandez has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez wants to pass the guard but Barao is defending well.
Barao slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hernandez has gone for a leg lock! Barao slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hernandez's guard.

Barao thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barao postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hernandez trying to keep a closed guard but Barao is proving a slippery customer.

Hernandez working for a triangle but Barao defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barao slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Barao works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hernandez is looking for a sweep. Barao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Barao is trying to work for a kimura but Hernandez is defending well.
Hernandez wants to control but Barao is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Barao moves into full mount! Hernandez won't be happy about that!
Hernandez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Hernandez is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Barao sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barao is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Hernandez sees it coming and defends easily.
Hernandez trying to control but Barao postures up.
Hernandez wants to control the action here but instead Barao manages to pass to full mount!
Hernandez wants to control but Barao is having none of it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Barao thowing shots but they're missing.
Hernandez is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barao tries to control but Hernandez wriggling away.
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 Renan Barao will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hernandez misses with a low kick.
Hernandez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barao moves out of range as Hernandez strikes.
Barao slips a straight right by Hernandez.

Barao moves into the clinch.
Hernandez is looking for a takedown.
Hernandez trying to stall but Barao improves his position.
Barao goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hernandez misses with an elbow strike.
Hernandez pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Barao tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hernandez just stands there and leans against the cage.

Barao's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Barao blocks a jab.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barao dodges an elbow strike from Hernandez.
Barao tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Barao tries a body shot but Hernandez blocks it.
Hernandez wants to stall.
Barao can't find room to land a body shot as Hernandez controls the action.
Barao lands a right hand.
Renan Barao has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Barao blocks an elbow strike.
Hernandez pushes off an throws an elbow but Barao leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Barao breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hernandez shoots in looking for a takedown. Barao tries to sprawl out of it but Hernandez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Barao manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Hernandez gets tackled into the cage by Barao. Barao maintains the clinch.
Hernandez throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Barao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Barao gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Hernandez lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Barao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hernandez thows a leg kick but Barao checks it

and Barao counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Barao.
Hernandez's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Barao drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hernandez pulls his leg out and moves away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Barao darts in and clinches Hernandez up against the cage.

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

Barao fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Hernandez, pushing him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hernandez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Barao.

Barao has clasped his hands together around Hernandez's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Barao trying to control the position but Hernandez is working away.
Javier Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hernandez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Barao.
Hernandez tries to improve position but can't.

Barao tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Barao has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Barao trying to control the position but Hernandez is working away.
Hernandez is trying to control Barao's posture but Barao avoids it.
Hernandez manages to get back to half guard.

Barao is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hernandez is looking to control Barao's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hernandez avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Barao keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Hernandez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hernandez is looking to control Barao's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hernandez avoid being mounted?
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Javier Hernandez was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Barao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hernandez throws a nice looking combination but Barao bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Barao throws a combination. Hernandez tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Barao moves into the clinch.

Barao pulls guard effortlessly.
Barao lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Hernandez!

And that's the end of the fight!
Renan Barao showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Barao has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renan Barao!
During a confident post fight interview, Renan Barao thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.