PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cleo Mayer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jerry Herrera (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.

Mayer
vs
Herrera

151 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
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 Las Vegas, Cleo Mayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jerry Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herrera looks for a takedown but Mayer sprawls well.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Herrera is defended easily by Mayer.

Herrera drives through and clinches with Mayer against the cage.

Mayer manages to pull guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Herrera sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jerry Herrera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Mayer closes the distance and clinches up with Herrera, looking for a takedown. Mayer pushes Herrera against the cage but Herrera circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mayer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Herrera sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mayer somewhat.
Herrera defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mayer.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cleo Mayer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Mayer slams his shin into Herrera's torso.

Mayer gets tackled into the cage by Herrera. Herrera maintains the clinch.
Mayer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Herrera.

Mayer pulls guard successfully.
Mayer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Herrera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mayer could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Herrera is stalling in the full guard.
Herrera throws an elbow that misses. Mayer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Herrera's guard. Nice move by Mayer!
Herrera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera has a closed guard, preventing Mayer from standing up.
Mayer preventing the sweep.
Mayer wants to get up but he can't break Herrera's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Herrera trying to control the position here.
Herrera has a closed guard, preventing Mayer from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Herrera shoots in for a double leg but Mayer sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Mayer drives through and clinches with Herrera against the cage.

Herrera tightens his grip and picks Mayer up, before dumping him to the ground. Mayer manages to land in guard.
Herrera would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Herrera throws a big right hand that misses.
Herrera is looking to stand up but Mayer won't let him.
Herrera sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herrera throws an elbow that misses. Mayer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Herrera's guard. Nice move by Mayer!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerry Herrera dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Herrera closes the distance and clinches.

Mayer successfully pulls guard.
Herrera trying to control but Mayer is working from the bottom.
Herrera wanted to stand there but Mayer had control of the position.
Herrera is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jerry Herrera wasn't active enough on the ground.
Herrera closes this distance looking for a takedown but Mayer circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Herrera as Mayer shoots in.

Herrera shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Herrera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Herrera looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mayer seems keen to control Herrera's posture.
Herrera throws a big elbow that misses.
Herrera wanted to stand there but Mayer had control of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Herrera clinches up with Mayer and pushes him back against the cage.

Herrera's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mayer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mayer tries to keep at a distance but Herrera has taken the fight into the clinch.

Mayer jumps guard and drags Herrera to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Mayer has control of Herrera's left arm, preventing Herrera from doing any damage.
Herrera slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Mayer keeping moving, preventing Herrera from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Herrera's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Cleo Mayer.
Mayer connects with a body shot that sends Herrera's belly button to the back.
Herrera fails with the takedown
and Mayer counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Herrera pushes Mayer up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Mayer pulls guard successfully.
Herrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Mayer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerry Herrera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Herrera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mayer fails with a takedown attempt.

Herrera shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Herrera is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Mayer sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera is trying to control the action in half guard but Mayer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Herrera throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mayer is staying active underneath Herrera, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mayer blocking the ground and pound attempt from Herrera.
Herrera performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Mayer is not content to let Herrera control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jerry Herrera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Herrera moves out of range of the body kick.
Herrera takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Herrera uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Herrera doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mayer counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Herrera fails to land the takedown.
Cleo Mayer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jerry Herrera.
Herrera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera tries for a takedown but Mayer circles away easily

and Mayer counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Herrera!
Herrera wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Mayer wants to stand but Herrera has his arm trapped.
Mayer cracks Herrera with a big elbow.
Herrera is not content to let Mayer control the position.
Mayer wants to stand but Herrera is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera tries to bench press Mayer off him but Mayer keeps the position.
Mayer wants to stand but Herrera has his arm trapped.

Mayer decides to take the fight back to the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Mayer does it's job there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Herrera misses with a takedown attempt

and Mayer decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Herrera's guard.
Herrera not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cleo Mayer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jerry Herrera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mayer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cleo Mayer showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Herrera 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jerry Herrera!