PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Neil Herstag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Golovkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Herstag
vs
Golovkin

165 cm
26
141 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

165 cm
26
135 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

KaotiK

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Neil Herstag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Golovkin!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Golovkin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Herstag tries to avoid it but Golovkin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Herstag to the ground. Herstag escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Herstag tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Golovkin manages to circle out of the way.

Herstag closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Golovkin trying to control the position but instead, Herstag has worked for underhooks and has pushed Golovkin into the cage.
Herstag works on Golovkin's body with a couple of short punches.

Herstag breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Golovkin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Herstag.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Golovkin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herstag misses with a few strikes there.
Herstag lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Herstag!
Herstag swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin shoots in but Herstag avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Neil Herstag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Golovkin.
Golovkin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Herstag connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Golovkin scrambles back to his feet.
A left lands for Herstag.

Golovkin throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Herstag tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Golovkin is in Herstag's guard.
Golovkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Golovkin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Golovkin chips away with some ground and pound.
Herstag wants to stand up but Golovkin is controlling him.
Golovkin with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herstag works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Herstag wants to stand and escape but Golovkin is having none of it.
Herstag controlling Golovkin's posture.
Golovkin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Golovkin works over Herstag with some ground and pound from guard.
Golovkin chips away with some ground and pound.
Herstag knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Golovkin on the ground.
Golovkin with a flurry of punches that miss.

Golovkin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Golovkin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Golovkin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herstag works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Golovkin drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Golovkin jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Golovkin postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herstag wants to get back to his feet but Golovkin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Golovkin wants to control from the top but Herstag keeps moving.
Golovkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Golovkin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Golovkin chips away with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Golovkin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Golovkin stands up over Herstag, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Golovkin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Golovkin postures up and lands a big shot to Herstag's brow.
Herstag looking for a sweep. Not yet Herstag, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Golovkin throwing strikes but missing.
Herstag is breathing heavily.
Golovkin distracts Herstag with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Herstag is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Golovkin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Herstag's head.
Golovkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Golovkin wants to control from the top but Herstag keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Golovkin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Golovkin throws a big elbow that misses.
Herstag trying to keep a closed guard but Golovkin is proving a slippery customer.
Golovkin looking to pass the guard.
Golovkin with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Neil Herstag will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Golovkin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Herstag sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Golovkin somewhat.
It looked like Herstag was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Neil Herstag seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Golovkin with a poor takedown
letting Herstag counter with a right hand.
Herstag lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice shot by Herstag.
Golovkin fails with a takedown attempt.
We've been told by Herstag's head coaches at Soul Supremacy Rio that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Neil Herstag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikhail Golovkin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herstag lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Golovkin circles away quickly and effectively.

Golovkin drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Golovkin works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Golovkin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Herstag rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Golovkin's guard! Nice work there by Herstag!
Herstag throwing strikes but missing.

Golovkin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Golovkin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Golovkin lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin prevents Herstag from standing back up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Golovkin connects with a nice short shot to Herstag's temple.
Golovkin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Herstag is looking to escape.
Golovkin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Herstag is in trouble now - Golovkin has advanced to mount!
Herstag is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Golovkin lands a big shot there that rocks Herstag but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Golovkin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Herstag wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Golovkin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Golovkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Herstag?
Golovkin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Golovkin working Herstag over with strikes here.
Golovkin with a couple of short strikes.

Herstag is rocked!
Herstag is bucking up trying to escape but Golovkin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Oh Herstag is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Golovkin working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Golovkin working Herstag over with strikes here.
Herstag avoids a series of strikes thrown by Golovkin.
Herstag seems to have got his legs back now.
Golovkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Herstag?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Golovkin lands a big shot to the head and Herstag winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Mikhail Golovkin!