PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joonas Ragnarsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jose Hernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hernandez comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Spain's National Anthem kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Jose Hernandez has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Joonas Ragnarsson's chin.

Ragnarsson
vs
Hernandez

182 cm
19
186 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonas Ragnarsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jose Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez looks for a takedown but Ragnarsson sprawls well.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Hernandez.
Hernandez in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ragnarsson's coaches at Elite Burn have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Hernandez working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Hernandez looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ragnarsson is avoiding damage well.
Hernandez lands a nice forearm strike.
Ragnarsson is pushing Hernandez's head away, looking to escape. Hernandez manages to hold on to the position though.
Hernandez working the ground and pound but Ragnarsson is defending the strikes.
Hernandez throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ragnarsson taking punishment in the form of punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernandez working the strikes but Ragnarsson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Hernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Ragnarsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hernandez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ragnarsson's head.
Hernandez thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ragnarsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hernandez.
Hernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hernandez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Hernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hernandez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ragnarsson is trying to stand.
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. Hernandez connects with a nice short shot to Ragnarsson's temple.
Hernandez throwing shots but Ragnarsson is blocking nicely.
Ragnarsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Hernandez.
Ragnarsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hernandez.
Hernandez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ragnarsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hernandez.
Ragnarsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hernandez.
Ragnarsson is breathing heavily.
Ragnarsson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Hernandez.
Hernandez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hernandez missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hernandez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ragnarsson's head.
Ragnarsson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Hernandez on the ground.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ragnarsson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hernandez scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hernandez lands strikes from half guard.
Hernandez scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hernandez misses with a head shot. Ragnarsson uses the momentum to regain guard.
Hernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Ragnarsson has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Ragnarsson has wrist control.
Hernandez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Hernandez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hernandez throwing strikes from guard but Ragnarsson blocks nicely.
Hernandez throws a strike but Ragnarsson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ragnarsson tries to stand but Hernandez is controlling from the bottom.

Hernandez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ragnarsson is aware though and is defending well.
Ragnarsson controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hernandez is pulling down on Ragnarsson's head to control his posture.
Ragnarsson is looking to stand up but Hernandez won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ragnarsson stays in close to Hernandez's body and controls the position.

Hernandez isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ragnarsson stacks Hernandez on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ragnarsson!

Ragnarsson stands up.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Ragnarsson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Hernandez to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Ragnarsson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Hernandez dominated that round.
That's time! Ragnarsson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ragnarsson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Ragnarsson forces Hernandez back against the cage and clinches.
A nice left hand lands by Ragnarsson.

It looks like Jose Hernandez has been cut.
Ragnarsson lands a shoulder strike.
Hernandez misses with a body punch.
Hernandez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ragnarsson is defending well.

Hernandez has hold of one of Ragnarsson's legs. Ragnarsson is fighting the takedown attempt but Hernandez gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Hernandez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hernandez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Hernandez scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hernandez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ragnarsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Ragnarsson, not yet.
Hernandez scoring with some ground and pound.
Hernandez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ragnarsson controlling the position.
Hernandez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Ragnarsson has wrist control.
Hernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Ragnarsson has wrist control.
Hernandez throwing strikes from guard but Ragnarsson blocks nicely.
Hernandez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Hernandez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Ragnarsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hernandez lands a couple of elbows.
Hernandez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ragnarsson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hernandez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hernandez lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hernandez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ragnarsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hernandez throwing strikes but missing.
Hernandez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ragnarsson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hernandez throwing strikes from guard but Ragnarsson blocks nicely.
Hernandez trying to control but Ragnarsson is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hernandez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ragnarsson circles away.
Hernandez takes a jab right on the kisser.

Hernandez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Hernandez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hernandez has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez throwing strikes but missing.
Hernandez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hernandez postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ragnarsson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Hernandez, into his guard.

Hernandez looking for a guillotine here but Ragnarsson defends easily.
Ragnarsson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Hernandez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ragnarsson defends well.

Hernandez looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ragnarsson passes into half guard.
Ragnarsson controlling the pace.
Hernandez wants to get back to full guard but Ragnarsson has passed into side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ragnarsson stands up and beckons Hernandez to his feet.

Ragnarsson moves into the clinch.
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 Joonas Ragnarsson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Jose Hernandez's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Hernandez tries to keep at a distance but Ragnarsson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Ragnarsson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Ragnarsson.
Ragnarsson pushes Hernandez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hernandez takes a shot to the head.
Ragnarsson lands with a right to the head.

Hernandez is rocked!
A short left from Ragnarsson.
Hernandez is still on wobbly legs! Can Ragnarsson finish him?
Ragnarsson dips a shoulder and cracks Hernandez with a mighty uppercut! Hernandez falls back against the cage and Ragnarsson unloads with a barrage of strikes! Hernandez is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Ragnarsson screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:34 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Joonas Ragnarsson!