PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Esteban Finley (ranked 7193 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mitchell Hernandez (ranked 4781 p4p, 0 weight class). Mitchell Hernandez will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Finley
vs
Hernandez

150 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

178 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Esteban Finley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mitchell Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Donald Grub and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hernandez rushes Finley and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hernandez gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Finley scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Hernandez manages to mount him!
Hernandez fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Hernandez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Finley tries to improve his position but instead Hernandez has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hernandez working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Hernandez's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Hernandez throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Hernandez lands a shot to the body.
Finley trying to control the action but Hernandez just sinks the hooks in.
Finley looking very determined here, making life difficult for Hernandez.
What can Finley do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez looking for the RNC.
Finley is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernandez scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Finley might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Finley is in bad spot here.
Finley prevents Hernandez from getting a body triangle.
Hernandez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Finley is taking damage to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez working for a choke but Finley is defending well.
Finley really is a fat lump.
Finley trying to control the action but Hernandez just sinks the hooks in.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Hernandez.
Hernandez is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Finley up.
Finley is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Finley is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hernandez gets his way!
Hernandez connects with a big shot to the side of Finley's head.
Hernandez has the hooks in. Finley is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Hernandez is working the ground and pound. Can Finley escape?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Finley is really stuck here.
Hernandez has Finley flattened out and is raining down punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Hernandez moves into the clinch successfully.

Hernandez pulls guard successfully.

Hernandez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Finley doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Finley manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hernandez looking for a sweep. Not yet Hernandez, not yet.
Finley is looking to work some ground and pound but Hernandez has wrist control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hernandez is trying to control the position but Finley postures up.
Finley seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Finley is in close to Hernandez's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Finley cracks Hernandez with a solid left hand.
Hernandez trying to keep a closed guard but Finley is proving a slippery customer.
Hernandez has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Finley has passed into side control.
You can see the frustration on Hernandez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hernandez is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Hernandez is trying to control Finley's posture but Finley avoids it.
Finley sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hernandez is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Hernandez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Finley has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hernandez wants to clinch up but Finley keeps it at a distance.
Esteban Finley is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Finley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Finley has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Hernandez off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finley tries to clinch there but Hernandez circles away.

Hernandez shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Finley wants to improve his position but Hernandez is controlling well.
Finley is trying to maintain the position but Hernandez is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez is looking to take a break and control but Finley is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Finley is looking to improve his position.

Hernandez decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Finley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hernandez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Hernandez is looking to clinch but Finley is avoiding it.

Hernandez moves into range and clinches up with Finley.
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 Esteban Finley 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!

Finley tries to sprawl but Hernandez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hernandez lands a nice short elbow.
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 Finley's temple.
Hernandez trying to control from half guard but Finley is working away.
Finley has a hand on Hernandez's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hernandez takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Hernandez lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Hernandez looking for a guillotine from mount but Finley is having none of it.
Finley wants to control but Hernandez is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finley tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hernandez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mitchell Hernandez has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hernandez tries to control but Finley wriggling away.
Hernandez content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Hernandez goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Finley turns into him and now he's in Hernandez's guard.
Hernandez looking for a sweep. Not yet Hernandez, not yet.
Finley is working Hernandez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Finley throws a big elbow that misses.

Hernandez has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Finley is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez looking to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Finley.

Hernandez is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Finley can't fight it off and eventually Hernandez manages to take the fight to the floor. Finley looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Finley scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hernandez cracks Finley with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Finley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Finley gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Finley tries to throw a body punch but Hernandez avoids it by throwing Finley back against the cage.
Hernandez prevents Finley from breaking the clinch.
Hernandez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Hernandez decides to pull guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hernandez working a defensive guard here.

Hernandez has his foot on Finley's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Finley works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mitchell Hernandez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hernandez 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mitchell Hernandez!