PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Renaldo Herrera (ranked 23726 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Toivanen (ranked 4996 p4p, 0 weight class). Toivanen has chosen The Notorious B.I.G. - as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herrera
vs
Toivanen

165 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renaldo Herrera!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Toivanen !
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksandr Martynov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herrera swats away the attempt to clinch by Toivanen .
Toivanen misses with a double jab.

Herrera fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Toivanen to the ground. Herrera is now in Toivanen 's guard.
Herrera might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Herrera is looking to work some ground and pound but Toivanen has wrist control.
Herrera connects with a couple of short punches.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toivanen controls Herrera momentarily but Herrera frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toivanen tries to strike from the bottom.
Herrera is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Toivanen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Herrera's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera pulls Toivanen in close to his closed guard and prevents Toivanen from doing any damage or advancing position.
Toivanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Herrera lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Toivanen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Toivanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toivanen wants to get back to his feet but Herrera is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Herrera working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Toivanen 's head.
Herrera has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Toivanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Toivanen , not yet.

Toivanen has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Herrera is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Herrera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Herrera really is a fat lump.

Toivanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Toivanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Toivanen tries to clinch up but Herrera circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen lands a head kick. Herrera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Toivanen looks to land a combination but Herrera avoids it well.
Herrera is looking for a counter combo.
Toivanen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Herrera eats them both and turns towards Toivanen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Herrera tries to clinch but Toivanen moves out of range.
Toivanen swinging wildly here.
A little feinted left hand from Herrera on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Toivanen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Toivanen crashes against the mat.
Herrera is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Herrera tries to kick Toivanen off but Toivanen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Toivanen wants to work for an arm triangle but Herrera is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
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!
Herrera is looking for a sweep. Toivanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Toivanen tries to stand but can't do so whilst Herrera controls his leg.
Toivanen prevents Herrera from standing back up.
Toivanen trying to pass the guard but Herrera defending well.
Toivanen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Herrera reverses the position - he's now on top in Toivanen 's guard.

Herrera is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Toivanen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Toivanen has escaped and now he's on top!

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

William Toivanen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Toivanen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Herrera controlling Toivanen 's posture.
Herrera is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks 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. Herrera connects with a nice short shot to Toivanen 's temple.
Herrera is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivanen manages to get to full guard.
Toivanen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Herrera is fighting to break Toivanen 's control of his arms but Toivanen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Herrera postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Herrera distracts Toivanen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Herrera throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Herrera decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Toivanen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Herrera wants to stand but Toivanen is controlling the position.
Toivanen preventing the sweep.
Toivanen landing some decent shots from guard.
Herrera is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Herrera is pulling down on Toivanen 's head. It's preventing any offense from Toivanen , at least for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Toivanen looking to control.
Herrera preventing the sweep.
Toivanen has a closed guard, preventing Herrera from standing up.
Herrera throws a big right hand that misses.

Herrera drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Toivanen dives on top into guard.

Herrera keeping full guard, as Toivanen tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toivanen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Herrera is looking to stand up but Toivanen isn't so interested in that idea.

Toivanen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Toivanen 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Herrera keeping moving, preventing Toivanen from controlling successfully.
Herrera has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
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 Renaldo Herrera will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Toivanen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Toivanen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Toivanen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Toivanen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Herrera has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Toivanen has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Herrera tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Herrera tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Toivanen smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toivanen looks to land a combination. Herrera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Herrera.
Herrera working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Toivanen is rocked!

Herrera in side control, working for a kimura. He's got hold of an arm and he's torquing it... Toivanen is tapping! That's the end of the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Renaldo Herrera!
The defeated William Toivanen had this to say: 'All Respect To My Opponent, I have nothing to say. He's, a warrior and got the best of me. hope everyone has a good night goodbye.'.