PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Isoa Tawake (ranked 3085 p4p, 3661 weight class) and Paul Herrera (ranked 348 p4p, 395 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tawake
vs
Herrera

193 cm
22
185
4 - 4 - 0

185 cm
28
180
9 - 19 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Isoa Tawake!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Paul Herrera!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herrera goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Paul Herrera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herrera defending well as Tawake loads up on a big left hand.
Herrera doesn't manage to clinch there - Tawake circles away.
Herrera tries for a takedown but Tawake sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tawake throws a quick counter head kick but Herrera was just out of range.
Herrera throws a head kick but Tawake moves out of range.
Herrera shoots in looking for a takedown. Tawake tries to sprawl out of it but Herrera keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Tawake manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Herrera tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tawake paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Herrera shoots in and bounces Tawake off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Herrera wants to control from the top but Tawake keeps moving.

Tawake scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herrera tries for a takedown but Tawake sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tawake is looking to counter punch.
Isoa Tawake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Herrera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A punch combination from Herrera misses.
Tawake tried to counter with a leg kick but Herrera avoided it.
Tawake lands a nice leg kick that just misses Herrera's sensitive parts.
Herrera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Herrera darts in and clinches Tawake up against the cage.

Tawake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tawake scores with a hook to the body. Herrera takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Herrera gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tawake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tawake with the inside leg kick.
Tawake circles away from the clinch attempt.
Herrera throws a right and a left that both miss.
Herrera will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Herrera rushes Tawake and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A short right from Tawake on the inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Tawake breaks from the clinch.
Herrera fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Tawake looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Herrera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Herrera shoots in looking for a takedown but Tawake manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Herrera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Herrera's coach down at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Herrera's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Tawake fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Herrera checks a leg kick.
Herrera with the counter takedown but Tawake avoids it easily.
Herrera dives in for a single leg takedown but Tawake sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Herrera tries to clinch
and Tawake counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Herrera fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera is looking to clinch but Tawake is avoiding it.
Herrera tries for a takedown but Tawake circles away easily
and Tawake cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tawake displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Herrera.
Tawake looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Herrera looks for a takedown but Tawake sprawls well.
Tawake blocks a head kick by Herrera.
Herrera throws a body punch but Tawake moves out of range.
Tawake cracks Herrera with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Herrera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tawake connects with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tawake swivels and escapes.
Tawake swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Tawake connects with a leg kick.
Herrera fails with the takedown
and Tawake counters with a stiff right hand.
We've been told by Tawake's head coaches at Kaptajnernes Træningscenter that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Herrera tries to close the distance and clinch but Tawake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Herrera has a takedown stuffed.
Tawake swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A nice leg kick from Tawake, right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herrera checks a leg kick.
Tawake lands with a shot to the body.
Herrera moves in looking to clinch but Tawake pushes him off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isoa Tawake dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Herrera tries to close the distance and clinch but Tawake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tawake is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tawake throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Herrera shoots in and drives through. Tawake sprawls well.
Tawake stuffs the takedown.
Tawake stuffs the takedown attempt from Herrera. Herrera gets slowly back to his feet.
Isoa Tawake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Herrera.

Herrera closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Herrera lands in his opponent's guard.
Tawake looking to hit a scissor sweep but Herrera is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herrera trying to control the position from guard on top but Tawake is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tawake tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Herrera gets to his feet - Tawake follows without any prompting.
Tawake feints and then cracks Herrera's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Herrera down.
Tawake keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tawake throwing a counter right hand but Herrera manages to avoid it.
Tawake fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Herrera on the side of the head.
Herrera fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Tawake looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Herrera tries to close the distance and clinch but Tawake swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Herrera fails with a takedown attempt.
Tawake is looking to counter with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tawake uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Herrera.
Tawake fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Herrera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tawake pinned against the cage. Tawake gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Paul Herrera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Herrera scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Tawake looks to land a left hand but Herrera moved out of range nicely.
Herrera misses with a takedown
and Tawake counters with a thumping low kick.
Tawake looks for the body kick but Herrera saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera shoots in and drives through. Tawake sprawls well.
Herrera shoots for a double leg takedown but Tawake sprawls well. He's pushed Herrera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tawake with the inside leg kick.

Herrera has managed to clinch.
Tawake tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Tawake escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Herrera takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice sprawl there from Tawake as Herrera shoots in.
Tawake comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tawake is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Herrera can do to turn this around?
Herrera gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tawake counters with a big head kick but Herrera shrugs it off.
Herrera looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera blocks a head kick by Tawake.
Herrera's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A clash of legs there as Herrera blocks the low kick.
Tawake jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Herrera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tawake defends it nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A solid leg kick lands there for Tawake.
Tawake lands a leg kick that knocks Herrera off balance momentarily.
Tawake lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Herrera pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Tawake lands with a slapping head kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Isoa Tawake dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Tawake gets caught flat footed, as Herrera shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Tawake is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Herrera breaks from the clinch.
Tawake connects with a leg kick.
Tawake throws an overhand right that lands on Herrera's shoulder, as Herrera tries to avoid the shot.
Tawake pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Herrera shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Tawake throws out a leg kick but Herrera moves out of range and Tawake only half commits.

Herrera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tawake, pushing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tawake lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tawake misses with a hook from the clinch.

Tawake pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Herrera throws a right hand that Tawake ducks under and follows up with a left that Tawake also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tawake pushes Herrera away with a front kick.
Herrera shoots and misses
and Tawake counters with a leg kick.
Herrera misses with the combination.
Herrera takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Herrera doesn't manage to clinch there - Tawake circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Tawake on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Nice jab there from Tawake.
Herrera moves in looking to clinch but Tawake pushes him off.
Herrera swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Herrera shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tawake as he jumps to the side.
Isoa Tawake has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Paul Herrera.
Tawake ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tawake avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herrera fails with the takedown
and Tawake counters with an inside leg kick.
Herrera fails with the takedown
and Tawake counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tawake lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Herrera takes a jab right on the kisser.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Herrera is defended easily by Tawake.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tawake. Herrera shrugs it off though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herrera misses with a takedown attempt
and Tawake counters with a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick from Tawake, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tawake scores with a shot to the body.
Tawake misses with a low kick as Herrera jumps back.
And Herrera tries to counter it with a takedown but Tawake pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A cross from Tawake lands.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Herrera.
Herrera has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Herrera there as he acknowledges the shot.
Herrera shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tawake defends it nicely.
Herrera shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Tawake pinned against the cage. Tawake gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herrera tries to clinch up but Tawake circles away and keeps his distance.
Herrera walks into a straight right hand from Tawake.
Tawake misses with an attempted mid kick.
Tawake throws a leg kick which misses Herrera's front leg but catches the back leg as Herrera tries to avoid it.
Tawake just misses with a punch to the body.
Herrera shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tawake but Tawake pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Herrera takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Herrera misses with a takedown attempt - Tawake sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Isoa Tawake showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tawake, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isoa Tawake!
During a confident post fight interview, Isoa Tawake thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Paul Herrera spoke after the fight, saying 'I love you all!'.