PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tony Danza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Herzog (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Danza's entrance music is Who's the Boss. A fine choice. Herzog is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Robert Tepper - No Easy Way Out. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Danza
vs
Herzog

180 cm
23
183 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

175 cm
26
177 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Bare Knuckle Clothing ($10 SALE!)

Resistance

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tony Danza!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Herzog!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Felipe Paraventi and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Danza cracks Herzog with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Danza lands a lovely overhand right.
Herzog ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Danza moves away.
Herzog jabs at Danza's body.
Danza is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Herzog.
A punch combination from Herzog misses.
Danza throws a shot to the body.
Danza clobbers Herzog with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Danza is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Herzog's half guard.
Danza prevents Herzog from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Herzog moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Danza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Herzog is keeping the position for now.

Herzog is looking for a triangle but Danza pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herzog has his foot on Danza's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Danza works his way back into a safe position though.
Herzog is trying to control the position but Danza postures up.

Herzog working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Danza has passed into half guard!

Herzog actively working from the bottom here.
Danza is trying to control the action in half guard but Herzog is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Herzog wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Danza perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Herzog actively working from the bottom here.
Danza sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Danza seems to be working for a kimura but Herzog defends the submission attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Danza pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Herzog avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Danza shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Herzog 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog is trying to keep Danza in close.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Herzog looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Danza wants to control from the top but Herzog keeps moving.
Danza stopping the sweep attempt from Herzog.
Herzog wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Danza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Danza trying to control but Herzog is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Danza fails with the takedown.
Herzog misses with a straight right.
Danza waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Herzog.
Danza drops his hands momentarily and Herzog takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Danza changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Herzog tries to avoid it but Danza manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Herzog to the ground. Herzog escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Danza jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Danza throws a shot to the body.
Danza connects with a body shot.
Danza throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Herzog slips under a jab.
Danza swats away the attempt to clinch by Herzog.
Herzog misses the shot to the body.
Danza jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Danza scores with a hook.
Herzog misses with a straight left.
Danza misses with a shot to the body
and Herzog counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Danza swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Herzog misses with a looping left.

Danza shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Herzog napping and manages to drive through into side control!
An elbow from Danza crashes against the mat.
Herzog manages to work his way to half guard, despite Danza's best efforts.
Danza not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Danza is thwarting Herzog's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herzog wants to improve his position but Danza is controlling well.
Herzog holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Danza stops Herzog from getting back to his feet.
Herzog wants to control but Danza is keeping busy.

Herzog kicks Danza off and gets back to his feet.

Danza throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Herzog was covering up waiting for the punch and Danza finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Herzog holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herzog wants to hit a switch here but Danza passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Herzog there!

Danza is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Herzog has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Herzog!
Herzog postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Danza controlling Herzog's posture.
Danza can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Herzog controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Herzog passes into half guard.

Herzog is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Herzog looking for a submission but Danza manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

Danza is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Herzog is aware though and is defending well.
Herzog slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back 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.
Herzog looking to sit in guard and control but Danza gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Danza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herzog works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Herzog looking for a sweep. Not yet Herzog, not yet.

Herzog looking for a guillotine here but Danza defends easily.
Herzog keeping moving, preventing Danza from controlling successfully.
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 Tony Danza will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Herzog gets a takedown into half guard.
Danza trying to control here.
Danza regains full guard. Nicely done.
Danza looking to control.
Herzog wants to control from the top but Danza keeps moving.
Herzog sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Danza utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herzog has gone for a leg lock! Danza slips out almost immediately though and dives into Herzog's guard.
Danza preventing the sweep.
Danza with a flurry of punches that miss.

Herzog has an active guard here but Danza has managed to pass into half guard.
Herzog takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Danza is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Herzog defends it well.
Danza is controlling the pace.
Chris Herzog has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Danza thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Herzog's head.

Herzog is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Danza pulls his head out easily.

Herzog actively working from the bottom here.
Danza wants to take a breather but Herzog is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog works his way to full guard. Good work.
Danza lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Herzog is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Herzog is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Danza sees it coming and defends easily.
Danza is trying to control but can't.
Danza desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Danza is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Herzog's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Herzog's back!
Danza doesn't have the hooks in and Herzog manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Herzog scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Herzog working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Danza is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Herzog thows a big elbow that misses.
Herzog missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Danza looking for a sweep. Not yet Danza, not yet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Danza shoots and misses

and Herzog counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Herzog.
Herzog wants to pass the guard but Danza is keeping the position.
Herzog lands a couple of digs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Herzog comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Danza has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 28:29
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Herzog!