PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Lassi Lambada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Travis Herald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Lambada
vs
Herald

188 cm
31
200 lbs
19 - 14 - 1

186 cm
23
191 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Rush Supplements 160Q

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 19 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Lassi Lambada!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Travis Herald!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herald throws a head kick that misses.
Lambada gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Herald.
Lambada closes this distance looking for a takedown but Herald circles away.

Lambada clinches up against the cage.
Lambada can't find room to land a body shot as Herald controls the action.
Lambada lands a right hand.
A head punch on the inside from Herald fails to land.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Lambada keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Herald's efforts to push away.
Herald throws a punch but it's blocked by Lambada.
Herald is looking to break free of the clinch but Lambada has double underhooks.
Lambada tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Herald is trying to stall.
Lambada is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Lambada lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Lambada blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Lambada.
Herald tries to stall but Lambada uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lambada lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Herald or not.
Lambada goes for a takedown in the clinch but Herald prevents it.
A nice left hand lands by Lambada.
Herald is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Lambada effectively controlling the action here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lambada.
Lambada is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Herald pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lassi Lambada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lambada prevents a body shot from Herald.
A frustrated look appears on Herald's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Herald blocking some punches.

Lambada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A big right from Herald misses.
Lambada swinging wildly here.
Herald misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lambada.
Herald has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lambada is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Herald takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lambada throws a chopping leg kick but Herald manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Lambada closes the distance and clinches.
Herald misses with a hook from the clinch.

Lambada has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Herald regains guard immediately.
Lambada wants to pass the guard but Herald is keeping the position.
Herald trying to keep a closed guard but Lambada is proving a slippery customer.
Herald looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lambada is one step ahead there.
Herald keeping moving, preventing Lambada from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lambada looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lambada accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Herald pushes Lambada off and scrambles back to his feet.
Herald misses the shot to the body.
Lambada looks to land a left hand but Herald moved out of range nicely.
Lambada has a takedown stuffed.
Herald avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lambada misses with the combination.
Herald displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lambada.
Herald misses the body punch
and Lambada counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Herald's corner calls for a 1-2. Herald obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambada scores with a sloppy right hand. Herald should have avoided that one.
Herald misses with a looping left.
Herald throws a combination that misses
and Lambada counters with a right hand to the body.
Herald ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Herald defending well as Lambada loads up on a big left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Herald keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lambada avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Herald fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Lambada dives in and scores a takedown into Herald's guard.
Herald trying to control the position here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lambada postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lassi Lambada dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Herald misses with the combination.
Herald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lambada moves away.
Herald misses with an uppercut. Lambada saw that one coming.
Herald misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lambada.
Herald lands a jab-cross combination.
Lambada ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Herald moves away.
Lambada throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Herald displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lambada throws out the jab.
Herald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lambada moves away.
Lambada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Herald.
A swing and a miss from Lambada.
Lambada fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Herald on the side of the head.
No joy there for Lambada, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Lambada closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Lambada's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lambada lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herald lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lambada's sensitive parts.
Lambada lands with a good body shot.
Nice shot lands for Lambada.
Lassi Lambada is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lambada will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Herald turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lambada cracks Herald with an open hand slap.
Herald avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A swing and a miss from Herald.
No luck for Lambada with that takedown attempt.
Herald dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice defenses there by Lambada.
Travis Herald is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lambada keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Herald.
Herald scores with a leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Herald ducks under a wild hook from Lambada.
Lambada tries to score a power double leg takedown but Herald sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lambada somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lassi Lambada. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Herald throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herald thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lambada defending well as Herald loads up on a big left hand.
Lambada tries to close the distance and clinch up but Herald swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Lambada moves to clinch but Herald breaks away
enabling Herald to counter with a crisp jab.
Herald stuffs the takedown.
A cross from Lambada lands.
Lambada lands a jab to the nose.
Herald misses with a looping right.
Herald misses with a hook.
Lambada scores with a hook to the body. Herald takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Herald misses with a double jab.

Lambada pushes Herald up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lambada tightens his grip and picks Herald up, before dumping him to the ground. Herald manages to land in guard.
Herald controlling Lambada's posture.
Lambada trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Herald managing to control the position.
Lambada passes Herald's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lambada perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Herald tries to kick Lambada off but Lambada keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Herald wants to improve his position but Lambada is controlling well.
Lambada working over Herald with some ground and pound. Herald looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lambada trying to control from Herald's half guard. Herald has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Herald looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Herald keeping moving, preventing Lambada from controlling successfully.
Herald has his hands on Lambada's head, controlling the position.
Herald is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Herald controlling Lambada's posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lambada lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
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 Lassi Lambada will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Herald checks a leg kick.

Herald gets caught napping as Lambada dives in and scores a takedown. Herald manages to retain guard.
Herald looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Herald is on top in guard.
Herald trying to control the position from guard on top but Lambada is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Herald throws a big right hand that misses.
Lambada keeping moving, preventing Herald from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Travis Herald.
Lambada moves in looking to clinch but Herald pushes him off.
Herald throws a lazy uppercut

and Lambada counters by moving into the clinch.

Lambada breaks the clinch.
Lambada bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Herald throws a series of punches but Lambada moves out of range.
Lambada gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lambada lands with a straight right. Herald didn't see that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Lambada.
Lambada misses with a hook.
Lambada slips a jab and a cross from Herald.
Lambada tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lambada looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Herald is fending him off so far but Lambada persists. Nope, Herald circles away and we're back to standing.
Herald throws out a loose jab but Lambada uses good head movement to avoid it.
Herald ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lambada moves away.
Herald throws a right and a left that Lambada avoids nicely.
Lambada is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Herald.

Lambada gets the takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Herald is looking for a sweep.
Herald is not content to let Lambada control the position.
We've been hearing good reports from Lambada's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Lambada throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lambada working away.
Lambada trying to control the action but Herald is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Herald's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Travis Herald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herald regains half guard there - taking advantage of Lambada's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
It looks like Lambada is going to stand back up.
Lambada working Herald over with strikes.
Lambada tries to pass to full mount but Herald defends it.
Herald is staying active underneath Lambada, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lassi Lambada is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lambada wants to pass to mount but Herald is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lassi Lambada overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Herald makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Herald moves out of range of the strikes.
Lambada is looking to clinch but Herald is avoiding it.
Lambada works over Herald's head and body with a nice combination.
Lambada with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Herald to score with a decent uppercut.
Herald misses with a shot to the body
and Lambada cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lambada is looking to clinch.
Herald throws a body punch but Lambada moves out of range.
Herald cracks Lambada on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Lambada falls backwards against the cage. Herald follows up with more strikes that drop Lambada to his knees. Herald keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Lambada! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Travis Herald!