PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Neil Herstag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Eriksen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herstag
vs
Eriksen

165 cm
25
141 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Neil Herstag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, John Eriksen!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Eriksen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Herstag clinches.
Herstag controlling the action here for a moment.
Herstag will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Eriksen up against the cage.
Herstag pressing his opponent against the cage.
Eriksen letting Herstag take a breather here.
Herstag gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
A hook to the body from Herstag.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Eriksen tries to throw a body punch but Herstag avoids it by throwing Eriksen back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Herstag.
Herstag scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Herstag scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Stalling in the clinch from Herstag.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Herstag for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Neil Herstag.
Herstag misses with the combination.

Herstag gets a clinch.
Herstag misses with a body punch.
Eriksen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Herstag is keeping busy.
Herstag stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A nice left hand lands by Herstag.
Herstag lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Eriksen or not.
Herstag manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herstag lands with a light punch inside.

Herstag escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Herstag stuffs the takedown attempt from Eriksen. Eriksen gets slowly back to his feet.
Herstag lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

Herstag closes the distance and clinches.
Eriksen is looking to break free of the clinch but Herstag has double underhooks.
Herstag tries to land knees in the clinch but Eriksen avoids the damage to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Herstag.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice left hand lands by Herstag.
Eriksen is trying to pull guard but Herstag turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Herstag avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eriksen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Herstag fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Neil Herstag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Eriksen.
Herstag misses with a wild combination.

Herstag gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Herstag lands a left hand.
Eriksen tries to land knees in the clinch but Herstag avoids the damage to the body.
A left hand lands to the body for Herstag.
Herstag pressing his opponent against the cage.
Herstag leaning against his opponent.
A bit of stalling here from Herstag.

Herstag breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herstag gets a clinch.
Herstag pushes Eriksen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Herstag creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Eriksen wants to stall.
Herstag has Eriksen pushed against the cage.
Herstag is defending well against a takedown attempt.
A short body shot lands from Herstag as the two fighters clinch.
Herstag displaying some good clinch control by pressing Eriksen up against the cage.
Herstag manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A right hand to the body from Herstag.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Herstag dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Herstag lands a jab to Eriksen's midsection.

Herstag instigates a clinch.
Eriksen letting Herstag take a breather here.
Herstag pressing his opponent against the cage.
Herstag seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Neil Herstag.
Herstag slaps away a takedown attempt from Eriksen, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Eriksen tries to keep at a distance but Herstag has taken the fight into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Herstag.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Eriksen pulls guard effortlessly.
Eriksen keeping moving, preventing Herstag from controlling successfully.
Herstag throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herstag landing with the ground and pound.
Herstag trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Eriksen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Herstag defends it easily.
Herstag is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Eriksen can do to turn this around?
Herstag trying to control but Eriksen is working from the bottom.

Herstag avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Eriksen trying to keep a closed guard but Herstag is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Herstag is looking to pass into half guard but Eriksen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Eriksen is in guard.

Eriksen trying to control but Herstag is working from the bottom.
Herstag trying to control the position here.
Eriksen won't allow Herstag to get back to his feet.
Eriksen pushes down on Herstag's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eriksen trying to control the action but Herstag is working from the bottom.
Herstag on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Herstag tries to get out of the position.
Herstag wants to get back to full guard.
Herstag pushes Eriksen off looking to stand but Eriksen dives back in and keeps control.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Herstag looks to land a combination. Eriksen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Eriksen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Herstag closes the distance and clinches.
Herstag just leaning against Eriksen, taking a breather.
Herstag digs a right hand into Eriksen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Eriksen's gas tank.
Herstag stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Neil Herstag has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Herstag works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Eriksen is breathing heavily.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Herstag takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Eriksen is looking to break free of the clinch but Herstag has double underhooks.
Eriksen taking a breather.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A right handed body shot lands from Herstag.
A hook to the body from Herstag.
Herstag stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Herstag is struggling to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Neil Herstag dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Eriksen tries to keep at a distance but Herstag has taken the fight into the clinch.
Eriksen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Eriksen is looking to break free of the clinch but Herstag has double underhooks.
Eriksen takes a knee to the side of the body.
Herstag lands a hook that snaps the head of Eriksen backwards.
A right handed body shot lands from Herstag.

Herstag pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Eriksen gets tackled into the cage by Herstag. Herstag maintains the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Herstag digs a right hand underneath Eriksen's ribcage. Eriksen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Herstag lands a nice shot to the body.
Eriksen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Herstag lands an uppercut.
A short right from Herstag on the inside.
Eriksen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Herstag stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herstag breaks from the clinch.

Herstag clinches up with Eriksen and pushes him back against the cage.
Herstag pushes Eriksen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A nice left hand lands by Herstag.
Herstag stalling.
A right hand to the body from Herstag.
Herstag lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice body punch from Herstag - that landed with a thud.
Herstag is struggling to control the position.
Nice body punch from Herstag.
Herstag tries to land knees in the clinch but Eriksen avoids the damage to the body.
Herstag lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Eriksen backwards.
Herstag is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Nice body punch from Herstag.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Herstag softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Herstag lands a hook that snaps the head of Eriksen backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice left hand lands by Herstag.
Herstag lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Eriksen.
Herstag is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Herstag cracks Eriksen with a nice body shot.
Neil Herstag is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Herstag stalling in the clinch.
Herstag leaning against his opponent.
Eriksen is trying to force a seperation but Herstag has the dominant position.

Herstag's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Herstag closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Eriksen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Herstag gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Herstag is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Neil Herstag has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Eriksen.
Herstag throws a knee to the head but misses.
Herstag has Eriksen pushed against the cage.
Eriksen tries to pull guard but Herstag won't allow it.
Herstag tries to land knees in the clinch but Eriksen avoids the damage to the body.
Eriksen jumps guard but Herstag turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eriksen avoids a wild elbow strike from Herstag.
Herstag scores with a hook to the body.
Herstag lands a nice shot to the body.
Herstag dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Herstag pushes Eriksen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Herstag scores with a nice short uppercut.

Herstag breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
John Eriksen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eriksen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Herstag.

Herstag moves into the clinch successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Neil Herstag showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Herstag, 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Neil Herstag!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Neil Herstag!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Neil Herstag!

Neil Herstag wins by unanimous decision!