PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ima Scrapper (ranked 6937 p4p, 579 weight class) and Haley Herzog Hearn (ranked 5595 p4p, 530 weight class). Haley Herzog Hearn is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Scrapper
vs
Herzog Hearn

169 cm
25
186 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
22
197 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Good elbows
Determined

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ima Scrapper!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Haley Herzog Hearn!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scrapper shoots for a double leg takedown but Herzog Hearn sprawls well. He's pushed Scrapper's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Herzog Hearn shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Scrapper napping and manages to drive through into side control!
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Herzog Hearn working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Scrapper wants to control but Herzog Hearn postures up.

Herzog Hearn goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Scrapper has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Herzog Hearn but great work by Scrapper.
Herzog Hearn taking a bit of punishment here - Scrapper scoring with strikes.
Herzog Hearn sneaks back into half guard.
Herzog Hearn has hold of Scrapper's hands but Scrapper slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Herzog Hearn is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Scrapper's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Scrapper's back!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Herzog Hearn has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Herzog Hearn biding his time, controlling Scrapper.
Herzog Hearn is hanging on to Scrapper's back as he tries to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Herzog Hearn is looking for the choke from the back position but Scrapper is controlling his hands well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Scrapper is in bad spot here.
Herzog Hearn just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Scrapper knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Herzog Hearn on the ground.

Herzog Hearn looking to break Scrapper's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Scrapper remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Herzog Hearn will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Herzog Hearn has Scrapper flattened out and is raining down punches.
Scrapper tries to break free.
Herzog Hearn misses with a punch to the head.

Herzog Hearn patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scrapper is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Herzog Hearn.
Scrapper wants to get back to his feet.

Herzog Hearn is looking for a rear naked choke here but Scrapper reverses the position brilliantly into Herzog Hearn's guard!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Scrapper lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Scrapper postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Scrapper might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Herzog Hearn pulls Scrapper in to control the position.

Herzog Hearn has his feet on Scrapper's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scrapper pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Herzog Hearn shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Scrapper defends it nicely.
Herzog Hearn shoots in for a takedown but Scrapper shows good takedown defense.
Scrapper throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Herzog Hearn closes the distance and clinches up with Scrapper, looking for a takedown. Herzog Hearn pushes Scrapper against the cage but Scrapper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ima Scrapper has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Haley Herzog Hearn.
Herzog Hearn looks winded!

Herzog Hearn moves into the clinch.
Herzog Hearn has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Scrapper is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Herzog Hearn is pressed up against the cage. Scrapper has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Herzog Hearn down to the mat. Herzog Hearn avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Scrapper tests Herzog Hearn's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Herzog Hearn misses with a combination
and Scrapper counters with a stiff right hand.
Herzog Hearn closes the distance and clinches up with Scrapper, looking for a takedown. Herzog Hearn pushes Scrapper against the cage but Scrapper circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Scrapper shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Herzog Hearn manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Scrapper landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog Hearn keeping moving, preventing Scrapper from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Herzog Hearn can do anything to dispel that myth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Scrapper tries to free his leg and advance position but Herzog Hearn is retaining full guard.
Herzog Hearn throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Herzog Hearn avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Herzog Hearn looking for a guillotine here but Scrapper defends easily.

Herzog Hearn has his foot on Scrapper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Scrapper works his way back into a safe position though.
Herzog Hearn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haley Herzog Hearn 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.

Herzog Hearn scores with a takedown into Scrapper's guard.
Herzog Hearn is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Herzog Hearn gets to his feet. Scrapper looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Scrapper avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Herzog Hearn swats away the attempt to clinch by Scrapper.
Herzog Hearn tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Herzog Hearn will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Herzog Hearn forces Scrapper back against the cage and clinches.
Scrapper is trying to break free.

Herzog Hearn pulls guard successfully.
Herzog Hearn is controlling Scrapper's posture.
Scrapper postures up in Herzog Hearn's guard and throws a big left but Herzog Hearn blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scrapper is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Scrapper has gone for a leg lock! Herzog Hearn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Scrapper's guard.

Scrapper is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Herzog Hearn controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Scrapper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Herzog Hearn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Herzog Hearn tries to stand but Scrapper is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Herzog Hearn sitting in guard here, content to control.
Scrapper looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Herzog Hearn 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.
Scrapper utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Herzog Hearn pushes down on Scrapper's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Scrapper on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog Hearn takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Herzog Hearn passes to full mount!
Scrapper is bucking up trying to escape but Herzog Hearn cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Herzog Hearn is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Scrapper has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Scrapper tries to lock up and control but Herzog Hearn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Herzog Hearn with good strikes from the mount here!
Scrapper really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Herzog Hearn with the ground and pound from mount.
Herzog Hearn looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haley Herzog Hearn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Herzog Hearn pushes Scrapper up against the cage in a clinch.
Scrapper can't get the takedown.
Scrapper throws an elbow that misses.
Herzog Hearn pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Herzog Hearn using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Scrapper has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Scrapper looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Herzog Hearn tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Herzog Hearn misses with an elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Herzog Hearn just misses with a elbow thrown towards Scrapper's brow.
Herzog Hearn is working for takedown but Scrapper is calmly controlling the position for now.
A nice right hand lands inside from Scrapper.

Herzog Hearn ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Herzog Hearn no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Scrapper wants to control from the top but Herzog Hearn keeps moving.
Herzog Hearn trying to control the position here.
Scrapper trying to control but Herzog Hearn is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scrapper throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Herzog Hearn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Herzog Hearn working for a triangle but Scrapper defends it easily.
Scrapper has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Herzog Hearn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Herzog Hearn preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scrapper would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Scrapper won't allow Herzog Hearn to sweep him here.
Scrapper cracks Herzog Hearn with a solid left hand.
Scrapper throws a strike but Herzog Hearn rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Scrapper escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Herzog Hearn gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Scrapper working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Herzog Hearn.
Herzog Hearn tries to free his leg and advance position but Scrapper is retaining full guard.
Ima Scrapper has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Herzog Hearn wanted to stand there but Scrapper had control of the position.
Herzog Hearn 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.
Herzog Hearn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Herzog Hearn stops Scrapper from standing up.
Herzog Hearn stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Scrapper swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Scrapper looking for subs off his back but Herzog Hearn has passed one foot through into half guard.
Herzog Hearn content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Herzog Hearn is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Scrapper sees it coming and defends easily.
Scrapper tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Herzog Hearn has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Herzog Hearn working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haley Herzog Hearn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Herzog Hearn winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haley Herzog Hearn!
Haley Herzog Hearn bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.