PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nathaniel Sosa (ranked 6256 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lando Hernandez (ranked 4710 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sosa
vs
Hernandez

151 cm
19
151 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Nathaniel Sosa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lando Hernandez!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hernandez shoots in looking for a takedown. Sosa tries to sprawl out of it but Hernandez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sosa manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sosa appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hernandez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Sosa darts in and clinches Hernandez up against the cage.

Hernandez successfully pulls guard.

Hernandez manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Hernandez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sosa walks away with a smile on his face. Hernandez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sosa jumps into guard, dragging Hernandez to the mat.
Sosa could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Sosa preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa controlling Hernandez's posture.
Sosa might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sosa is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hernandez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Sosa has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sosa looking to control.

Hernandez gets to his feet. Sosa looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Sosa clinches with his opponent.
Sosa is trying to pull guard but Hernandez has him pressed against the cage.
Hernandez is trying to break the clinch but Sosa has him pressed against the cage.
Hernandez wants to get back to striking at distance but Sosa won't allow it.
Sosa fails to pull guard.
Hernandez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Sosa successfully pulls guard.
Sosa is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Hernandez is controlling him.
Hernandez advances to half guard.
Sosa trying to hold on to Hernandez's head to control him but Hernandez postures up.
Hernandez thows a huge punch but Sosa dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Hernandez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sosa tries to avoid it but Hernandez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sosa to the ground. Sosa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sosa throws a big counter combination but Hernandez scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Nathaniel Sosa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lando Hernandez.
Hernandez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sosa swivels and escapes.
Sosa is looking for a counter combo.
Hernandez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Sosa sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Sosa is looking for a counter combo.
Sosa throws a low kick but Hernandez moves out of range easily.
Sosa leaves Hernandez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hernandez shoots for a takedown but Sosa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hernandez looks winded!
Hernandez misses with a takedown attempt - Sosa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Sosa clinches up with Hernandez and pushes him back against the cage.

Sosa gets control of Hernandez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sosa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sosa is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Sosa tries to strike from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sosa is on top in guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sosa scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Sosa dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Hernandez swings for the body but Sosa moves out of range.
Sosa is looking to clinch.

Sosa darts in and clinches Hernandez up against the cage.
Sosa is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Hernandez can do to turn this around?
Sosa jumps guard but Hernandez stands there with Sosa around his waist. Sosa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Hernandez won't allow it.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Hernandez won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Sosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hernandez wants to get back to striking at distance but Sosa won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sosa gets control of Hernandez's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sosa will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sosa wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hernandez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sosa tries to strike from the bottom.
Hernandez trying to control but Sosa is working from the bottom.

Hernandez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Sosa moves into the clinch.
Sosa tries to pull guard but Hernandez won't allow it.
Hernandez jumps guard but Sosa stands there with Hernandez around his waist. Hernandez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Hernandez manages to pull guard.
Sosa wants to stand but Hernandez has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez has momentary wrist control but Sosa slips an elbow through the middle.
Sosa throws a big elbow that misses.
Sosa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hernandez working a defensive guard here.

Sosa decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Hernandez, up you get!

Sosa closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hernandez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hernandez manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez wants to control the action here but instead Sosa manages to pass to full mount!
Sosa with shots to the head and body - Hernandez looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sosa has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Hernandez is in a horrible position here. Sosa smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hernandez tries to lock up and control but Sosa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hernandez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Hernandez tries to kick Sosa off but Sosa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Hernandez wants to control but Sosa is keeping busy.
Hernandez is breathing heavily.
Sosa wants to stand but Hernandez has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sosa winds up and cracks Hernandez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Hernandez tries to roll over but Sosa keeps him under control.
Sosa working over Hernandez with some ground and pound. Hernandez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Sosa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Hernandez is just riding it out for now. Sosa eventually gives up the hold.
Nathaniel Sosa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sosa working Hernandez over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathaniel Sosa 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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Hernandez circles away from the clinch attempt.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Sosa lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Hernandez has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Hernandez and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Hernandez circles away from the clinch attempt
and Hernandez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Sosa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hernandez sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sosa somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sosa tries for a takedown but Hernandez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sosa leaves Hernandez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hernandez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Sosa moves into the clinch successfully.
Sosa is trying to pull guard but Hernandez has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nathaniel Sosa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sosa jumps guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Sosa manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Sosa is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hernandez to keep the fight standing.
Hernandez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Sosa to keep the fight standing.
Hernandez leaning against his opponent.
Sosa jumps guard but Hernandez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez tries to pull guard but Sosa holds him up against the cage and eventually Hernandez drops back down to his feet.
Sosa prevents a takedown attempt there.

Sosa jumps into guard, dragging Hernandez to the mat.
Sosa is looking to stand up but Hernandez isn't so interested in that idea.
Hernandez postures up.
Hernandez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sosa looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hernandez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Sosa clinches up with Hernandez and pushes him back against the cage.
Sosa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hernandez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sosa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hernandez walks away with a smile on his face. Sosa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sosa blocks a head kick by Hernandez.
Sosa changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Hernandez with a poor takedown
and Sosa counters with a big head kick but Hernandez shrugs it off.
Sosa tries to clinch up but Hernandez circles away and keeps his distance.
As Sosa backs off Hernandez throws a huge counter combo but Sosa manages to avoid it all.
Hernandez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sosa manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sosa seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sosa fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hernandez misses with a leg kick
and Sosa counters with a one-two to the body.
Hernandez punishes Sosa's body with a nice straight punch.
Hernandez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sosa's head.
Sosa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lando Hernandez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice sprawl there from Sosa as Hernandez shoots in.
Lando Hernandez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sosa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Hernandez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Hernandez rushes Sosa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sosa pulls guard.
Lando Hernandez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nathaniel Sosa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sosa is pulling down on Hernandez's head to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nathaniel Sosa.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sosa, 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathaniel Sosa!