PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eugenio Roth (ranked 4464 p4p, 4276 weight class) and Bruno Berzins (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.

Roth
vs
Berzins

163 cm
24
196
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
187
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Eugenio Roth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bruno Berzins!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Saam Ante.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berzins shoots in for a takedown but Roth shows good takedown defense.
Roth seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Roth really is a fat lump.

Roth clinches.

Roth has clasped his hands together around Berzins's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Berzins's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Roth decides to stand back up. Roth steps back and let's Berzins get back to his feet.
Roth throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Berzins's head.

It looks like Bruno Berzins has been cut.

Roth instigates a clinch.
Roth with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Berzins tries to score a body lock takedown but Roth shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Roth is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Roth gets caught flat footed, as Berzins shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Roth scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Berzins tries to close the distance and clinch up but Roth swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Roth keeps the fight on the outside.
Berzins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roth but Roth pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Roth is looking to counter the offense by Berzins and move into the clinch.
Eugenio Roth has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Bruno Berzins.

Roth drives through with a takedown into guard.

Berzins pushes Roth off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berzins dives in and grabs Roth's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roth pushes down on Berzins's head and hops out.
Berzins looks winded!

Roth has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roth manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Roth turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Roth decides to stand back up. Roth steps back and let's Berzins get back to his feet.

Roth has Berzins up against the cage in a clinch.

Roth pulls guard effortlessly.
Roth is pulling down on Berzins's head to control his posture.
Berzins wants to control from the top but Roth keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzins tries to stand but Roth is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Roth scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Roth throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Berzins tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Roth is in Berzins's guard.

Roth gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Berzins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Roth counters with a left and a right that stings Berzins.
Roth lands a really nice looking cross but Berzins seems unphased.

Roth closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Berzins to the mat! Berzins manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roth stands up and waves to Berzins to follow him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roth moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Roth lands a nice looking body kick.

Roth gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berzins is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Roth decides to stand up, so the ref orders Berzins to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eugenio Roth dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Berzins's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roth lands a jab.

Roth shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Roth was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Berzins is looking for a sweep.

Roth stands up and beckons Berzins to his feet.

Roth shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Berzins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Berzins pushes Roth off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzins is breathing heavily.
Berzins changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Roth tries to avoid it but Berzins manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Roth to the ground. Roth escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Berzins takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Roth drives through with a takedown into Berzins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Roth has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Roth stands up from Berzins's guard - Roth perhaps looking for a knockout.

Roth moves into the clinch.
Roth digs a right hand underneath Berzins's ribcage. Berzins let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Roth has hold of one of Berzins's legs. Berzins is fighting the takedown attempt but Roth gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Berzins has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Roth off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Roth rushes Berzins and presses him up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roth jumps guard.
Roth controls Berzins momentarily but Berzins frees himself.
Roth on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Roth tries to get out of the position.
Roth is looking to stand up but Berzins isn't so interested in that idea.
Berzins throws a big right hand that misses.

Roth has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Berzins is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Berzins tries to pull guard but Roth won't allow it.

Roth breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Roth.

Roth clinches up against the cage.
Roth throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Roth escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Eugenio Roth is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roth fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Roth throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Berzins tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Roth is in Berzins's guard.

Roth decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Roth gets a double leg takedown into Berzins's guard.

Berzins had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roth defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roth stopping the sweep attempt from Berzins.

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

Roth feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Berzins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Berzins throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Berzins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Eugenio Roth dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bruno Berzins's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Berzins fails in his attempt to clinch.
Berzins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Berzins.
Roth tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Berzins manages to circle out of the way.

Roth closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Berzins quickly recovers to half guard.
Berzins is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roth seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Roth trying to advance position but Berzins counters by regaining guard.
Berzins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roth being controlled here momentarily.
Berzins trying to strike off his back.
Roth not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Roth's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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.
Roth throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Berzins's head.
Roth fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Roth gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Roth is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Berzins to keep the fight standing.
Berzins wants to break free but Roth has control.
Roth wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eugenio Roth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berzins is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roth scores with a nice hook to the head.

Roth pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roth displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Berzins.
Berzins dives in and grabs Roth's left leg, looking for a takedown. Roth pushes down on Berzins's head and hops out.
Roth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Roth scores with a takedown into Berzins's guard.
Roth trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Roth postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berzins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Roth stands and steps away. Berzins gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Roth drives through with a takedown into Berzins's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Roth preventing the sweep.
Berzins working a defensive guard here.

Roth stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Bruno Berzins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eugenio Roth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roth fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Berzins sprawls well initially but Roth persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eugenio Roth showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Roth has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eugenio Roth!