PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Paul Hogan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leo Bertos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Paul Hogan could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Leo Bertos's chin.

Hogan
vs
Bertos

168 cm
20
130 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

168 cm
23
132 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Paul Hogan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Leo Bertos!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bertos jabs Hogan right on the nose. Hogan blinks but takes it well.
Bertos avoids the body shot from Hogan.

Bertos changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hogan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Bertos cracks Hogan with a big elbow.
Bertos tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Hogan can't do much from the bottom here.
Hogan prevents Bertos from improving position.
Bertos sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Hogan is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bertos throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bertos tries to advance to mount but Hogan denies him.
Bertos cracks Hogan with a big right hand but Hogan just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Bertos misses with the ground and pound.
Bertos is working Hogan over with some ground and pound from side control.
Hogan tries to bench press Bertos off him but Bertos keeps the position.
Hogan avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bertos.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hogan sneaks back into half guard.
Hogan moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Hogan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bertos defends well.

Hogan escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bertos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Hogan working for a triangle but Bertos defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bertos passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hogan is trying to improve his position.

Bertos tries for a kimura but Hogan is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bertos landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Bertos is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hogan is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Hogan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Hogan regains half guard.
Hogan is breathing heavily.
Hogan regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bertos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bertos with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hogan looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bertos passes into half guard.
Bertos prevents Hogan from improving his position.
Hogan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bertos scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bertos wants to pass the guard but Hogan is defending well.

Hogan has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Bertos escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Bertos!

Bertos tries for a kimura but Hogan is defending well.
Bertos landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Bertos stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Hogan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bertos paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertos tries to clinch but Hogan moves out of range.

Bertos clinches up with Hogan and pushes him back against the cage.
Bertos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Hogan pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bertos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Hogan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hogan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bertos gets underhooks to prevent Hogan's takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Bertos dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hogan closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Bertos jumps guard.
Hogan being controlled here momentarily.
Hogan looking to pass the guard.

Bertos is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bertos is trying to control the position but Hogan postures up.

Hogan drops back looking for a leg! Bertos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bertos manages to kick Hogan off! Hogan jumps back into Bertos's guard.

Hogan drops back looking for a leg! Bertos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bertos manages to kick Hogan off! Hogan jumps back into Bertos's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Hogan sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bertos's guard.
Bertos landing strikes from the bottom.
Hogan trying to control the action but Bertos is working from the bottom.

Hogan wants to work for an arm triangle but Bertos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Bertos looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Hogan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bertos is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hogan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hogan's back!
Bertos connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Hogan to escape the position.
Hogan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Bertos's guard. Nice work there by Hogan.
Bertos is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Bertos is trying to control the action in half guard but Hogan is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Hogan actively working from the bottom here.

Hogan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bertos winds up and cracks Hogan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bertos is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Hogan has managed to free his arm - good work.

Hogan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bertos looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Hogan wants to get back to full guard but Bertos has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hogan is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Hogan in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bertos landing punches.
Hogan regains half guard.
Ground and pound from Bertos.
Leo Bertos has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertos passes to side control.
Hogan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bertos scoring with punches from side control.
Hogan taking a bit of punishment here - Bertos scoring with strikes.
Hogan is looking for a sweep.
Hogan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Bertos off and has taken his back!
Bertos rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Bertos moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hogan accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bertos tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bertos is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leo Bertos showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Hogan shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bertos decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hogan's guard.
Bertos postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bertos working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bertos looking to pass the guard.
Bertos throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hogan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hogan is trying to keep Bertos in close.
Hogan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bertos is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bertos trying to control the position from guard on top but Hogan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Hogan fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bertos sprawls well initially but Hogan persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bertos wants to get back to full guard.

Hogan is looking for a kimura but Bertos is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Hogan to get the leverage.
Hogan is thwarting Bertos's attempts to control the position.
Bertos is trying to get back to full guard.
Bertos punching from the bottom.
Hogan is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bertos wants to control but Hogan is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bertos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hogan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bertos's guard.

Hogan drops back looking for a leg! Bertos is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bertos manages to kick Hogan off! Hogan jumps back into Bertos's guard.
Bertos lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Hogan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bertos looking for a guillotine here but Hogan defends easily.
Hogan wants to control from the top but Bertos keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertos wants to sweep here but Hogan controlling him for the moment.
Bertos working a defensive guard here.
Bertos might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hogan kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hogan postures up in Bertos's guard and throws a big left but Bertos blocks it.
Hogan passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Hogan is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bertos has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bertos gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Paul Hogan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bertos flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bertos is looking to control Hogan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bertos avoid being mounted?
Hogan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Hogan is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bertos is just riding it out for now. Hogan eventually gives up the hold.

Hogan is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bertos punching from the bottom.

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 Paul Hogan.
I think Bertos has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 27:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leo Bertos!