PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benny Bjerke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricardo Pozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bjerke comes to the cage accompanied by Turbonegro - Get It On. Benny Bjerke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bjerke
vs
Pozzi

185 cm
25
178 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

185 cm
23
170 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

Royalty Apparel
Pride Of New York

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benny Bjerke!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ricardo Pozzi!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bjerke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pozzi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pozzi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bjerke manages to avoid it.
Bjerke tries for a takedown but Pozzi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Pozzi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bjerke tries to clinch up but Pozzi circles away and keeps his distance.
Bjerke shoots in looking for a takedown. Pozzi tries to sprawl out of it but Bjerke keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Pozzi manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Bjerke forces Pozzi back against the cage and clinches.
Bjerke prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pozzi looking for a takedown.
Pozzi tries for a takedown but Bjerke manages to get underhooks.
Benny Bjerke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Pozzi.
Bjerke is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Pozzi gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bjerke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Pozzi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Pozzi just misses with a punch to the body.

Bjerke decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bjerke seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Pozzi does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pozzi is trying to get back to full guard.
Bjerke is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Bjerke throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Pozzi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bjerke wants to work for an arm triangle but Pozzi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pozzi is defending against the submission attempts here by Bjerke.
Bjerke wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pozzi keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bjerke seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pozzi tries to get to full guard but Bjerke has control of the leg.
Bjerke uses his free foot to push down on Pozzi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Pozzi.

Bjerke is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Pozzi to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Pozzi shrugs it off.
Bjerke looking to finish Pozzi with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pozzi!
Pozzi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Pozzi can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjerke wants to control the pace but Pozzi is squirming around nicely.
Bjerke has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Pozzi's face.
Pozzi can't escape the position.
Pozzi is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Bjerke has taken his back.
Bjerke landing with strikes.
Bjerke trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Bjerke working for the choke.

Bjerke is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Pozzi has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjerke is trying to stick to Pozzi's back but Pozzi is turning into Bjerke. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bjerke's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Pozzi.
Bjerke keeping moving, preventing Pozzi from controlling successfully.
Pozzi throwing strikes but missing.
Pozzi trying to control the position from guard on top but Bjerke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pozzi preventing the sweep.
Bjerke has Pozzi pulled in close to control his posture.
Bjerke trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benny Bjerke dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

No luck for Pozzi with that takedown attempt.
Bjerke tries for a takedown but Pozzi circles away easily
and Bjerke takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Benny Bjerke has been cut.
Pozzi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Bjerke changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pozzi tries to avoid it but Bjerke manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pozzi to the ground. Pozzi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pozzi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bjerke.

Bjerke shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pozzi is trying to defend but Bjerke finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bjerke thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bjerke thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pozzi's head.
Bjerke throwing shots but Pozzi is blocking nicely.
Bjerke trying to control the pace.
Pozzi gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjerke throwing strikes from guard but Pozzi blocks nicely.
Pozzi keeping moving, preventing Bjerke from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pozzi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bjerke manages to get himself to full guard.
Pozzi content to stall in guard here.
Pozzi's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bjerke 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.
Bjerke tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two 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.
Pozzi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bjerke wants to stand up but Pozzi is controlling him.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bjerke is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bjerke tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Pozzi is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Pozzi scoring with some ground and pound.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bjerke has his takedown stuffed

and Pozzi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Bjerke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bjerke tries to pull guard but Pozzi won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjerke looking to slow down the pace here.
Bjerke wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Pozzi has him pressed against the cage.
Bjerke has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Pozzi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Pozzi has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bjerke clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Pozzi throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Pozzi is working the ground and pound. Can Bjerke escape?
Bjerke tries to break free.
Pozzi lands punches and elbows.
Pozzi controlling the position well here. Bjerke rolled but Pozzi kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Bjerke is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pozzi has good solid back control here.
Bjerke trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Pozzi is hanging on to Bjerke's back as he tries to escape.
Bjerke controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Pozzi controlling the positon.
Pozzi somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Bjerke takes a big shot to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Pozzi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Benny Bjerke's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bjerke with a lazy takedown attempt
and Pozzi counters with a series of strikes. Bjerke will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pozzi fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Pozzi shoots for a takedown but Bjerke saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pozzi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pozzi smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nice body punch from Pozzi.

Bjerke drives through with a takedown into guard.
Pozzi keeping moving, preventing Bjerke from controlling successfully.
Bjerke is really struggling to control Pozzi but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Pozzi looking for a sweep. Not yet Pozzi, not yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pozzi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bjerke!
Pozzi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjerke is wriggling around trying to escape.
Pozzi avoids the attempt from Bjerke to control.
Pozzi controlling from mount.
Pozzi trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bjerke is looking to improve his position but Pozzi isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pozzi controlling the pace for now.
Bjerke really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Pozzi controlling from mount.
Bjerke tries to reverse the position but Pozzi maintains control.
Bjerke manages to control the position for a moment.
Pozzi controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bjerke is looking to get to half guard.
Pozzi looking to finish Bjerke with some ground and pound. This is bad for Bjerke!
Bjerke is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pozzi wants to control the pace but Bjerke is squirming around nicely.
Pozzi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Bjerke is desperately trying to improve his position but Pozzi has a good base and remains in mount.
Pozzi controlling the position easily from mount.
Bjerke is in a horrible position here. Pozzi smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pozzi controlling the position easily from mount.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ricardo Pozzi just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bjerke tries to clinch there but Pozzi circles away.
Pozzi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bjerke manages to avoid it.
Bjerke misses with a takedown attempt

and Pozzi counters by clinching up.
Pozzi stops a takedown attempt from Bjerke.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benny Bjerke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bjerke throws a knee to the head but misses.

Pozzi pulls Bjerke into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricardo Pozzi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Pozzi 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Ricardo Pozzi!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Ricardo Pozzi!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Ricardo Pozzi!

Ricardo Pozzi wins by unanimous decision!
Ricardo Pozzi is the new welterweight champion!