PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Berdugo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacob Esau (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jacob Esau will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Berdugo
vs
Esau

189 cm
19
195 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

182 cm
24
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrei Berdugo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacob Esau!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Esau walks into a jab.
Berdugo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Esau catches Berdugo with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Andrei Berdugo has been cut.
Esau throws a series of punches but Berdugo moves out of range.

Berdugo drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Berdugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esau swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berdugo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Berdugo looking to pass the guard.

Esau has his foot on Berdugo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berdugo works his way back into a safe position though.

Berdugo is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Berdugo passes Esau's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Berdugo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdugo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Berdugo trying to control from half guard but Esau is working away.
Esau is trying to maintain the position but Berdugo is very close to passing his half guard.
Esau is pressing down on Berdugo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Berdugo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Esau avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Berdugo thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Esau trying to keep a closed guard but Berdugo is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Esau tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Berdugo paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Esau fails to land with a series of punches.
Esau misses with a low kick as Berdugo jumps back.
Esau tries to land a leg kick but Berdugo saw it coming and moves away.

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.
Esau is looking to clinch but Berdugo is avoiding it.
Berdugo misses with a wild body shot.
Berdugo stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Esau.
Berdugo keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Esau throws a jab when Berdugo was well out of range.

Berdugo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Esau is trying to control but can't.
Esau gets full guard.
Berdugo with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esau keeping full guard, as Berdugo tries to pass.
Berdugo is working hard here to advance position.
Esau is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Berdugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esau swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Berdugo drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Esau dives on top into guard.
Berdugo wants to sweep here but Esau controlling him for the moment.
Esau is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Berdugo looking for a sweep. Not yet Berdugo, not yet.
Berdugo throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Esau pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berdugo is keeping the position for now.
Berdugo is looking to stand up but Esau isn't so interested in that idea.
Berdugo is trying to control the position but Esau postures up.
Berdugo keeping moving, preventing Esau from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Berdugo swings for the body but Esau moves out of range.
Esau throws a right and a left that both miss.
Berdugo misses with the combination.
Berdugo tries to move into range but Esau moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jacob Esau will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Andrei Berdugo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Berdugo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Esau was covering up waiting for the punch and Berdugo finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Berdugo drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Esau manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Berdugo has Esau in his guard.
Esau wants to control from the top but Berdugo keeps moving.
Esau pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berdugo is keeping the position for now.
Esau trying to control the position from guard on top but Berdugo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Esau tries to free his leg and advance position but Berdugo is retaining full guard.
Berdugo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Esau!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berdugo is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Esau is surviving well by controlling Berdugo's body position as best he can.
Berdugo wants to take his opponent's back but Esau doesn't allow it.
Berdugo throwing strikes here but Esau is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Berdugo tries to control but Esau wriggling away.
Esau has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Berdugo's lack of action.
Berdugo is trying to control. Esau wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Berdugo seems to be working for a kimura but Esau defends the submission attempt.
Esau trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Esau is not content to let Berdugo control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Esau scores with a jab. Berdugo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Berdugo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Esau gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Esau looking for a sweep. Not yet Esau, not yet.
Berdugo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Esau is on top in guard.

Berdugo looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Esau stands and throws Berdugo's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Esau tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Esau has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Berdugo is looking for a sweep.
Esau works to advance to full mount. Berdugo defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Berdugo gets back to half guard.

Berdugo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Esau wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berdugo keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Esau seems to be looking for submissions.
Berdugo is trying to get back to full guard.
Berdugo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Esau trying to control the action but Berdugo is working from the bottom.
Esau trying to pass the guard but Berdugo defending well.

Berdugo looking for submissions off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Berdugo thows a left - swing and a miss!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Andrei Berdugo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Andrei Berdugo's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Esau misses with a jab, cross combination.
Esau misses with a jab, cross combination.
Berdugo throws a body punch but Esau moves out of range.
Esau throws a low kick but it's checked well by Berdugo.

Berdugo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Esau did well to prevent Berdugo getting side control.
Esau trying to control but Berdugo postures up.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Esau wants to improve his position but Berdugo is controlling well.

Berdugo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Berdugo prevents Esau from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdugo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Esau trying to control from the bottom.
Berdugo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Esau's head.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Berdugo just misses with a punch to the body.
Esau throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Esau throws a combination that misses

and Berdugo counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berdugo working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Esau tries to bench press Berdugo off him but Berdugo keeps the position.

Berdugo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Esau gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Esau moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Berdugo wants to control from the top but Esau keeps moving.
Berdugo wants to pass the guard but Esau is keeping the position.
Esau preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Berdugo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Esau is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Berdugo tries to roll over but Esau keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Esau is looking to take a break and control but Berdugo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Berdugo looking for submissions off his back.
Esau wants to take a breather but Berdugo is having none of it.
Berdugo works his way to full guard. Good work.

Esau postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Berdugo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Esau, into his guard.

Esau has his foot on Berdugo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berdugo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Berdugo is pushing down on Esau's leg trying to pass to half guard. Esau is fighting to maintain full guard but Berdugo has managed to sneak the leg through.

Berdugo is working for a kimura but Esau is defending it quite comfortably.
Berdugo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Esau's head.
Esau is pressing down on Berdugo's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Berdugo wanted to stand there but Esau had control of the position.
Berdugo wants to control from the top but Esau keeps moving.
Esau is trying to control the position but Berdugo postures up.
Berdugo stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Esau swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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 Andrei Berdugo.
I think Berdugo has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!