PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Beryia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Beryia's entrance music is I Will not Bow by Breaking Benjamin. A fine choice. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Beryia
vs
Stevenson

183 cm
19
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

186 cm
21
215 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Beryia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Blake Stevenson!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Beryia shows good takedown defense.
Beryia throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Stevenson.
Beryia misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Beryia feints and as Stevenson raises his hands in defense, Beryia changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Beryia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Beryia postures up.
Stevenson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Beryia stops Stevenson from standing up.
Stevenson trying to strike off his back.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Beryia from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beryia trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Stevenson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stevenson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Beryia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Beryia has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Stevenson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stevenson just trying to survive but Beryia is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Stevenson rolls, trying to escape but Beryia keeps control of the position.
Stevenson trying to control but not successfully.
Beryia tries to get the hooks in deep but Stevenson pushed the leg off.
Stevenson trying to control but not successfully.
Beryia is looking to control Stevenson but Stevenson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Stevenson trying to control the position but Beryia manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beryia is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Stevenson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Stevenson for a finish.
Beryia is breathing heavily.
Stevenson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Beryia controlling from mount.
Stevenson is working to get back to half guard.
Stevenson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Stevenson looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Stevenson covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beryia looking to hold on to the position here but Stevenson rolls and ends up regaining guard.

Beryia stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Stevenson gets the takedown into side control.
Beryia is looking for a sweep.

Stevenson tries for a kimura but Beryia is defending well.
Beryia is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Beryia struggling a bit here.
Beryia tries to buck Stevenson off but Stevenson is having none of it.

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

Stevenson stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Beryia instigates a clinch.
Beryia keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Stevenson's efforts to push away.
Beryia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Stevenson smiles and moves away.

Beryia drives through and clinches with Stevenson against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Beryia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Stevenson tries for a takedown but Beryia circles away easily

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

Stevenson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Beryia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Beryia gets to his feet - Stevenson follows without any prompting.
Stevenson shoots in for a double leg but Beryia sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Beryia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Beryia is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stevenson is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to get back to full guard.
Stevenson is not content to let Beryia control the position.
Stevenson tries to get to full guard but Beryia has control of the leg.

Beryia is looking for a kimura but Stevenson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Beryia to get the leverage.
Stevenson wants to control but Beryia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Beryia working over Stevenson with some ground and pound. Stevenson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stevenson tries to roll over but Beryia keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Beryia.

Beryia moves into the clinch successfully.

Stevenson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Beryia throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Nikolai Beryia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Blake Stevenson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stevenson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Beryia defends it nicely.
Nikolai Beryia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Stevenson.
Stevenson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Beryia is fending him off so far but Stevenson persists. Nope, Beryia circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevenson keeps the fight on the outside.
Beryia throws a head kick but Stevenson moves out of range.

Beryia gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Stevenson gets control of Beryia's arms and successfully pulls guard. Stevenson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Stevenson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Beryia decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Stevenson, up you get!
Stevenson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Stevenson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Beryia flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Beryia is staying active underneath Stevenson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stevenson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Beryia has managed to free his arm - good work.
Beryia is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Stevenson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Stevenson's back!
Stevenson breaks Beryia's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beryia is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Beryia trying to control the position.
Beryia has a closed guard, preventing Stevenson from standing up.
Nikolai Beryia overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Stevenson tries to free his leg and advance position but Beryia is retaining full guard.
Beryia wants to stand but Stevenson is controlling the position.

Stevenson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Stevenson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Beryia dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Good shot there by Beryia.
Stevenson shoots in but Beryia avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Stevenson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Beryia counters with a shoot takedown. Stevenson fights it but they end up in guard.
Beryia advances to half guard.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep. Beryia is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevenson is not content to let Beryia control the position.
Beryia keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Beryia passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Stevenson!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Beryia lands a heavy elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson is in all sorts of trouble here.
Stevenson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Beryia get's back to his feet.
Beryia wants to clinch up but Stevenson keeps it at a distance.
Stevenson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Beryia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stevenson somewhat.
Nikolai Beryia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Blake Stevenson.

Beryia instigates a clinch.
Knees to the body from Stevenson.
Beryia wants to break free but Stevenson has control.
Beryia jumps guard but Stevenson stands there with Beryia around his waist. Beryia gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Beryia avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stevenson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Beryia uses from the top position.

Stevenson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Beryia is aware though and is defending well.

Stevenson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Stevenson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Beryia postures up.

Stevenson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Beryia thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stevenson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Beryia trying to control but Stevenson is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson strikes from his own guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Beryia clinches but Stevenson breaks the clinch
and Stevenson counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Beryia thinking.
Stevenson blocks a head kick by Beryia.
Beryia closes the distance and clinches up with Stevenson, looking for a takedown. Beryia pushes Stevenson against the cage but Stevenson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Stevenson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Beryia sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Stevenson somewhat.
Stevenson misses with a shot to the body

and Beryia counters with a takedown into side control.
Beryia blocks the strikes from Stevenson.
Stevenson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Stevenson is looking for a sweep.

Beryia stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Beryia moves in looking to clinch but Stevenson pushes him off.
Beryia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Beryia circles away from the clinch attempt

and Beryia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Beryia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Beryia 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Beryia!