PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Danny Berazzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caco Vera (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.

Berazzo
vs
Vera

178 cm
19
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

{GTI} - HGH Nutrients
FNF Energy & Stamina - Sale!

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Danny Berazzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Caco Vera!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berazzo swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.

Vera rushes Berazzo and presses him up against the cage.
Vera is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vera lands a damaging elbow.
Berazzo tries a knee to the head but Vera blocks it.
Vera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Berazzo's defenses.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Berazzo looking to stall.
Vera is pressed up against the cage. Berazzo has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vera down to the mat. Vera avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Vera closes the distance and pushes Berazzo back into the cage.
Berazzo takes an elbow to the temple.
Vera lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Vera scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Berazzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berazzo.
Vera is pushing Berazzo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Vera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berazzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Berazzo avoids it.
Berazzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Berazzo can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Berazzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berazzo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee is keeping an eye on Vera - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berazzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vera tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Berazzo avoids it.

Berazzo lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Vera won't allow Berazzo to pass to mount.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.
Berazzo trying to control the action but Vera is working from the bottom.
Vera is looking to escape.
Vera is not content to let Berazzo control the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vera preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Danny Berazzo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Berazzo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Vera swivels and escapes.
Caco Vera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Berazzo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vera but Vera pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Vera darts in and clinches Berazzo up against the cage.
Berazzo jumps guard but Vera stands there with Berazzo around his waist. Berazzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vera's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Berazzo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vera with a knee to the head.
Vera working Berazzo over with knees to the body.
Vera is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Vera misses with a knee strike.
Vera looks gassed!
Vera lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vera with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Berazzo avoiding damage as Vera throws knees to the body.
Berazzo fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berazzo jumps into guard, dragging Vera to the mat.

Vera decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Vera dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Berazzo connects with a jab.
Vera throws a combination that misses
and Berazzo counters with a three punch combo that has Vera backing up. Vera nods at Berazzo to acknowledge the strikes.

Berazzo forces Vera back against the cage and clinches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vera.
Berazzo is working for takedown but Vera is calmly controlling the position for now.
Berazzo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vera lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Berazzo backwards.
Vera leaning against his opponent.
Vera tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A short right from Berazzo on the inside.
Vera throws a punch but it's blocked by Berazzo.
Vera avoids a wild elbow strike from Berazzo.
Vera using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berazzo has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Vera prevents Berazzo from breaking the clinch.
Vera prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berazzo tries to pull guard but Vera won't allow it.
Berazzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vera just stands there and leans against the cage.
Vera utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Berazzo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Berazzo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Knees to the body from Vera.
Vera avoiding damage as Berazzo throws knees to the body.

Berazzo jumps guard and drags Vera to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Vera stopping the sweep attempt from Berazzo.
Berazzo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Berazzo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vera is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caco Vera dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Berazzo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Vera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Berazzo, pushing him back against the cage.
Vera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berazzo is defending well for now.
Vera lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vera working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vera displaying some good clinch control by pressing Berazzo up against the cage.
Berazzo can't break the clinch.
Vera keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Berazzo's efforts to push away.
Vera missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berazzo gets through Vera's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Vera taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Berazzo tries to score a body lock takedown but Vera shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vera trying to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Berazzo.
Berazzo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vera gets the underhooks and prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Danny Berazzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vera cracks Berazzo with a nice body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berazzo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Vera prevents Berazzo from breaking the clinch.
Vera landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Berazzo throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Berazzo wants to stall.
Vera cracks Berazzo with a nice body shot.
Vera lands a hook that snaps the head of Berazzo backwards.
Vera landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vera stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Vera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Berazzo's defenses.
Vera stops a takedown attempt from Berazzo.
Vera just leaning against Berazzo, taking a breather.
Berazzo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Vera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Vera digs a right hand underneath Berazzo's ribcage. Berazzo let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vera stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera missing with knees to the body.
Vera prevents Berazzo from breaking the clinch.
Berazzo is trying to break the clinch but Vera has him pressed against the cage.
Berazzo misses with the head strike.
Come on Vera - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Berazzo looking to throw knees to the head but Vera is blocking nicely.
Berazzo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vera using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Vera unloads a knee to the mid-section. Berazzo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Berazzo lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Vera.
Vera's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Berazzo tries to break free but Vera pushes him back against the cage.
Berazzo tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Berazzo takes a knee right on the jaw!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vera taking a breather.
Berazzo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Vera gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Berazzo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Berazzo wants to get back to striking at distance but Vera won't allow it.
Vera comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vera has Berazzo pressed against the cage, preventing Berazzo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Berazzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Berazzo is looking to break free of the clinch but Vera has double underhooks.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vera with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Berazzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vera tries to land knees in the clinch but Berazzo avoids the damage to the body.
Berazzo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Vera fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Berazzo.

Vera darts in and clinches Berazzo up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vera lands a left hand.
Vera keeps control of Berazzo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vera creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Berazzo's defenses.
Vera stalls.
Vera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berazzo is defending well for now.
Berazzo wants to stall.
Berazzo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vera is defending well for now.
Berazzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vera stops a takedown attempt from Berazzo.
Berazzo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vera avoids it.
Still in the clinch, Vera scores with a nice short uppercut.
Berazzo stalling in the clinch but Vera improves position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vera.
Berazzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Berazzo tries to pull guard but Vera won't allow it.
Vera lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Caco Vera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Berazzo tries for a takedown but Vera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Berazzo keeps the fight on the outside.

Vera pushes Berazzo up against the cage in a clinch.
Caco Vera seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Berazzo pulls guard successfully.
Vera wants to stand but Berazzo has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Berazzo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Vera stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berazzo pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vera closes the distance and pushes Berazzo back into the cage.
Vera trying to land knees to the body.
Vera throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Berazzo blocks it with crossed arms.
Vera keeps control of Berazzo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Berazzo is trying to maintain a safe position but Vera gets an underhook and turns Berazzo into the cage.
Vera missing with knees to the body.
Vera prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vera is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berazzo is defending well for now.
Vera tries a knee to the head but Berazzo blocks it.
Berazzo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Vera managing to block the knees to the body from Berazzo.

Berazzo pulls guard effortlessly.
Vera content to stall in guard here.
Vera trying to control but Berazzo is working from the bottom.

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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berazzo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Caco Vera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vera tries to close the distance and clinch up but Berazzo swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Berazzo rushes Vera and presses him up against the cage.
Vera misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berazzo.
Berazzo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Vera.
Vera tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Berazzo's elbow.
Vera avoiding damage as Berazzo throws knees to the body.
Vera lands a knee to the body.

Berazzo has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vera uses from the top position.
Berazzo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vera manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berazzo wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
Vera looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Berazzo puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Vera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Berazzo not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vera really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Berazzo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Berazzo wants to control but Vera is keeping him busy.
Berazzo stops Vera from getting back to his feet.
Vera is refusing to be controlled, as Berazzo sits in half guard.
Vera is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vera wants to control but Berazzo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vera pushes Berazzo off but Berazzo dives into side control.
Berazzo trying to control the action but Vera is working from the bottom.
Danny Berazzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Berazzo in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

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 Danny Berazzo.
I think Vera 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Caco Vera!