PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Igor Zaharov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maximo Bertnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Igor Zaharov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Maximo Bertnar's chin.

Zaharov
vs
Bertnar

188 cm
26
185 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
188 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Igor Zaharov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maximo Bertnar!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Saam Ante and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bertnar fails with a takedown attempt.
Zaharov throws a head kick but Bertnar moves out of range.
Zaharov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like Maximo Bertnar has been cut.

Bertnar scores a takedown into full mount!
Zaharov wants to hold on but Bertnar pushes him away.
Bertnar putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bertnar thowing shots but they're missing.
Zaharov tries to reverse the position but Bertnar maintains control.
Bertnar looking to control but Zaharov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Zaharov bucks up and throws Bertnar to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertnar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Bertnar closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bertnar tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Bertnar has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Bertnar moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Zaharov has worked his arm free - good work by Zaharov!
Bertnar wants to take a breather but Zaharov manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Bertnar.
Bertnar throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Zaharov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertnar preventing the sweep.
Zaharov keeping moving, preventing Bertnar from controlling successfully.
Bertnar controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Zaharov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Bertnar has passed into half guard!
Bertnar is keen to just control but Zaharov is a slippery customer.
Bertnar controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Bertnar lands strikes from half guard.
Bertnar not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bertnar lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Zaharov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bertnar.

Bertnar is trying to work for a kimura but Zaharov is defending well.
Zaharov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four 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.
Zaharov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bertnar.
Bertnar throwing strikes from guard but Zaharov blocks nicely.

Zaharov uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zaharov stuffs the takedown.
Bertnar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Igor Zaharov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximo Bertnar.
Zaharov misses with a low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bertnar avoids a punch combination nicely.

Bertnar decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Maximo Bertnar will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Maximo Bertnar's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zaharov throws a head kick that half lands.
Bertnar tries to clinch but Zaharov is having none of it.
Zaharov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

so Bertnar counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bertnar is fighting to break Zaharov's control of his arms but Zaharov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Maximo Bertnar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zaharov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Zaharov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bertnar has passed into side control.
Zaharov is trying to improve his position.
Check out the look on Bertnar's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertnar working the ground and pound.
Bertnar is trying to ground and pound but Zaharov uses the momentary lack of control by Bertnar to regain half guard.

Zaharov actively working from the bottom here.
Bertnar not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bertnar wants to pass to mount but Zaharov is defending the position.

Bertnar is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

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.
Bertnar is trying to control the action in half guard but Zaharov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bertnar throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bertnar prevents Zaharov from standing back up.
Bertnar thows a huge punch but Zaharov dodges it nicely.

Zaharov has one foot on Bertnar's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Bertnar swings away with a body shot that misses
and Zaharov counters with a three punch combo that has Bertnar backing up. Bertnar nods at Zaharov to acknowledge the strikes.
Zaharov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertnar is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaharov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zaharov wants to clinch

and Bertnar counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bertnar.
Bertnar trying to control but Zaharov is working from the bottom.
Bertnar keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zaharov's head.
Bertnar must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Zaharov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Zaharov keeping moving, preventing Bertnar from controlling successfully.
Zaharov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaharov is trying to control the position but Bertnar postures up.
Bertnar trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bertnar postures up.

Zaharov pushes Bertnar off and scrambles back to his feet.
Bertnar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zaharov's waist but Zaharov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bertnar off to one side.
Bertnar is breathing heavily.
Zaharov swinging wildly here.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zaharov enables Bertnar to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zaharov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bertnar trying to control but Zaharov is working from the bottom.
Bertnar is looking to advance position but Zaharov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Maximo Bertnar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Maximo Bertnar's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Bertnar throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Zaharov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Zaharov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zaharov closes the distance but Bertnar moves to the side

and Bertnar counters by moving into the clinch.
Bertnar fails to pull guard.
Bertnar is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Zaharov is defending well for now.
Bertnar has Zaharov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zaharov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bertnar can't get the takedown.
Igor Zaharov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maximo Bertnar.
Zaharov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Zaharov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bertnar gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zaharov counters with a three punch combo that has Bertnar backing up. Bertnar nods at Zaharov to acknowledge the strikes.

That has opened up Maximo Bertnar's cut even more.
Zaharov wants to clinch but Bertnar slips to the side

and Bertnar counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bertnar is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zaharov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Zaharov wants to control but Bertnar postures up.
Bertnar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaharov throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Zaharov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bertnar wants to advance to full mount but Zaharov doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Zaharov manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Igor Zaharov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bertnar swats away the attempt to clinch by Zaharov.
Zaharov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zaharov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bertnar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zaharov prevents the takedown attempt.
Bertnar changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Zaharov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Zaharov tries to clinch up but Bertnar circles away and keeps his distance.
Zaharov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bertnar manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Zaharov has closed the distance and engaged Bertnar in a clinch.
Zaharov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Zaharov is pressed up against the cage. Bertnar has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Zaharov down to the mat. Zaharov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Zaharov tries to clinch up but Bertnar circles away and keeps his distance.
Zaharov throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bertnar's head.

The cut above Maximo Bertnar's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Zaharov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Zaharov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Igor Zaharov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertnar swings widly with a right hand
and Zaharov counters with a leg kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bertnar crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Zaharov - the referee stops the clock and Bertnar gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Zaharov. Bertnar manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

Zaharov lands a big head kick that sends Bertnar tumbling to the mat! Zaharov takes a step backwards and waves Bertnar back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Bertnar is rocked!
Zaharov connects with a jab, followed by a picture perfect straight right that sends Bertnar to the canvas, out cold! What a finish by Zaharov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Igor Zaharov!