PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Scott McKenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mario Berkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mario Berkovic told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

McKenzie
vs
Berkovic

190 cm
23
270 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

197 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Scott McKenzie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Berkovic!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Colin Fotheringham and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McKenzie throws a leg kick but Berkovic sees it coming and moves out of range.
Some wild striking there from Berkovic.

McKenzie closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McKenzie lands in his opponent's guard.
McKenzie throws a strike but Berkovic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Berkovic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McKenzie is keeping the position for now.
Berkovic prevents McKenzie from getting back to his feet.

McKenzie pushes Berkovic off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McKenzie misses with a combination
enabling Berkovic to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Scott McKenzie has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McKenzie swings widly with a right hand
and Berkovic counters with a nice uppercut.
McKenzie misses with a double jab

and Berkovic counters with a left and a right that hurts McKenzie! He wobbles and falls to the floor - he's in big trouble! Berkovic jumps into full mount!
McKenzie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if McKenzie tries to get out of the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McKenzie is in all sorts of trouble here.
Berkovic throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McKenzie because Berkovic loaded up on that one.
McKenzie is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Berkovic unloads with some shots from mount but McKenzie bucks and avoids them well.
McKenzie is in a horrible position here. Berkovic smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
McKenzie's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
McKenzie could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Berkovic is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but McKenzie is surviving well by controlling Berkovic's body position as best he can.
Berkovic looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkovic landing strikes from the mount.

Scott McKenzie's cut is getting worse.
Berkovic misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
McKenzie's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
McKenzie suckers Berkovic into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! McKenzie is now in Berkovic's guard!
Berkovic looking to control.
Berkovic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Berkovic is trying to control the position but McKenzie postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McKenzie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McKenzie wants to control from the top but Berkovic keeps moving.
McKenzie throws a strike but Berkovic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
McKenzie 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.
McKenzie has a closed guard, preventing Berkovic from standing up.

McKenzie working for a triangle but Berkovic defends it easily.
McKenzie tries to land a sweep but no joy.

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.
Berkovic trying to control the position from guard on top but McKenzie is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berkovic throws and elbow that misses. McKenzie uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Berkovic's guard. Nice move by McKenzie!
Berkovic has momentary wrist control but McKenzie slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
McKenzie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McKenzie missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Berkovic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Scott McKenzie's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A decent looking cross lands there for Berkovic.

Scott McKenzie's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McKenzie.
Scott McKenzie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McKenzie falls off balance throwing a combination
and Berkovic counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McKenzie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Berkovic defends it nicely.
McKenzie takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Jeez, Scott McKenzie's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Scott McKenzie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McKenzie throws a combination that misses
letting Berkovic counter with a right hand.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Scott McKenzie's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Mario Berkovic!