PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mario Berkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaarel Valtna (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Kaarel Valtna was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Berkovic
vs
Valtna

197 cm
20
265 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
244 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Mario Berkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Kaarel Valtna!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Valtna shoots in and gets a takedown into Berkovic's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Valtna drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Valtna jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Valtna trying to control the position from guard on top but Berkovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Berkovic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Valtna doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Valtna manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Valtna throwing strikes from guard but Berkovic blocks nicely.

Valtna avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Berkovic utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valtna drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Valtna jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Berkovic can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Valtna controls the pace.
Valtna has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Valtna in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Valtna avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Valtna looking to sit in guard and control but Berkovic gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Berkovic looking to pass the guard.
Valtna looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Valtna is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berkovic is aware though and is defending well.

Berkovic drops back, looking for a kneebar! Valtna looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Valtna looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Valtna!

Valtna working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Valtna decides to stand back up. Valtna steps back and let's Berkovic get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Valtna has a takedown stuffed.
Valtna slips a jab and a cross from Berkovic.
Berkovic connects with the punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkovic tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Valtna looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Berkovic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Berkovic tries to clinch up but Valtna circles away and keeps his distance.
Valtna shoots in for a takedown but Berkovic shows good takedown defense.

Valtna dives in and scores a takedown into Berkovic's guard.
Valtna keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Berkovic's head.

Berkovic working for a triangle but Valtna defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Valtna accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valtna pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berkovic is keeping the position for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Valtna is pushing down on Berkovic's leg trying to pass to half guard. Berkovic is fighting to maintain full guard but Valtna has managed to sneak the leg through.
Valtna wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berkovic keeps working.
Valtna not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Valtna is working for a submission of some sort.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Valtna tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarel Valtna dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Valtna on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Berkovic lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Kaarel Valtna has been cut.
Mario Berkovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berkovic lands a two punch combo.
Berkovic stuffs the takedown.
Mario Berkovic is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Berkovic misses.
Berkovic swings for the body but Valtna moves out of range.
Berkovic connects with a right hand. Valtna shakes it off.
Valtna fails to land the takedown.

Berkovic rushes Valtna and presses him up against the ropes.
Valtna is breathing heavily.

Berkovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Valtna shoots in but no luck this time.
Mario Berkovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaarel Valtna.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valtna shoots in and drives through. Berkovic sprawls well.
Mario Berkovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A combination from Berkovic does no damage.
Berkovic scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.

Berkovic scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Berkovic missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Valtna is trying to control but can't.

Valtna actively working from the bottom here.
Valtna is trying to stand.
Berkovic trying to control the action but Valtna is working from the bottom.
Berkovic is thwarting Valtna's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkovic is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Valtna trying to control here.
Berkovic throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Berkovic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Valtna wants to control but Berkovic passes into side.

Berkovic tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Berkovic has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Valtna pushes Berkovic away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Berkovic gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valtna is looking to regain half guard here but Berkovic keeps moving and retains side control.
Valtna taking a bit of punishment here - Berkovic scoring with strikes.
Berkovic creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Valtna takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
You can see the frustration on Valtna's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Berkovic tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkovic trying to control the action but Valtna is working from the bottom.

Berkovic has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berkovic throws a right and a left that both miss.
Valtna fails to land the takedown.
Donk. Berkovic catches Valtna right on the button with a cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Berkovic lands with a good body shot.
Valtna is trying hard to land a takedown here. Berkovic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mario Berkovic dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kaarel Valtna's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Valtna tries to clinch but Berkovic is having none of it.

Valtna closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Berkovic's guard.
Valtna trying to stand up but can't free himself from Berkovic's guard.

Berkovic has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valtna can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Valtna working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Berkovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Berkovic looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Valtna has picked Berkovic up and slammed him! Berkovic can't keep hold of the triangle and Valtna manages to pass to side control!

Valtna tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Valtna has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Valtna looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Valtna takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkovic tries to improve position but can't.

Valtna is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Berkovic is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Berkovic is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Valtna off and has taken his back!
Valtna prevents Berkovic from getting a body triangle.
Berkovic avoiding Valtna 's attempts to control his hands.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Berkovic's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valtna is really stuck here.
Valtna trying to control the action but Berkovic just sinks the hooks in.
Kaarel Valtna has got the better of the ground game so far.
Berkovic trying to control momentarily.
Berkovic lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Valtna hold on?!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Berkovic's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Berkovic is landing with strikes. Valtna can't take much more of this.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valtna trying to control the hands but Berkovic breaks the grip.
Valtna manages to reverse the position and now he's in Berkovic's guard. Nice work there by Valtna.
Valtna throwing strikes but missing.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valtna not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Valtna throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Valtna is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Berkovic wants to control from the top but Valtna keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Valtna is working an open guard so Berkovic takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kaarel Valtna.
I think Valtna 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 William Gold scores the fight for Mario Berkovic!
Judge James Atkins scores the fight for Mario Berkovic!
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight for Mario Berkovic!

Mario Berkovic wins by unanimous decision!