PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Og Kush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Bera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bera is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Parasite :D . Og Kush has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Kush
vs
Bera

192 cm
25
215 lbs
19 - 9 - 0

180 cm
24
212 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Og Kush!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Bera!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Kush misses.
Kush thuds his right hand into Bera's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Kush lands with a good body shot.
Bera slips a jab and a cross from Kush.

Kush gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Bera trying to control but Kush is working from the bottom.
Bera in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bera loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kush avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bera cracks Kush with a solid left hand.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bera's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bera accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bera works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Bera is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kush defends it well.
Kush knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bera on the ground.
Bera throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kush to regain full guard.
Bera trying to control the position from guard on top but Kush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bera trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bera controlling from the top position.
Kush keeping moving, preventing Bera from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kush avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bera stands up over Kush, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kush working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bera.
Bera working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bera throws a big right hand that misses.
Bera advances to half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bera misses with a head shot. Kush uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kush keeping moving, preventing Bera from controlling successfully.
Bera postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bera trying to control but Kush is working from the bottom.
Bera might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kush kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bera throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bera trying to control the position from guard on top but Kush is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Matt Bera was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Kush misses with a wild body shot.
Bera misses with a takedown attempt - Kush sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kush misses with an uppercut. Bera saw that one coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bera fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bera fails with the takedown.
Og Kush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Bera.
Kush keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Bera dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bera fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bera misses with a takedown
and Bera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bera tries to clinch but Kush moves out of range.
Bera takes one to the chin there.
Bera tries for a takedown but Kush sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Og Kush has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Bera.
Kush jabs Bera right on the nose. Bera blinks but takes it well.
Kush cracks Bera with a right hand to the side of the head.
Kush looks to score with a jab to the body but Bera is just out of range.
Kush scores with a nice right hand.
Matt Bera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kush throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bera.
Kush keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kush is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kush keeps the fight on the outside.
Bera takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bera misses with a takedown attempt - Kush sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kush looks to throw the jab but Bera is out of range.
Kush throws a jab but it's blocked by Bera.
Bera takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Kush misses with a combination

and Bera counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kush won't be happy with that.
Kush is not content to let Bera control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bera postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bera creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kush keeps working.
Bera working the head and body with strikes.
Bera tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bera working the ground and pound from side control.
Kush is trying to control Bera's posture but Bera avoids it.
The ground and pound from Bera seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Bera misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Bera crashes against the mat.
Kush on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Bera is trying to get an arm triangle but Kush is defending well.
Kush taking punishment in the form of punches.
Bera tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kush's legs.
Bera grinds an elbow into Kush's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kush is not content to let Bera control the position.
Bera misses with the ground and pound.
Bera throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bera throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bera controlling the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bera with the ground and pound but Kush regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Bera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kush throws a looping overhand right but Bera ducks down to avoid it.
Kush throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kush slaps away a takedown attempt from Bera, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Bera closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Bera looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Bera working the ground and pound but Kush is defending the strikes.
Bera creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kush sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Kush is not content to let Bera control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bera misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Bera.
Bera trying to control the position but Kush is working away.
Bera misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Bera trying to control the action but Kush is working from the bottom.

Bera thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Matt Bera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bera happy to just control the position for now.
Kush prevents Bera from improving position.
Bera is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kush on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kush tries to get out of the position.
Bera works to advance to full mount. Kush defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Og Kush has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bera controlling his opponent.
Let's hope that Bera has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Bera comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bera winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Bera!
Matt Bera was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.