PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denard Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Bera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Bera's choice of entrance music: Parasite :D . The key to victory for Denard Black has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Black
vs
Bera

185 cm
24
210 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

180 cm
25
212 lbs
12 - 1 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denard Black!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Matt Bera!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bera rushes Black and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bera is looking for a takedown.
Black has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Black prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bera misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bera tries for a takedown. No joy.
Denard Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matt Bera.
Bera drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Black gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bera fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bera tries to pull guard but Black won't allow it.
Bera is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Black is defending well.

Black's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bera shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Black as he avoids it easily.
Bera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Black stuffs the takedown.
Bera slips under a jab.
Black cracks Bera with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Jab by Black.

It looks like Matt Bera has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bera doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
Bera doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
Black lands a two punch combo.
Black swinging wildly here.
Black fails to land with a series of punches.
Black connects with a jab.

Bera closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Black avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bera.
Bera tries to score with some ground and pound. Black controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bera tries to score with some ground and pound. Black controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bera throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bera has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bera wants to lay and pray for a moment but Black keeps working.
Black is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bera is controlling him well.
Bera throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Black is not content to let Bera control the position.
Bera is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bera lands an elbow.
Bera trying to control the action but Black is working from the bottom.
Bera throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bera in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Bera throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Bera misses with the ground and pound.

Bera goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Black rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bera's guard! Nice work there by Black!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Black decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bera, up you get!
Bera dodges the punch combination from Black.
Black keeps the fight on the outside.
Bera is trying hard to land a takedown here. Black sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bera lands with an overhand left.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Black smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Danga de danga de dang - Black scores with a four punch combination!
Black leaves Bera with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bera tries to score a power double leg takedown but Black sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bera somewhat.
Horrible takedown by Bera or perhaps it was just good defense by Black which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denard Black dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Bera's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Black cracks Bera with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Black has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Bera to stand back up!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Black misses with a series of wild punches.
Denard Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Black avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Black throws a hook to the side of Bera's head but Bera sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bera shoots in looking for a takedown but Black manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bera's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Black steps into range and unloads a brutal right left combo! Bera is out on his feet! Black sets himself and nearly takes Bera's head off with a straight right, sending him crashing to the mat! Wow, that was nasty... but awesome! Wooo!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:30 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Denard Black!
Denard Black is the new light heavyweight champion!