PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Valerio Bertoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Murphy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valerio Bertoto is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Bertoto
vs
Murphy

180 cm
23
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valerio Bertoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Murphy!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murphy tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bertoto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Murphy!
Murphy looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Bertoto punishing his opponent with strikes.
Murphy gets back to half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bertoto lands a nice short elbow.
Murphy keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Murphy tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bertoto is pressing down on Murphy's thigh, looking to free his foot. Murphy is holding on for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bertoto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Murphy on the ground.
Murphy is trying to control but can't.
Bertoto missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Murphy has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murphy is looking for a sweep. Bertoto is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Murphy on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bertoto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Murphy is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bertoto's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bertoto's back!
Murphy throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Bertoto trying to get back to his feet but Murphy is in full control for now.
Murphy wants to control but Bertoto is keeping busy.
Bertoto is trying to stand back up.
Murphy is hanging on to Bertoto's back as he tries to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A lull in the action here.

Murphy looking for the RNC.
Bertoto rolls, trying to escape but Murphy keeps control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murphy is not going to allow Bertoto to sit and survive in this position.
I really don't envy Bertoto right now.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A lull in the action here.
Bertoto wants to escape the position.
Murphy avoiding Bertoto 's attempts to control his hands.
Bertoto wants to escape the position.
Bertoto wants to get back to his feet.
Bertoto tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto trying to control the hands but Murphy breaks the grip.
A lull in the action here.
Murphy gets his hands free as Bertoto looks to control.
Bertoto is keeping busy.
Murphy is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Bertoto just trying to survive but Murphy is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Bertoto turns into Murphy and is now in his guard.
Bertoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Murphy with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bertoto counters with a shoot takedown. Murphy fights it but they end up in guard.
Murphy looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Murphy not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bertoto looking to pass the guard.
Bertoto working some strikes from top position.
Bertoto working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Bertoto tries to pass.
Bertoto slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bertoto cracks Murphy with an elbow. That is naaassty.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bertoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murphy keeps working.
Bertoto connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Murphy some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valerio Bertoto dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bertoto scores with a takedown into Murphy's guard.
Murphy is trying to keep Bertoto in close.
Bertoto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Murphy throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Bertoto works over Murphy with some ground and pound from guard.
Bertoto working some strikes from top position.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Bertoto tries to pass.
Murphy wants to stand up but Bertoto is controlling him.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Bertoto tries to pass.
Bertoto wants to control from the top but Murphy keeps moving.
Murphy keeping full guard, as Bertoto tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertoto scoring with some ground and pound.
Bertoto really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bertoto looking to sit in guard and control but Murphy gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bertoto looking to control.
Bertoto striking off his back but it's not causing Murphy any problems.

Bertoto pushes Murphy off and scrambles back to his feet.
Murphy shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bertoto pinned against the cage. Bertoto gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bertoto shoots in and gets a takedown into Murphy's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Murphy is retaining full guard.
Bertoto trying to control but Murphy is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bertoto trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Murphy manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Bertoto is looking for a triangle but Murphy pushes his legs off easily.
Bertoto seems keen to control Murphy's posture.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bertoto working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murphy doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Murphy manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Murphy wants to control from the top but Bertoto keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bertoto is on top in guard.
Bertoto lands a couple of elbows.
Bertoto stands and throws Murphy's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bertoto creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Murphy sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bertoto working the head with strikes.
Bertoto scores with punches from side control.
Bertoto working the ground and pound.

Bertoto decides to stand back up.
Murphy is breathing heavily.
Bertoto misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bertoto shoots for a double leg takedown but Murphy sprawls well. He's pushed Bertoto's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bertoto closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bertoto performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bertoto landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bertoto trying to control from Murphy's half guard. Murphy has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Bertoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murphy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bertoto trying to control the position from guard on top but Murphy is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bertoto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murphy works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bertoto scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valerio Bertoto dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bertoto drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Murphy manages to get back to half guard.
Valerio Bertoto overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bertoto is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bertoto is looking to advance position but Murphy won't allow it.
Murphy wants to get back to his feet.
Bertoto slips a nice elbow through Murphy's hands, connecting with Murphy's forehead.

Bertoto in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Murphy tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Bertoto!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Valerio Bertoto!
Valerio Bertoto 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.