PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Valerio Bertoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Liddell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Liddell has chosen Bring Me Down (Swollen Mix Feat. Saigon) as his entrance music. Tyler Liddell will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bertoto
vs
Liddell

180 cm
24
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
141 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

KAISER
xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159++ Energy - $50

Ducksfoot Clothing - SALE!! All Items $10
Hellraiser Fightgear ($10-$20 Clothing)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Valerio Bertoto!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Tyler Liddell!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Alyssa Summers and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Liddell rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bertoto counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Liddell!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bertoto throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

Bertoto is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Liddell has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Liddell!
Liddell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Liddell throwing strikes but missing.
Liddell postures up in Bertoto's guard and throws a big left but Bertoto blocks it.
Bertoto 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.

Bertoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Liddell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Liddell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Liddell accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bertoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bertoto is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Liddell throws a big elbow that misses.
Liddell postures up in Bertoto's guard and throws a big left but Bertoto blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Liddell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bertoto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Liddell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertoto not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Bertoto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bertoto has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Liddell off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Liddell drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Liddell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Bertoto has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Liddell off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Liddell swings widly with a right hand

and Bertoto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Liddell is looking to improve his position.
Liddell keeping his head moving to avoid the 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.
Liddell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bertoto looks to land a strike but Liddell avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bertoto content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Liddell is keeping the position for now.
Liddell keeping moving, preventing Bertoto from controlling successfully.
Bertoto makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bertoto trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bertoto keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Liddell's head.
Liddell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Liddell preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bertoto throws a strike but Liddell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Liddell drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Liddell jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bertoto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bertoto is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bertoto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bertoto throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Bertoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Liddell defends it easily.
Bertoto will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Bertoto is looking for a triangle but Liddell pushes his legs off easily.
Liddell stopping the sweep attempt from Bertoto.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Liddell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bertoto is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bertoto postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Liddell is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bertoto, into his guard.
Bertoto on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bertoto tries to get out of the position.

Bertoto had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Liddell defends it easily.
Bertoto working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Liddell.

Bertoto is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Bertoto has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Liddell can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bertoto is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Liddell throws a big right hand that misses.
Bertoto is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
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.

A punch combination from Liddell misses.
Liddell misses with a left hand

and Bertoto counters with a takedown into side control.
Liddell managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Bertoto.
Bertoto tries to move to mount but Liddell blocks the move with his legs.
Bertoto with the ground and pound but Liddell regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Bertoto slips a nice elbow through Liddell's hands, connecting with Liddell's forehead.

Bertoto is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bertoto is stalling here. Liddell is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bertoto seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Liddell has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Bertoto manages to work his way to half guard, despite Liddell's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertoto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Liddell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Liddell's back!

Bertoto is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Liddell is trying to escape under a series of strikes and manages to escape from Bertoto 's hooks.

Liddell has gone for a leg lock! Bertoto slips out almost immediately though and dives into Liddell's guard.
Bertoto looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Liddell utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bertoto is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Liddell is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Liddell has escaped and now he's on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bertoto is looking for a triangle but Liddell pushes his legs off easily.
Liddell loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Liddell trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bertoto is pulling down on Liddell's head. It's preventing any offense from Liddell, at least for the moment.
Bertoto is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Liddell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bertoto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Liddell has managed to get both his arms back between Bertoto's legs - danger averted.
Bertoto striking off his back but it's not causing Liddell any problems.
Liddell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bertoto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Liddell is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Bertoto has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Liddell is looking to defend but Bertoto has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Liddell! Bertoto pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Liddell taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Valerio Bertoto!
Valerio Bertoto retains his bantamweight title!
Valerio Bertoto bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.