PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ronny Berntsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Connor will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Berntsen
vs
Connor

191 cm
25
174 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
20
178 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ronny Berntsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, John Connor!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Nard Betker and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Connor closes the distance and clinches.
Connor struggles to land a body shot inside as Berntsen controls his hands.

Berntsen has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Connor regains guard immediately.
Berntsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Connor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berntsen is really struggling to control Connor but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Connor had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Berntsen defends it easily.
Connor really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Berntsen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Berntsen trying to control the position from guard on top but Connor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berntsen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Connor is keeping the position for now.
Connor looking to control.

Berntsen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Connor can do anything to dispel that myth.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berntsen working for a triangle but Connor defends it easily.
Connor postures up in Berntsen's guard and throws a big left but Berntsen blocks it.
Connor is looking to work some ground and pound but Berntsen has wrist control.
Connor postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Connor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berntsen working for a triangle but Connor defends it easily.
Berntsen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Berntsen keeping moving, preventing Connor from controlling successfully.

Berntsen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Berntsen controls Connor momentarily but Connor frees himself.
Berntsen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Berntsen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Berntsen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berntsen moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Connor has worked his arm free - good work by Connor!
Connor tries to buck Berntsen off but Berntsen is having none of it.
Connor wants to control but Berntsen postures up.
Who's going to make the next move?

Berntsen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Connor, who protects the arm well.
You can see the frustration on Connor's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Berntsen tries for a kimura but Connor is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Berntsen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Connor knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Berntsen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Connor is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connor wants to control but Berntsen postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronny Berntsen dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Connor closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Berntsen to the mat! Berntsen manages to get full guard.
Connor wants to control from the top but Berntsen keeps moving.
Connor postures up.

Berntsen looking for a guillotine here but Connor defends easily.
Berntsen keeping moving, preventing Connor from controlling successfully.
Connor trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Berntsen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Connor defends well.
Connor scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor is pushing down on Berntsen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Berntsen is fighting to maintain full guard but Connor has managed to sneak the leg through.
Connor wants to control but Berntsen is keeping him busy.
Berntsen trying to control here.
Ronny Berntsen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Berntsen has hold of Connor's hands but Connor slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Connor working Berntsen over with strikes.

Berntsen looking for submissions off his back.
Berntsen gets back to full guard.
Connor is looking to work some ground and pound but Berntsen has wrist control.
Connor wants to control from the top but Berntsen keeps moving.
Connor must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by John Connor.

Berntsen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Connor is defending against the submission attempts here by Berntsen.
Connor is trying to maintain the position but Berntsen is very close to passing his half guard.

Berntsen is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor is trying to maintain the position but Berntsen is very close to passing his half guard.

Connor makes his way to full guard, as Berntsen worked for a kimura.
Berntsen won't allow Connor to get back to his feet.
Connor seems keen to control Berntsen's posture.

Berntsen has gone for a leg lock! Connor slips out almost immediately though and dives into Berntsen's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Connor works over Berntsen with some ground and pound from guard.

Berntsen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Connor defends well.
Connor is working Berntsen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Berntsen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Connor stacks Berntsen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Connor!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berntsen is looking for a sweep.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Connor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berntsen keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Connor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Connor gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Berntsen to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Berntsen drops back looking for a leg! Connor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Connor manages to kick Berntsen off! Berntsen jumps back into Connor's guard.

Berntsen drops back looking for a leg! Connor is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Connor manages to kick Berntsen off! Berntsen jumps back into Connor's guard.
Berntsen wants to control from the top but Connor keeps moving.

Berntsen has gone for a leg lock! Connor slips out almost immediately though and dives into Berntsen's guard.
Berntsen looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berntsen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Connor throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Connor thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Berntsen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor tries to move into full mount but can't pass Berntsen's legs.

Connor is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Berntsen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Berntsen manages to get back to half guard.

Berntsen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berntsen wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berntsen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Berntsen.
Berntsen has momentary wrist control but Connor slips an elbow through the middle.

Berntsen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connor postures up.

Berntsen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Connor sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Berntsen's guard.
Berntsen is staying active underneath Connor, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berntsen wants to improve his position but Connor is controlling well.

Berntsen actively working from the bottom here.
Connor working over Berntsen with some ground and pound. Berntsen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Connor scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Connor takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Connor takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connor wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berntsen keeps working.
Connor lands with a punch from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Berntsen actively working from the bottom here.

Connor is working for a submission of some sort.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ronny Berntsen.
I think Berntsen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... John Connor!
Our winner, John Connor, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.