PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Derek Berthiaume (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Nikolov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Berthiaume
vs
Nikolov

182 cm
19
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Derek Berthiaume!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Nikolov!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Ren Mimura and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Berthiaume.
Berthiaume misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nikolov throws a series of punches but Berthiaume moves out of range.
Nikolov blocks a head kick by Berthiaume.

Nikolov clinches.
Nikolov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Nikolov prevents the takedown attempt.
Nikolov prevents a body shot from Berthiaume.
Nikolov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Berthiaume breaks from the clinch.
Nikolov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Berthiaume.
Nikolov closes the distance and lands a one-two.

It looks like Derek Berthiaume has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berthiaume throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Nikolov's head.
Nikolov throws a right and a left that Berthiaume avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berthiaume throws a nice looking combination but Nikolov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Berthiaume throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Nikolov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nikolov landing strikes.
Berthiaume takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Nikolov working the body and head with strikes.
Nikolov 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.
Nikolov working the ground and pound.
Nikolov takes a little break here. Berthiaume wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nikolov working the ground and pound from side control.
Berthiaume is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov is staying tight to Berthiaume's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Sloppy strikes there by Nikolov.
Nikolov slows the pace down.
Sloppy strikes there by Nikolov.
Nikolov misses with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Nikolov landing strikes.
Nikolov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berthiaume keeps working.
Berthiaume might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nikolov landing a few strikes.
Nikolov scoring with punches and elbows.
Nikolov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Nikolov working the head and body with strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berthiaume takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Berthiaume is looking to regain half guard here but Nikolov keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov landing strikes.
Nikolov scores with punches from side control.
Berthiaume is trying to escape the position but Nikolov is controlling the position.
Nikolov working the head and body with strikes.
Nikolov tries to advance to mount but Berthiaume denies him.
Nikolov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Berthiaume wants to get back to his feet but Nikolov is dominant here and he's now got Berthiaume's back!
Nikolov connects with a big shot to the side of Berthiaume's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Nikolov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Derek Berthiaume's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Berthiaume blocks a head kick by Nikolov.
Horrible takedown by Berthiaume or perhaps it was just good defense by Nikolov which made him look bad.
Derek Berthiaume is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Berthiaume misses with a double jab

and Nikolov moves into the clinch.
Nikolov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nikolov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Nikolov tries to score a body lock takedown but Berthiaume shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Berthiaume missing with knees to the body.
Nikolov can't get the takedown.
Derek Berthiaume has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Nikolov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berthiaume pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nikolov throws a push kick but Berthiaume slaps the foot to one side.
Berthiaume avoids the head kick by Nikolov.
Nikolov is looking to clinch.

Berthiaume rushes Nikolov and presses him up against the cage.
Berthiaume is looking to take this one to the mat.
Nikolov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Nikolov is breathing heavily.

Nikolov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Berthiaume controls Nikolov momentarily but Nikolov frees himself.
Nikolov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Nikolov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Berthiaume is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Nikolov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Nikolov throwing strikes but missing.
Nikolov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berthiaume has momentary wrist control but Nikolov slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov is working Berthiaume over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Nikolov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Nikolov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Nikolov is in close to Berthiaume's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Nikolov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nikolov lands a couple of elbows.
Nikolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Berthiaume is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nikolov working some strikes from top position.
Nikolov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nikolov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Nikolov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov wants to pass the guard but Berthiaume is keeping the position.
Nikolov distracts Berthiaume with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nikolov stands up over Berthiaume, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Nikolov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nikolov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikolov stands up over Berthiaume, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berthiaume controls Nikolov momentarily but Nikolov frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Nikolov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Derek Berthiaume's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Nikolov - just one landing.
Berthiaume misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Nikolov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Berthiaume's guard.
Nikolov trying to control the position from guard on top but Berthiaume is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berthiaume is looking to stand up but Nikolov isn't so interested in that idea.
Nikolov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nikolov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nikolov trying to control but Berthiaume is working from the bottom.
Nikolov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Berthiaume haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nikolov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Berthiaume works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Nikolov throws a big right hand that misses.
Nikolov lands a couple of elbows.
Nikolov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Berthiaume's guard.
Berthiaume wants to get back to his feet.
Nikolov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nikolov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Berthiaume won't allow Nikolov to pass to mount.
Nikolov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Nikolov connects with a nice short shot to Berthiaume's temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nikolov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ivan Nikolov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Nikolov working the head and body with strikes.
Nikolov working the head and body with strikes.
Berthiaume taking some punishment here, with Nikolov in his half guard.
Nikolov passes to side control.
Nikolov is working Berthiaume over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nikolov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Nikolov working the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nikolov scoring with punches and elbows.
Nikolov lands an elbow.
Check out the look on Nikolov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Berthiaume tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Nikolov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nikolov scoring with punches from side control.
Nikolov lands an elbow.
Derek Berthiaume has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ivan Nikolov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Nikolov grinds an elbow into Berthiaume's temple.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Nikolov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Nikolov 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Nikolov!