PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Han Solo Berger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rory Markman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Solo Berger
vs
Markman

184 cm
25
180 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

178 cm
34
186 lbs
21 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Han Solo Berger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 20 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rory Markman!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, David Schapiro and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Berger closes the distance and pushes Markman back into the cage.
Berger swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Markman tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Berger slowing the pace effectively.
Markman blocking some punches.
Markman tries to pull guard but Berger won't allow it.
Markman tries to pull guard but Berger holds him up against the cage and eventually Markman drops back down to his feet.
Han Solo Berger has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rory Markman.
A head punch on the inside from Berger fails to land.
Berger struggles to land a body shot inside as Markman controls his hands.

Markman jumps guard and drags Berger to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Berger sitting in guard here, content to control.
Berger lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger trying to control but Markman is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berger with a flurry of punches that miss.
Berger missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Berger passes Markman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Markman avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Berger.
Berger thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Markman's head.
Berger thows a huge punch but Markman dodges it nicely.
Berger takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Berger is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Markman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Markman is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Markman defending well though.

Berger seems to be working for a kimura but Markman defends the submission attempt.
Berger trying to control from half guard but Markman is working away.
Berger sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Markman defending well though.
Berger missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Markman tries to roll over but Berger keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Markman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Berger content to stall in guard here.
Berger wants to control from the top but Markman keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Markman has his feet on Berger's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Berger throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berger swings for the body but Markman moves out of range.
A jab from Berger finds it's way through Markman's defenses.

It looks like Rory Markman has been cut.
Berger doesn't manage to clinch there - Markman circles away.
Berger throws a chopping leg kick but Markman manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Berger scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Markman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Markman tries for a takedown but Berger circles away easily
and Berger counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Han Solo Berger dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rory Markman's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Berger throws an off balance right hand
and Markman counters with a stiff right hand.
An inside leg kick from Berger misses.
Berger misses with a straight right.
Berger swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Markman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Berger's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Markman wants to pass the guard but Berger is keeping the position.
Markman postures up.
Berger is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Markman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Markman must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markman works over Berger with some ground and pound from guard.

Berger working for a triangle but Markman defends it easily.
Berger not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Berger wants to sweep here but Markman controlling him for the moment.
Markman cracks Berger with a solid left hand.
Markman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Berger holds on and takes a little breather.
Berger is trying to control the position but Markman postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Markman chips away with some ground and pound.
Markman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Markman tries to free his leg and advance position but Berger is retaining full guard.
Markman trying to control but Berger is working from the bottom.
Markman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Han Solo Berger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Markman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Markman stays in close to Berger's body and controls the position.
Berger preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Markman wants to control from the top but Berger keeps moving.
Markman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Berger works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Markman connects with a couple of short punches.
Markman preventing the sweep.
Markman throws a big elbow that misses.
Markman lands a couple of digs.
Berger has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Berger keeping moving, preventing Markman from controlling successfully.
Berger 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.
Berger trying to control the position here.
Berger keeping moving, preventing Markman from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markman throws an elbow that misses. Berger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Markman's guard. Nice move by Berger!
Berger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Markman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Markman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Berger is one step ahead there.
Berger trying to control but Markman is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rory Markman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rory Markman's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Markman.
Berger gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Berger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Markman.
Markman throwing shots but Berger is blocking nicely.
Berger preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Markman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
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. Markman connects with a nice short shot to Berger's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Berger wants to improve his position but Markman is controlling well.
Markman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Markman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Berger keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Berger tries to roll over but Markman keeps him under control.
Berger is trying to control but can't.
Markman wants to control but Berger is keeping him busy.
Berger avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Markman.
Markman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Markman drops an elbow to the side of Berger's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berger is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Markman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Markman working Berger over with strikes.
Markman thows a huge punch but Berger dodges it nicely.
Markman working the head and body with strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berger is not content to let Markman control the position.
Berger regains full guard. Nicely done.
Berger looking to hit a scissor sweep but Markman is one step ahead there.
Markman throwing strikes but missing.
Berger working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Markman trying to control but Berger is working from the bottom.
Berger trying to control the position.
Markman chips away with some ground and pound.
Markman postures up in Berger's guard and throws a big left but Berger blocks it.
Berger is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Berger not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Berger lands a nice short elbow.
Markman moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Markman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Berger tries to free his leg and advance position but Markman is retaining full guard.
Berger wants to control from the top but Markman keeps moving.
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!
Berger with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Markman trying to control the position here.
Berger not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rory Markman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Markman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rory Markman!