PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valdet Berisha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustavo Santos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these fighters are unbeaten, so somebody's 0 has got to go!I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Berisha
vs
Santos

220 cm
25
299 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
290 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Valdet Berisha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gustavo Santos!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Berisha rushes Santos and presses him up against the cage.
Santos wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Berisha is working for takedown but Santos is calmly controlling the position for now.
Santos blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Berisha wants a takedown but no success here.

Berisha gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Santos regains guard.
Berisha postures up.

Santos throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Berisha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Santos controls Berisha momentarily but Berisha frees himself.
Berisha looking to pass the guard.
Santos pulls Berisha in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Berisha is controlling him.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gustavo Santos.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Berisha.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valdet Berisha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Santos doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Berisha counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Berisha tries to free his leg and advance position but Santos is retaining full guard.
Berisha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Santos looking to control.
Berisha will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berisha stays in close to Santos's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Berisha drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Berisha controls the pace.
Berisha has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Santos trying to keep a closed guard but Berisha is proving a slippery customer.
We've been hearing that Berisha has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Berisha avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Berisha is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Berisha tries to free his leg and advance position but Santos is retaining full guard.
Berisha stopping the sweep attempt from Santos.
Berisha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Valdet Berisha.

Berisha looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Santos has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Berisha can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Berisha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Berisha stopping the sweep attempt from Santos.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berisha controls from within his opponent's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Berisha would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Berisha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdet Berisha dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Berisha clinches with his opponent.
Berisha tries for a takedown but Santos manages to get underhooks.
Berisha prevents a body shot from Santos.
Santos tries to score a body lock takedown but Berisha shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Santos tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Santos looking for a takedown.
Valdet Berisha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Santos.

Berisha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Berisha shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Santos napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Santos prevents Berisha from moving into mount.
Berisha controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santos tries to buck Berisha off but Berisha is having none of it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Santos prevents Berisha from improving position.
Berisha taking a breather here.

Valdet Berisha has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Santos fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Berisha to the ground. Santos is now in Berisha's guard.
Berisha trying to control the position.
Berisha is pulling down on Santos's head to control his posture.
Santos pushes down on Berisha's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berisha makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Berisha.
Santos looking to pass the guard.
Santos trying to control but Berisha is working from the bottom.
Santos trying to move into half guard but instead Berisha has managed to sweep!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berisha looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Santos looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Berisha passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berisha content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Santos trying to control but Berisha flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
I would not like to be Santos right now.
Berisha's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Santos controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Berisha really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Santos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santos is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Santos trying to control the position but Berisha manages to sink in the hooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Berisha controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdet Berisha dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Santos is trying hard to land a takedown here. Berisha sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Berisha counters with a takedown into side control.
Santos is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Berisha is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Santos manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Berisha keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Valdet Berisha.
Santos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Berisha defends well and Santos ends up having to push Berisha into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Valdet Berisha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustavo Santos.
Berisha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Santos smiles and moves away.
Santos fails to land with a series of punches.
Santos shoots in for a takedown but Berisha shows good takedown defense.
Santos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Berisha counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Santos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berisha with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Valdet Berisha overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Valdet Berisha has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Santos fails with a takedown attempt.
Santos with a poor takedown

and Berisha counters with a nice double leg into side control. Santos won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berisha moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Berisha seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Santos for as long as he can get away with.
Santos tries to buck Berisha off but Berisha is having none of it.
Santos wants to control but Berisha postures up.
Berisha controlling the position from side mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Valdet Berisha.
Santos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Santos dives in and grabs Berisha's left leg, looking for a takedown. Berisha pushes down on Santos's head and hops out.
Santos keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Berisha defends it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santos closes this distance looking for a takedown but Berisha circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valdet Berisha showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Berisha, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdet Berisha!