PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hima Laya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valdet Berisha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valdet Berisha has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Laya
vs
Berisha

225 cm
20
376 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

220 cm
26
299 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hima Laya!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Valdet Berisha!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Daniel Blasius and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laya misses with an uppercut. Berisha saw that one coming.

Laya drives through and clinches with Berisha against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Laya.

Laya breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Berisha fails in his attempt to clinch.
Laya lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Berisha circles away quickly and effectively.
Laya misses with the body kick

and Berisha counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berisha in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Berisha wants to stand but Laya is controlling his arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laya looking for a sweep but Berisha has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Laya wants to hold on but Berisha pushes him away.
Laya is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Berisha has taken his back!
Berisha just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Let's hope that Berisha has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Laya definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Valdet Berisha wasn't active enough on the ground.
Laya misses with a double jab

and Berisha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Berisha.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Berisha slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Berisha throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laya works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berisha content to stall in guard here.
It looks like Berisha might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Valdet Berisha has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Laya closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Laya is trying to push Berisha away but Berisha has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Berisha has clasped his hands together around Laya's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Laya seems a little lost for a moment, as Berisha dominates the positioning.
Laya looking for a sweep but Berisha has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berisha content just to control the position here.
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.

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

Good work by Berisha as he checks the leg kick.
Laya tries to clinch but Berisha moves away

and Berisha counters with a single leg into guard. Laya didn't expect that.
Berisha content to stall in guard here.
Valdet Berisha has got the better of the ground game so far.
Laya is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Laya utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Laya keeping full guard, as Berisha tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Laya scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

It looks like Valdet Berisha has been cut.
Laya tries to bum rush Berisha with a series of wild strikes but Berisha uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Laya throws a right hand that Berisha ducks under and follows up with a left that Berisha also avoids with ease.
Hima Laya is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Berisha showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Laya.
Berisha moves out of range of the leg kick from Laya.
Laya swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A jab from Laya misses.
Laya throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Berisha tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Laya defends well and Berisha ends up having to push Laya into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berisha tries to score a body lock takedown but Laya shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Berisha is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Laya pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Hima Laya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdet Berisha.
Laya working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berisha can't get the takedown.

Berisha wants the takedown. Laya is fighting it off but Berisha persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Laya's guard against the cage.
Laya keeping full guard, as Berisha tries to pass.
Berisha is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Laya on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Laya tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valdet Berisha hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Laya throws a series of punches but Berisha avoids them all with ease.
Berisha has a takedown stuffed.
Laya throws a right and a left that both miss.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Berisha is defended easily by Laya.
Laya swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Berisha counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Valdet Berisha wasn't active enough on the ground.

Laya has taken the fight to the clinch.
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.

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

Laya closes the distance and pushes Berisha back into the cage.
Berisha is trying to drag Laya to the mat but Laya just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valdet Berisha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Valdet Berisha's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Laya tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Berisha manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Laya swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hima Laya is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Laya throws a lazy right hand but Berisha sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Laya does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Laya misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Laya is looking to chop away at Berisha's legs.

Laya closes the distance and pushes Berisha back into the cage.
Berisha is looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berisha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Berisha can't get the takedown.
Hima Laya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Valdet Berisha.

Berisha gets control of Laya's arms and successfully pulls guard. Berisha will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Berisha has his hands on Laya's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laya trying to control the position from guard on top but Berisha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hima Laya wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Laya tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Berisha counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Berisha.
Laya can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Berisha controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berisha wants to stand but Laya has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valdet Berisha hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Laya cracks Berisha with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Laya darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Berisha has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laya tries to clinch but Berisha moves out of range.
Laya scores with a jab. Berisha acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Laya tries to clinch up

and Berisha counters with a takedown into side control.
Berisha is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Laya's shoulder. That is not cool.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laya is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Berisha is staying tight to Laya's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berisha works to advance to full mount. Laya defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Berisha sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Valdet Berisha.
I've got Berisha 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 27:30

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