PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mick Brian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Berg
vs
Brian

201 cm
19
214 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sammie Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mick Brian!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Brian feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Berg can't keep his opponent in guard - Brian advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Brian works his foot free and advances to mount.
Berg is looking to improve his position but Brian isn't that keen on the idea.
Brian thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Brian controlling from mount.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brian trying to control but Berg is having none of it.
Berg is trying to reverse the position but instead Brian has taken his back - oops!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Brian is riding his opponent, not letting Berg buck him off.
Brian throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Berg covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Brian misses with a punch to the head.
Berg is trying to get back to his feet but Brian has full control of the position and if anything, Berg has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Brian controls the action.
Brian controlling well, preventing Berg from escaping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Brian controlling the positon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brian is hanging on to Berg's back as he tries to escape.
Brian trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Berg doesn't escape.
Berg can't escape the position.

Brian is looking for the choke from the back position but Berg is controlling his hands well.
Brian keeps control of the position as Berg tries to break free.
Brian keeps control of the position easily here as Berg tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berg covering up well under a series of strikes from Brian.
Berg wants to escape the position.
Berg is working hard here to advance position.
Berg is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Brian.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berg is trying to get back to his feet but Brian has full control of the position and if anything, Berg has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Brian struggling to keep hold of the position.
Brian keeps control of the position easily here as Berg tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg tries to roll but Brian sticks to his back.
Brian slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

Brian is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Berg is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berg turns into Brian and is now in his guard.
Brian controlling the position.
Berg wants to stand but Brian has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Brian dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Berg enables Brian to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Berg manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Brian's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Brian throws a big elbow that misses.
Brian is looking to work some ground and pound but Berg has wrist control.
Berg keeping moving, preventing Brian from controlling successfully.

Berg throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Brian has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Brian drops back looking for a leg! Berg is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Berg manages to kick Brian off! Brian jumps back into Berg's guard.
Berg will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Brian gets to his feet. Berg looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brian feints and as Berg raises his hands in defense, Brian changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Brian is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Berg has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Brian has passed into side control.
Brian has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Brian decides to stand back up. Brian steps back and let's Berg get back to his feet.

Brian shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Berg napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Brian wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berg keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brian might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Berg haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Brian tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Brian decides to stand up, so the ref orders Berg to his feet.

Berg gets caught flat footed, as Brian shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Brian is breathing heavily.
Berg keeping full guard, as Brian tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brian trying to control but Berg is working from the bottom.
Brian is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Berg is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Berg pushes Brian off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
No joy there for Berg, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Brian tries to close the distance and clinch but Berg swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Berg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Brian slips a jab and a cross from Berg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brian closes the distance but Berg moves to the side
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Brian misses with a low kick.
Berg checks a leg kick.

Brian manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Berg on his heels. He'll look to pass Berg's guard now, I'm sure.
Brian wants to control from the top but Berg keeps moving.

Berg has his foot on Brian's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Brian works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Berg isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Brian stacks Berg 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 Brian!

Brian has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mick Brian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Brian shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Berg is trying to defend but Brian finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Berg makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Brian shoots in and gets a takedown into Berg's guard.
Berg is looking to sweep but instead, Brian has passed into half guard.
Brian prevents Berg from improving his position.

Brian decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brian tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Berg paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Berg appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Brian throws a half hearted mid kick.
It looked like Berg was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Brian wants to clinch.
Brian will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Brian closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Berg quickly recovers to half guard.
Berg wants to improve his position but Brian is controlling well.

Brian seems to be working for a kimura but Berg defends the submission attempt.
Brian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brian thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Berg's head.
Berg wants to stand back up but Brian manages to pass into side control.
Berg is looking for a sweep.
Sloppy strikes there by Brian.
Berg wants to get back to his feet but Brian drags him back down.
Berg gets back to half guard.

Berg pushes Brian off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brian dives in and scores a takedown into Berg's guard.
Brian throws a big elbow that misses.
Brian working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Berg tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Brian looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Brian pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berg is keeping the position for now.

Brian stands up and waves to Berg to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Berg moves out of range of the body kick from Brian.
Brian tries to clinch but Berg is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Brian. No joy for Berg on that attempt.
Brian is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Brian gets a takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brian is looking to take a break and control but Berg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mick Brian comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Brian 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mick Brian!