PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Darell Cantu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zin Berkantov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Berkantov has chosen No love as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Cantu
vs
Berkantov

205 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

180 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Darell Cantu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zin Berkantov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berkantov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Cantu throws a head kick but Berkantov moves out of range.

Berkantov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cantu, pushing him back against the cage.

Cantu jumps guard.
Cantu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Berkantov wants to control from the top but Cantu keeps moving.
Berkantov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Cantu haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantu wants to sweep here but Berkantov controlling him for the moment.

Berkantov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cantu working for a triangle but Berkantov defends it easily.
Berkantov trying to control the position from guard on top but Cantu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cantu is looking for a triangle but Berkantov pushes his legs off easily.
Berkantov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cantu is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Berkantov drives through and clinches with Cantu against the cage.

That's two 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.
Berkantov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Berkantov is trying to pull guard but Cantu has him pressed against the cage.

Cantu manages to break the clinch.
Berkantov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cantu tries to avoid it but Berkantov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cantu to the ground. Cantu escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Berkantov just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromCantu.
Cantu misses with a takedown attempt - Berkantov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Cantu clinches with his opponent.
Cantu has Berkantov pressed against the cage.
Berkantov tries for a takedown but Cantu manages to get underhooks.
Darell Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zin Berkantov.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkantov lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Darell Cantu has been cut.

Berkantov shoots in and bounces Cantu off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Berkantov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Cantu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Berkantov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cantu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Berkantov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkantov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cantu is proving hard to escape from.

Cantu has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Berkantov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Cantu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berkantov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cantu is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Berkantov defends well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zin Berkantov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Darell Cantu's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Berkantov lands a lovely overhand right.
Cantu keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
As Berkantov looks to move away, Cantu throws a big counter combo bu Berkantov just gets out of the way.
Cantu with a poor takedown
and Berkantov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Berkantov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cantu stuffs the takedown.
Darell Cantu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zin Berkantov.
Berkantov needs to keep his hands up - Cantu had a free shot at his head there.

Cantu pushes Berkantov up against the cage in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkantov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Cantu breaks the clinch.
Berkantov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Cantu sprawls well. Cantu wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Berkantov gets slowly back to his feet.
Cantu drops down looking for a counter takedown but Berkantov sprawls and moves away.
Berkantov is breathing heavily.
Cantu shoots in and drives through. Berkantov sprawls well.

Cantu pushes Berkantov up against the cage in a clinch.

Cantu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cantu swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Darell Cantu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cantu misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cantu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Zin Berkantov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berkantov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cantu defends well and Berkantov ends up having to push Cantu into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Cantu forces Berkantov back against the cage and clinches.
Cantu taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Cantu.
Cantu displaying some good clinch control by pressing Berkantov up against the cage.
Cantu gets underhooks to prevent Berkantov's takedown attempt.
Cantu lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Cantu breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantu tries a head kick but it misses.

Berkantov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Cantu's guard.

Berkantov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cantu has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Berkantov has managed to get both his arms back between Cantu's legs - danger averted.

Cantu throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cantu is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Cantu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berkantov is aware though and is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkantov wants to control from the top but Cantu keeps moving.
Berkantov wants to get up but he can't break Cantu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Cantu has his foot on Berkantov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berkantov works his way back into a safe position though.

Cantu is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berkantov is aware though and is defending well.
Berkantov preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cantu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Berkantov's guard.

Berkantov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Darell Cantu dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Darell Cantu'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. This is the final round!

Berkantov looks for a takedown but Cantu sprawls well.

Cantu gets tackled into the cage by Berkantov. Berkantov maintains the clinch.

Cantu breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cantu goes for a double leg but Berkantov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Berkantov continues to drive forward.

Berkantov clinches up against the cage.
Berkantov pushes off an throws an elbow but Cantu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkantov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Berkantov is trying to pull guard but Cantu has him pressed against the cage.
Berkantov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cantu doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Cantu's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cantu forces Berkantov back against the cage and clinches.

Cantu is trying to trip Berkantov. He has hold of a leg but Berkantov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Cantu persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Berkantov looking to control.
Cantu is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berkantov can do to turn this around?
Berkantov wants to sweep but no luck.
Berkantov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Berkantov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Cantu has gone for a leg lock! Berkantov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Cantu's guard.

Berkantov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cantu throws his legs up looking for a submission but Berkantov uses it to pass to side control.

Berkantov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Cantu knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Cantu looking for a sweep but Berkantov has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cantu is trying to escape the mount.

Berkantov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Cantu to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Cantu shrugs it off.
Cantu can't escape the position.
Berkantov content just to control the position here.
Cantu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Berkantov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Cantu sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cantu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Zin Berkantov.
I think Berkantov 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Zin Berkantov!
An intense looking Zin Berkantov took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'I am the best!. Dont agree with me? come here and prove me otherwise.'.