PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raphael Son Tantos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Raphael Son Tantos will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bernard
vs
Son Tantos

153 cm
25
151 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

167 cm
23
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bryan Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raphael Son Tantos!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Dillan Fox and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Son Tantos dives in for a single leg takedown but Bernard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bernard quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Son Tantos tries to clinch there but Bernard circles away.
Bernard really is a fat lump.
Son Tantos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bernard swivels and escapes.

Son Tantos forces Bernard back against the cage and clinches.
Bernard has Son Tantos pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Son Tantos manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bernard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Son Tantos walks away with a smile on his face. Bernard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Son Tantos tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bernard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Son Tantos somewhat.
Bryan Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Son Tantos.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard stuffs the takedown.
Bernard thinks about countering with a head kick.

Bernard clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard blocking some punches.
Bernard misses with the head strike.
Bernard lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Son Tantos backwards.
Son Tantos prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bernard is trying to pull guard but Son Tantos turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Son Tantos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Bernard is fighting off a takedown attempt but Son Tantos is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bernard to the mat. Bernard regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bernard looking for a sweep. Not yet Bernard, not yet.

Bernard has his feet on Son Tantos's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Son Tantos is defended easily by Bernard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Son Tantos doesn't manage to clinch there - Bernard circles away.
Bernard feinted with a counter takedown.

Bernard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Son Tantos misses with some punches.
Son Tantos jumps guard but Bernard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Son Tantos goes for a takedown attempt but Bernard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Son Tantos is looking to land body kicks.
It looked like Bernard was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Son Tantos shoots for a takedown but Bernard saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bernard tries to counter with a takedown but Son Tantos is quick to defend against it.
Son Tantos tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bernard defends well and Son Tantos ends up having to push Bernard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Son Tantos looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Son Tantos tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bernard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Son Tantos falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bernard counters with a shoot takedown. Son Tantos fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bernard wants to stand but Son Tantos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Son Tantos avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bernard throws a big elbow that misses.
Bernard wanted to stand there but Son Tantos had control of the position.
Bernard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bernard wants to stand but Son Tantos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bernard is looking to work some ground and pound but Son Tantos has wrist control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard is looking to work some ground and pound but Son Tantos has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Son Tantos.
Bernard drops down looking for a counter takedown but Son Tantos sprawls and moves away.

Son Tantos rushes Bernard and presses him up against the cage.

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

Son Tantos shoots in and gets a takedown into Bernard's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bernard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Bernard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bernard dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A head kick misses from Son Tantos.
Bernard tries to clinch but Son Tantos is having none of it.
Son Tantos changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Son Tantos wants to clinch.
Bernard moves out of range as Son Tantos throws a body kick.
No luck for Son Tantos with that takedown attempt.
Bernard half committed to a counter leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Son Tantos to keep the fight standing.
Bernard tries to circle away but Son Tantos has him pinned against the cage.

Bernard pulls Son Tantos into guard.
Bernard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Bernard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Son Tantos gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Son Tantos is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bernard controls Son Tantos momentarily but Son Tantos frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Son Tantos wants to stand but Bernard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Son Tantos working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Son Tantos wants to pass the guard but Bernard is keeping the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Son Tantos throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good work by Bernard as he checks the leg kick.
Raphael Son Tantos is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Son Tantos tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bernard swivels and escapes.
Bernard tries to clinch but Son Tantos moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bernard sets himself, and Son Tantos steps forward looking for the clinch! Bernard avoids it this time.
Son Tantos shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bernard counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bryan Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Son Tantos.
Son Tantos is breathing heavily.
Bernard scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ground and pound from Bernard.
Bernard seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Son Tantos is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bernard thows a huge punch but Son Tantos dodges it nicely.
Bernard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Bernard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Son Tantos does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Bernard decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Son Tantos tries to close the distance and clinch but Bernard swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Son Tantos tries to clinch but Bernard is having none of it.

Bernard is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Son Tantos's half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bernard tries to stand and escape but Son Tantos is controlling the position.
Bernard trying to control the action but Son Tantos is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bryan Bernard dominated that second round.
That's time! Bernard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Son Tantos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bernard changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Raphael Son Tantos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Son Tantos goes for a double leg but Bernard avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bernard continues to drive forward.
Son Tantos tries to clinch but Bernard moves away

so Bernard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bernard landing with the ground and pound.
Bernard is looking to stand up but Son Tantos won't let him.
Bernard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bernard stops Son Tantos from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Son Tantos controls Bernard momentarily but Bernard frees himself.
Bernard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Son Tantos works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Son Tantos tries to strike from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bernard wants to stand but Son Tantos has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Son Tantos closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Son Tantos wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bernard has him pressed against the cage.
Son Tantos trying to land knees to the body.
Stalling in the clinch from Son Tantos.
Son Tantos trying to stall but Bernard improves his position.
Son Tantos is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bernard tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Son Tantos just stands there and leans against the cage.
Son Tantos has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bernard avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Bernard breaks the clinch.
Son Tantos throws a head kick but Bernard moves out of range.
Bernard is looking to counter the offense by Son Tantos and move into the clinch.
Son Tantos takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bernard forces Son Tantos back against the cage and clinches.

Bernard is trying to trip Son Tantos. He has hold of a leg but Son Tantos is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Bernard persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Bernard wants to stand but Son Tantos is controlling his posture from full guard.
Son Tantos tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard postures up.
Bernard content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bernard is working Son Tantos over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bernard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Son Tantos's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bernard preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Son Tantos tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bernard counters with a left and a right that stings Son Tantos.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Bernard. No joy for Son Tantos on that attempt.
Bernard appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Bryan Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raphael Son Tantos.

Bernard forces Son Tantos back against the cage and clinches.

Son Tantos breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Son Tantos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bernard as he avoids it easily.

Bernard closes the distance and pushes Son Tantos back into the cage.

Bernard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bernard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Son Tantos.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bernard clinches up with Son Tantos and pushes him back against the cage.
Son Tantos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bernard smiles and moves away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Bernard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bernard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bryan Bernard!