PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andy Berdich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarni Kutsoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kutsoo has chosen Enter Sandman as his entrance music. Jarni Kutsoo acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Berdich
vs
Kutsoo

170 cm
36
142 lbs
26 - 16 - 0

169 cm
36
132 lbs
24 - 22 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andy Berdich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarni Kutsoo!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berdich swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And Kutsoo tries to counter it with a takedown but Berdich pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Berdich closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Berdich lands in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Berdich's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berdich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kutsoo is keeping the position for now.
Kutsoo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Berdich lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Berdich forces his way into half guard.
Kutsoo is not content to let Berdich control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berdich working Kutsoo over with strikes.
Kutsoo gets full guard.
Berdich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Berdich scoring with punches to the head and body.
Berdich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kutsoo swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kutsoo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Berdich chips away with some ground and pound.
Berdich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Kutsoo is looking for a triangle but Berdich pushes his legs off easily.
We've been hearing that Berdich has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kutsoo is trying to control the position but Berdich postures up.

Berdich drops back looking for a leg! Kutsoo is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kutsoo manages to kick Berdich off! Berdich jumps back into Kutsoo's guard.

Kutsoo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Berdich defends well.
Berdich passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Berdich.
Kutsoo is not content to let Berdich control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kutsoo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berdich is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Berdich is working for a kimura but Kutsoo is defending it quite comfortably.
Berdich is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kutsoo is trying to get back to full guard.

Kutsoo is defending against the submission attempts here by Berdich.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kutsoo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Nice strikes from Berdich there.
Berdich seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Berdich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kutsoo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Berdich wants to control from the top but Kutsoo keeps moving.
Berdich is working Kutsoo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Berdich postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Berdich is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berdich trying to control but Kutsoo is working from the bottom.
Berdich works over Kutsoo with some ground and pound from guard.
Kutsoo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Berdich is one step ahead there.

Kutsoo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Berdich defends well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kutsoo keeping moving, preventing Berdich from controlling successfully.
Kutsoo wants to sweep but no luck.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Berdich dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Berdich shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kutsoo's guard.
Berdich pushes down on Kutsoo's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Berdich working the head and body with strikes.

Kutsoo looking for submissions off his back.
Berdich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Berdich is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Berdich tries to pass to full mount but Kutsoo defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kutsoo wants to get back to his feet.
Kutsoo wants to improve his position but Berdich is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Berdich lands a nice short elbow.
Berdich looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kutsoo is looking to improve his position.

Berdich seems to be working for a kimura but Kutsoo defends the submission attempt.
Berdich is keen to just control but Kutsoo is a slippery customer.

Kutsoo looking for submissions off his back.
Kutsoo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Berdich scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kutsoo wants to improve his position but Berdich is controlling well.
Kutsoo gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kutsoo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Berdich lands a couple of elbows.
Kutsoo wants to sweep here but Berdich controlling him for the moment.

Kutsoo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berdich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Andy Berdich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Berdich looking to pass the guard.
Berdich advances position into side control!

Berdich is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kutsoo has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berdich lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kutsoo down.

Berdich tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Kutsoo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Berdich grinds an elbow into Kutsoo's temple.
Kutsoo regains half guard.
Berdich working Kutsoo over with strikes.
Berdich is pressing down on Kutsoo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kutsoo is holding on for now.

Kutsoo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Berdich pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berdich is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Kutsoo actively working from the bottom here.

Kutsoo is defending against the submission attempts here by Berdich.
Berdich seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Berdich wants to advance to full mount but Kutsoo doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kutsoo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Berdich working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kutsoo's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Berdich dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Berdich gets caught napping as Kutsoo dives in and scores a takedown. Berdich manages to retain guard.
Kutsoo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Berdich works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kutsoo postures up.

Berdich is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Berdich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kutsoo trying to control the position from guard on top but Berdich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kutsoo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kutsoo postures up and lands a big shot to Berdich's brow.
Berdich controls Kutsoo momentarily but Kutsoo frees himself.
Kutsoo landing with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berdich is trying to keep Kutsoo in close.
Kutsoo stopping the sweep attempt from Berdich.

Berdich is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kutsoo defends well.

Berdich looking for a guillotine here but Kutsoo defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdich lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kutsoo manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Berdich manages to get himself to full guard.

Kutsoo stopping the sweep attempt from Berdich.
Berdich working a defensive guard here.
Berdich keeping moving, preventing Kutsoo from controlling successfully.
Berdich tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Berdich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kutsoo is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berdich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Berdich wants to sweep here but Kutsoo controlling him for the moment.
Berdich not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Berdich is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kutsoo is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Berdich lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

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

Kutsoo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Berdich is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kutsoo.
Kutsoo is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Berdich off and has taken his back!
Jarni Kutsoo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berdich is in bad spot here.
Well, with Kutsoo on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Berdich is tapping out... Can he escape the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kutsoo working for a choke but Berdich is defending well.
Kutsoo is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Berdich up.
Kutsoo is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Berdich up.
Berdich is trying to break free.
Berdich tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Berdich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Berdich slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Berdich manages to get to full guard.
Kutsoo chips away with some ground and pound.
Kutsoo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Berdich's head.
Berdich manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kutsoo manages to get himself to full guard.

Kutsoo escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berdich gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kutsoo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kutsoo trying to strike off his back.
Andy Berdich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kutsoo looking for a guillotine here but Berdich defends easily.
Berdich sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kutsoo working for a triangle but Berdich defends it easily.
Kutsoo being controlled here, momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jarni Kutsoo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Berdich 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Berdich!
During a confident post fight interview, Andy Berdich thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Jarni Kutsoo had this to say: 'my fault my fault i`m week...'.