PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Berdnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edgar Savan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edgar Savan struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Berdnikov
vs
Savan

168 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
145 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Berdnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Edgar Savan!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berdnikov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Savan wants to clinch up but Berdnikov keeps it at a distance.
Berdnikov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Savan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Berdnikov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Berdnikov moves into range and clinches up with Savan.
Savan is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berdnikov is defending well for now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Berdnikov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savan is trying to stall.
Savan stalling in the clinch but Berdnikov improves position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Berdnikov backwards.
Berdnikov being controlled against the cage.
Savan gets underhooks to prevent Berdnikov's takedown attempt.
Berdnikov tries to pull guard but Savan holds him up against the cage and eventually Berdnikov drops back down to his feet.
Savan looking to stall.
Savan stalling against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edgar Savan.
Savan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Berdnikov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexei Berdnikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berdnikov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Savan, pushing him back against the cage.
Berdnikov is trying to pull guard but Savan turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Berdnikov is trying to force a seperation but Savan has the dominant position.
Savan stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Savan scores with a knee to the head.
Savan is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Berdnikov blocks a body shot from Savan.
Savan tries to land knees in the clinch but Berdnikov avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A left hand lands to the body for Savan.
Savan has Berdnikov pressed against the cage, preventing Berdnikov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Savan using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Savan with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Berdnikov avoiding damage as Savan throws knees to the body.
Savan trying to stall but Berdnikov improves his position.
Berdnikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Berdnikov takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savan is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Berdnikov being controlled against the cage.
Savan is trying to maintain a safe position but Berdnikov gets an underhook and turns Savan into the cage.
Savan stalling in the clinch but Berdnikov improves position.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Edgar Savan.
The fight stays on the outside here - Savan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Berdnikov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Savan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edgar Savan dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Berdnikov goes for a double leg but Savan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Savan continues to drive forward.
Savan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Berdnikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A looping hook to the body misses from Berdnikov. Savan does a little dance to reset his feet.

Berdnikov has managed to clinch.
Savan has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Savan can't find room to land a body shot as Berdnikov controls the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Savan tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Berdnikov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Savan is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdnikov being controlled against the cage.
Savan stalls.
Berdnikov is trying to drag Savan to the mat but Savan just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Savan swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Berdnikov lands a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berdnikov forces his way into half guard.
Berdnikov trying to control the pace.
Savan wants to control but Berdnikov is keeping busy.
Berdnikov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Berdnikov trying to control the pace.

Berdnikov is looking for a kimura but Savan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Berdnikov to get the leverage.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Berdnikov slips a nice elbow through Savan's hands, connecting with Savan's forehead.

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

Berdnikov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Berdnikov is pressing down on Savan's thigh, looking to free his foot. Savan is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Berdnikov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ground and pound from Berdnikov.

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

Berdnikov has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Savan defend it? Berdnikov steps over the head and cranks it - Savan is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Berdnikov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Alexei Berdnikov!
After winning the bout, Alexei Berdnikov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.