PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Bear (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Ventura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Bear
vs
Ventura

194 cm
29
240 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

196 cm
39
266 lbs
33 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernard Bear!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Anthony Ventura!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ventura misses with a kick to the body
and Bear counters with a nice uppercut.
Ventura lands with a right hand.
Bear fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ventura on the side of the head.
A lazy left from Bear finds it's target.
Bear tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ventura was well out of range. Poor timing from Bear.
Bear tries for a takedown but Ventura circles away easily
and Ventura counters with a straight right hand.

Ventura moves into range and clinches up with Bear.

Ventura works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bear avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bear looking for a sweep. Not yet Bear, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ventura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bear working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ventura.
Ventura is stalling in the full guard.
Bear working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bear wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Ventura in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ventura stopping the sweep attempt from Bear.
Ventura throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A left lands for Ventura.
Ventura tries for a takedown but Bear sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bear scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bear scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've been hearing reports that Bear has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Bear scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Bear throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ventura is trying to counter with his kicks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ventura misses with a hook. Bear ducked under it nicely.
Nice defenses there by Ventura.
Anthony Ventura seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bear avoids a kick to the body.
Ventura throws an overhand right that lands on Bear's shoulder, as Bear tries to avoid the shot.
Ventura walks into a straight right hand from Bear.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ventura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bear is trying to control but can't.
Ventura thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bear trying to control but Ventura postures up.
Bear is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ventura not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ventura throwing shots but Bear is blocking nicely.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ventura connects with a nice short shot to Bear's temple.
Ventura with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Bear keeping control of the position.
Bear wants to get back to full guard.
Ventura missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ventura is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ventura throwing shots but Bear is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bear wants to get back to full guard.
Bear controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ventura throws the kick towards the body but Bear avoids it.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Ventura - that will leave a mark!
Ventura misses with a looping left.
Ventura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ventura lands with a nice body punch.
Ventura tries to clinch up.
Ventura avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ventura throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ventura fakes the leg kick and cracks Bear in the body.
Bear slips a straight right by Ventura.
Ventura throws a body punch but Bear moves out of range.
Bear getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A solid body kick from Ventura.
Bear takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ventura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bear swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bear throws a body punch but Ventura moves out of range.

Bear gets tackled into the cage by Ventura. Ventura maintains the clinch.

Ventura pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bear lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ventura circles away quickly and effectively.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ventura. Bear does a little dance to reset his feet.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bear darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ventura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ventura throws an overhand right that lands on Bear's shoulder, as Bear tries to avoid the shot.
Bear thuds a left hand into Ventura's body.
Bear throws a hook to the side of Ventura's head but Ventura sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ventura throws a half hearted mid kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bear gets a double leg takedown into Ventura's guard.
Bear with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ventura looking for a sweep. Not yet Ventura, not yet.
Bear loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ventura working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bear.
Ventura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ventura wants to control from the top but Bear keeps moving.
Ventura throws a big right hand that misses.
Bear lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ventura is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bear throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ventura works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bear is looking to pass into half guard but Ventura pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Ventura is in guard.

Ventura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bear is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bear keeping moving, preventing Ventura from controlling successfully.

Bear looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ventura's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ventura trying to control the position from guard on top but Bear is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bear wants to sweep but no luck.

Bear escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ventura gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ventura with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bear working for a triangle but Ventura defends it easily.
Bear controls Ventura momentarily but Ventura frees himself.
Ventura landing with the ground and pound.
Ventura postures up.
Ventura keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bear's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ventura with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ventura trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.
Ventura sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bear's guard.
Bear avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ventura.
Ventura is trying to control the action in half guard but Bear is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bear is trying to control but can't.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ventura sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bear defending well though.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bear takes a swing at Ventura's ribcage but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ventura misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bear takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bear misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ventura.
Ventura tries to land a front kick but Bear steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Bear half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Bernard Bear will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bear decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ventura is trying to get back to full guard.
Ventura is refusing to be controlled, as Bear sits in half guard.
Bear looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bear drops an elbow to the side of Ventura's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bear throwing shots but Ventura is blocking nicely.
Bear looks to land a strike but Ventura avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ventura looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bear is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ventura has Bear pulled in close to control his posture.
Bear cracks Ventura with a solid left hand.
Bear lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ventura trying to control the position here.
Bear won't allow Ventura to sweep him here.
Bear connects with a couple of short punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bear trying to control the position from guard on top but Ventura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bear accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ventura can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bear controls the pace.
Bear trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bear pushes down on Ventura's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Bear thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ventura's head.
Ventura slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bear's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ventura keeping moving, preventing Bear from controlling successfully.
Ventura is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Ventura lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Bear is looking to improve his position.
Bear is refusing to be controlled, as Ventura sits in half guard.
Bear makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bear.
Ventura trying to control but Bear is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ventura sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ventura looking to sit in guard and control but Bear gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bear trying to control but Ventura is working from the bottom.
Ventura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bear preventing the sweep.
Ventura bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bear's guard.

Ventura throws a big right hand that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Bear showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bear has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Anthony Ventura!
An out of breath Anthony Ventura thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.