PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rodrick Sherman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janis Berzins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Janis Berzins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sherman
vs
Berzins

181 cm
19
151 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rodrick Sherman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janis Berzins!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berzins misses with a takedown
and Sherman counters with a two punch combo.

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

Berzins breaks the clinch.

Sherman closes the distance and clinches.

Sherman pulls Berzins into guard.

Sherman has his foot on Berzins's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berzins works his way back into a safe position though.
Sherman not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Sherman can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Berzins controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Berzins stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A nice leg kick lands there from Berzins.
Berzins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sherman circles away.
And Sherman counters with a quick kick to the body but Berzins blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Berzins.
Rodrick Sherman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janis Berzins.
Sherman tries for a takedown but Berzins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Berzins feints the counter takedown.
Berzins fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sherman is looking for a counter combo.
Berzins misses with a takedown
and Sherman makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Berzins!

Sherman clinches up with Berzins and pushes him back against the cage.
Berzins is trying to break the clinch but Sherman has him pressed against the cage.

Berzins has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Sherman uses from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherman wants to control from the top but Berzins keeps moving.
Berzins looking for a sweep. Not yet Berzins, not yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Sherman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sherman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Sherman postures up in Berzins's guard and throws a big left but Berzins blocks it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sherman is in close to Berzins's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sherman postures up in Berzins's guard and throws a big left but Berzins blocks it.
Sherman throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berzins is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Sherman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A head kick misses from Sherman.
Sherman is looking to clinch but Berzins is avoiding it.

Sherman rushes Berzins and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Berzins breaks the clinch.
Sherman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Berzins counters with a series of strikes. Sherman will be more careful next time no doubt.
Sherman is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Berzins but Berzins pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Berzins tries a head kick but it misses.
Berzins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A quick step to the side and Sherman tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Berzins shoots and misses
and Sherman counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Berzins looks winded!
Sherman tries to clinch but Berzins moves out of range.
Janis Berzins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berzins tries to clinch up but Sherman circles away and keeps his distance.
Sherman is looking to counter with a body kick.
Sherman wants to clinch but Berzins slips to the side

and Berzins decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sherman's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rodrick Sherman will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sherman moves to clinch but Berzins breaks away
and Berzins counters with a right hand to the body.
Berzins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Sherman as he avoids it easily.
Sherman was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Sherman pushes Berzins up against the cage in a clinch.

Sherman jumps guard.

Sherman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berzins gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sherman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherman scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherman throws a strike but Berzins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sherman throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Sherman 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.
Sherman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Sherman manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Sherman has had enough of the clinch but Berzins keeps him there for the moment.
Sherman is trying to pull guard but Berzins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Berzins manages to pull guard.
Berzins controls Sherman momentarily but Sherman frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berzins is looking for a triangle but Sherman pushes his legs off easily.
Sherman connects with a couple of short punches.
Berzins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sherman landing some decent shots from guard.
Sherman working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman postures up in Berzins's guard and throws a big left but Berzins blocks it.
Berzins trying to keep a closed guard but Sherman is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sherman throws a strike but Berzins rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Sherman looking to control.
Berzins is looking to work some ground and pound but Sherman has wrist control.

Sherman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berzins is aware though and is defending well.
Berzins stopping the sweep attempt from Sherman.
Berzins is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Sherman is looking for a triangle but Berzins pushes his legs off easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berzins controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Berzins goes for a double leg but Sherman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Sherman continues to drive forward.

Sherman has managed to clinch.

Sherman pulls guard effortlessly.
Berzins looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Berzins gets to his feet. Sherman looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrick Sherman dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sherman moves into the clinch.
Sherman taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Berzins is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sherman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sherman has Berzins pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Berzins manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Berzins prevents Sherman from breaking the clinch.
Sherman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sherman tries to pull guard but Berzins holds him up against the cage and eventually Sherman drops back down to his feet.
Berzins tries to break the clinch but Sherman is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Berzins has picked Sherman up - he's going for a ride! Berzins dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Sherman kicks off Berzins and gets to his feet.
Sherman closes this distance looking for a takedown but Berzins circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodrick Sherman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzins shoots for a takedown but Sherman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Sherman jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Berzins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Sherman darts in and clinches Berzins up against the cage.
Sherman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Berzins walks away with a smile on his face. Sherman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Sherman throws a shot to the body.
Sherman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Berzins pinned against the cage. Berzins gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Sherman throws a sloppy head kick and Berzins moves out of range easily.
Berzins moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Rodrick Sherman has been cut.
Sherman misses with a takedown
and Berzins counters with a nice uppercut.
Janis Berzins seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berzins shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sherman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sherman looking for submissions off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Berzins in particular looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sherman is trying to stand.
Berzins passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Sherman!
Berzins controlling from mount.
Sherman wants to try and get back to his feet.

Berzins stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Sherman gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berzins breaks from the clinch.
Berzins fails with a takedown attempt.
Sherman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Berzins sprawls well. Berzins wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sherman gets slowly back to his feet.
Berzins throws a series of punches but Sherman avoids them all with ease.
Horrible takedown attempt by Berzins or perhaps it was just good defense by Sherman, which made it look bad.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Janis Berzins.
I think Sherman 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Rodrick Sherman!