PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Harrell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janis Berzins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Harrell
vs
Berzins

180 cm
18
278 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Santiago Harrell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Janis Berzins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Paul Gruel and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berzins shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Berzins closes this distance looking for a takedown but Harrell circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Berzins.
Santiago Harrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janis Berzins.
Berzins slips under a jab from Harrell.

Berzins moves into the clinch.
Harrell wants a takedown.
Harrell is trying to pull guard but Berzins turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Harrell fails to pull guard.
Harrell 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. Harrell gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Harrell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Berzins clinches up with Harrell and pushes him back against the cage.
Harrell tries to pull guard but Berzins holds him up against the cage and eventually Harrell drops back down to his feet.
Harrell is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Berzins to keep the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harrell pulls guard.
Berzins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Harrell swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berzins throwing strikes but missing.
Berzins tries to free his leg and advance position but Harrell is retaining full guard.
Harrell might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Berzins pushing down on Harrell's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Harrell wants to control but Berzins is keeping busy.
Berzins tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Berzins is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Harrell doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Berzins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harrell is trying to get back to full guard.
Berzins controlling the action here.
Harrell is looking to control Berzins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Harrell avoid being mounted?
Berzins thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berzins escapes and gets back to his feet.
Berzins misses with a takedown attempt - Harrell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Berzins looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Berzins gets tackled into the cage by Harrell. Harrell maintains the clinch.

Berzins is fighting off a takedown attempt but Harrell is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Berzins to the mat. Berzins regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Harrell sitting in guard here, content to control.
Harrell really is a fat lump.
Harrell trying to control the position from guard on top but Berzins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harrell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Berzins is trying to control the position but Harrell postures up.
Berzins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harrell is one step ahead there.
Harrell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Berzins will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
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 Santiago Harrell will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Harrell wants to clinch.
Harrell is looking to clinch but Berzins is avoiding it.
Harrell tries to clinch there but Berzins circles away.
Berzins dives in and grabs Harrell's left leg, looking for a takedown. Harrell pushes down on Berzins's head and hops out.
Harrell is looking to counter the offense by Berzins and move into the clinch.
Berzins shoots for a double leg takedown but Harrell sprawls well. He's pushed Berzins's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Berzins darts in looking for a takedown but Harrell gets double underhooks and turns Berzins into the cage.
Santiago Harrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janis Berzins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harrell looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Harrell wants to get up but he can't break Berzins's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Berzins throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrell stopping the sweep attempt from Berzins.
Harrell with a flurry of punches that miss.
Berzins is trying to control the position but Harrell postures up.
Santiago Harrell overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Harrell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Berzins is looking to stand up but Harrell isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harrell tries to clinch there but Berzins circles away.
A punch combination from Berzins misses.
Harrell tries to counter by clinching up but Berzins breaks away and moves out of range.
Berzins misses with an attempted mid kick.
Janis Berzins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berzins is breathing heavily.
Berzins shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Harrell but Harrell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Harrell attempts a counter takedown but Berzins avoids it well and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harrell moves into the clinch.

Harrell jumps guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Harrell holds on and takes a little breather.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Harrell keeping moving, preventing Berzins from controlling successfully.
Harrell manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Berzins manages to get himself to full guard.

Berzins wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Harrell manages to pass to side control.
Still in half guard, Harrell seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzins is trying to maintain the position but Harrell is very close to passing his half guard.
Harrell thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Berzins's head.
Harrell throwing shots but Berzins is blocking nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harrell trying to control the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Berzins slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Berzins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Harrell is one step ahead there.
Harrell is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berzins can do to turn this around?
Berzins wants to stand but Harrell is controlling the position.
Harrell working some strikes from top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harrell stays in close to Berzins's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santiago Harrell dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Berzins throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Berzins shoots in and drives through. Harrell sprawls well.
Janis Berzins is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Berzins throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Harrell's waist but Harrell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Berzins off to one side.
Harrell is looking to counter the offense by Berzins and move into the clinch.
Harrell defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Berzins.
Santiago Harrell has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Janis Berzins.

Berzins gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Berzins goes for a takedown attempt but Harrell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Harrell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Berzins, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berzins drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Harrell gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Harrell jumps guard and drags Berzins to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Berzins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harrell trying to control the position.
Harrell controlling Berzins's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Harrell has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Harrell wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Harrell stuffs the takedown attempt from Berzins. Berzins gets slowly back to his feet.

Harrell moves into the clinch.
Harrell has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Berzins after a bit of a struggle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzins has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Harrell after a bit of a struggle.

Harrell manages to pull guard.
Harrell pulls Berzins in close to prevent any damage.
Berzins loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Harrell keeping full guard, as Berzins tries to pass.
Harrell is controlling Berzins's posture.
Berzins preventing the sweep.
Harrell controls Berzins momentarily but Berzins frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Harrell is on top in guard.

Berzins keeping moving, preventing Harrell from controlling successfully.
Harrell throwing strikes but missing.
Berzins keeping moving, preventing Harrell from controlling successfully.
Harrell missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harrell throwing strikes from guard but Berzins blocks nicely.
Janis Berzins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Santiago Harrell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Harrell trying to control but Berzins is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Santiago Harrell showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Harrell 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Santiago Harrell!