PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carl Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Mikhailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Berg comes into the arena with Three 6 Mafia - That's Right ft. Akon, Jim Jones blaring out of the sound system. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Berg
vs
Mikhailov

183 cm
20
180 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

183 cm
20
175 lbs
7 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

Red Light Coffeeshop - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carl Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexei Mikhailov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikhailov checks a low kick from Berg.
Mikhailov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Berg moves away.
Mikhailov has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Berg is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Berg cracks Mikhailov with a good jab.
Berg uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mikhailov.
Berg avoids a kick to the body.
Mikhailov misses with an uppercut.
Berg connects with a looping right hand.

Mikhailov moves into range and clinches up with Berg.

Berg breaks from the clinch.

Berg fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mikhailov sprawls well initially but Berg persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Berg is looking to advance position but Mikhailov won't allow it.
Mikhailov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Mikhailov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Berg thows a huge punch but Mikhailov dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mikhailov wants to improve his position but Berg is controlling well.
Mikhailov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Berg.
Berg prevents Mikhailov from improving his position.
Berg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Mikhailov wants to control but Berg is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Mikhailov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Berg's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Berg's back!
Mikhailov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Mikhailov working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berg turns into Mikhailov and is now in his guard.
Mikhailov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Mikhailov stalling.
Mikhailov uses his free foot to push down on Berg's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Berg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee warns Berg that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Berg is squirming around, avoiding Mikhailov's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mikhailov has hold of Berg's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Berg manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mikhailov looking to finish Berg with some ground and pound. This is bad for Berg!
Mikhailov trying to control but Berg is having none of it.

Mikhailov looking for a guillotine from mount but Berg is having none of it.
Berg is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Mikhailov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Berg is looking to escape.

Mikhailov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Berg looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Mikhailov moves to the back position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Mikhailov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Berg scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Berg blocks a head kick by Mikhailov.
Berg throws a one two combo.
Berg misses with a few strikes there.
Mikhailov throws a front kick aimed at Berg's knee but Berg avoids it well.
Berg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mikhailov circles away quickly and effectively.
Mikhailov throws a front kick aimed at Berg's knee but Berg avoids it well.
Berg is looking for a counter combo.

Mikhailov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Berg postures up and lands a big shot to Mikhailov's brow.
Mikhailov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Berg had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Mikhailov defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikhailov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Berg works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Berg looking to control.
Mikhailov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Mikhailov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Mikhailov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mikhailov working the head with strikes.
Mikhailov controlling from side mount.

That's two 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.
Berg is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mikhailov wants to control but Berg is keeping him busy.

Mikhailov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Mikhailov tries for a kimura but Berg is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mikhailov tries for a kimura but Berg is defending well.
Mikhailov trying to control the position but Berg is working away.
Berg is trying to improve his position.

Mikhailov is trying to get an arm triangle but Berg is defending well.
Berg taking a bit of punishment here - Mikhailov scoring with strikes.

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.
Mikhailov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Mikhailov scoring with punches and elbows.
Mikhailov is looking to take a break and control but Berg is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mikhailov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
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 Carl Berg will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Mikhailov moves out of range as Berg strikes.
Berg throws a lazy right hand but Mikhailov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Berg's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Berg duly obliges.
Mikhailov throws a body punch but Berg moves out of range.
Berg throws a big counter combination but Mikhailov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Berg misses with a body shot.
Mikhailov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Berg misses with the combination.

Berg looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mikhailov!
Mikhailov is trying to improve his position.
Mikhailov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berg thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mikhailov's head.
Berg thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mikhailov's head.
Berg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mikhailov keeps working.

Mikhailov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Berg pulls his head out easily.
Berg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Berg trying to control from half guard but Mikhailov is working away.
Berg thows a huge punch but Mikhailov dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mikhailov gets full guard.
Mikhailov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mikhailov is continuing to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Berg scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Berg connects with a looping right hand.

Berg is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Mikhailov's half guard.
Berg trying to mount his opponent but Mikhailov defends it.
Mikhailov wants to improve his position but Berg is controlling well.
Mikhailov is trying to maintain the position but Berg is very close to passing his half guard.
Mikhailov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Berg scores with a couple of nice shots.
Berg working over Mikhailov with some ground and pound. Mikhailov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov is trying to control but can't.
Berg wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mikhailov keeps working.
Mikhailov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mikhailov.
Mikhailov looking for a sweep. Not yet Mikhailov, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berg is looking to work some ground and pound but Mikhailov has wrist control.
Berg passes Mikhailov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Berg not landing any meaningful shots this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Berg showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Berg 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Carl Berg!
In his post fight interview, Carl Berg started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.