PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Evan Berget (ranked 1423 p4p, 227 weight class) and Rudy Rhod (ranked 1709 p4p, 270 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Berget
vs
Rhod

180 cm
23
170 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

180 cm
23
169 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

KAISER Nutrition - Q160

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Evan Berget!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rudy Rhod!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Ren Mimura and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rhod slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rhod throws a jab when Berget was well out of range.
Berget connects with a body shot that sends Rhod's belly button to the back.
Berget lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rhod blocks a jab.
Berget misses with an uppercut.
Berget misses with a hook.
Berget takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Rhod uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Berget.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rhod! But no joy.
Rhod looks to score with a jab to the body but Berget is just out of range.
Rhod throws a right hand that misses
enabling Berget to counter with a crisp jab.
Berget missing with a left hand there. Rhod was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Berget connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Berget throws a hook to the side of Rhod's head but Rhod sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhod takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rhod ducks under a wild hook from Berget.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berget takes one on the button.
Rhod looks to throw the jab but Berget is out of range.
Berget shoots and misses
and Rhod counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rhod misses the jab.
Berget tries to counter with a takedown but Rhod is quick to defend against it.
Berget smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Rhod throws a jab but it's blocked by Berget.
Berget fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rhod with a jab.
Rhod throws a hook but Berget blocks it.
Rhod jabs at Berget's body.
Berget misses with a looping left.
Berget takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Berget is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Rhod misses with a hook.
It looked like Berget wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rhod ducks under a wild hook from Berget.
Evan Berget seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berget scores with a jab. Rhod acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rhod ducks under a wild hook from Berget.
Rhod looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rhod misses with a wild body shot.
Rhod moves away from the strike by Berget.
Berget staying out of range there.

Rhod gets caught flat footed, as Berget shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Berget is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Berget wants to pass the guard but Rhod is keeping the position.
Berget postures up in Rhod's guard and throws a big left but Rhod blocks it.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rhod is on top in guard.

Berget has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rhod can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Berget looking for a sweep. Not yet Berget, not yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berget throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rhod controls from within his opponent's guard.

Berget looking for a guillotine here but Rhod defends easily.
Rhod not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Berget 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.

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.

Berget has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Rhod can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Rhod controls from within his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Berget is on top in guard.

Rhod bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Berget's guard.

Rhod slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Rhod won't allow Berget to sweep him here.
Berget thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
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 Evan Berget will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Berget lands the left hand.
Berget shoots in looking for a takedown but Rhod manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Berget's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Berget fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Berget checks a low kick from Rhod.
Berget shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rhod tries a quick counter leg kick but Berget is wise to it.
Berget throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rhod tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Berget was well out of range. Poor timing from Rhod.
Berget connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rhod momentarily.
Nice uppercut lands for Berget. That snapped Rhod's head back.
Berget gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Rhod connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Berget. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berget throws a jab but it's blocked by Rhod.
Berget keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rhod.
Rhod lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Berget at a distance.
Rhod throws a hook to the side of Berget's head but Berget sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berget dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Berget rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rhod counters with a stiff right hand.
A slow jab from Berget misses its intended target.
Rhod misses with a lunging right hand
and Berget counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rhod misses with an uppercut.
Berget misses with a right hand
and Berget takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Berget throws a jab when Rhod was well out of range.
Berget tries to clinch but Rhod moves out of range.
Berget throws out a loose jab but Rhod uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhod throws out a loose jab but Berget uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Rhod misses the target.
Berget attempts a counter takedown but Rhod avoids it well and moves away.
Rhod dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Berget throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rudy Rhod seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berget throws a jab when Rhod was well out of range.
Berget throws a hook to the side of Rhod's head but Rhod sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Berget ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rhod moves away.
Rudy Rhod is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Berget slips a jab from Rhod.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berget throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Berget shoots for a takedown but Rhod saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rhod looks to throw the jab but Berget is out of range.
Berget moves into range and connects with a jab.
Rhod takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Berget is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rhod.
Rhod looks to throw the jab but Berget is out of range.
Berget throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rhod stuffs the takedown.
Berget cracks Rhod with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berget throws a lazy uppercut
and Rhod counters with a left to the body.
Berget fails with the takedown
and Rhod counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rhod connects with a looping right hand.
Berget on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Rhod throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rhod walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A leg kick checked by Berget.
Berget shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Berget scores with a nice right hand.
Berget takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Berget shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Rhod counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rhod's jab looks to have found its range, popping Berget under the eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berget shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Rhod to counter with a crisp jab.
Rhod ducks under a wild hook from Berget.
Berget fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rhod connects with a solid leg kick.
Berget slips a jab from Rhod.
Berget tries to clinch up but Rhod circles away and keeps his distance.
Rhod fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Berget manages to avoid it.
Rhod throws the left hand but Berget avoids the punch easily.
Rhod on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Berget lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rudy Rhod showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Berget swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Rhod counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A punch lands to the side of Rhod 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Rhod connects with a crisp jab.
Berget avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rhod misses with a low kick.
Rhod throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Berget misses with a straight left.
Berget throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rhod connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rhod cracks a nice hook into Berget's ribs.
Berget uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rhod.
It looked like Berget wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Berget scores with a jab to the head.
Berget throws a poor cross that misses
and Rhod counters with a nice body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berget throws a jab but it's blocked by Rhod.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berget missing with a left hand there. Rhod was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rhod ducks under a wild hook from Berget.
Berget throws a hook but Rhod blocks it.
Rhod looks to throw the jab but Berget is out of range.
Rhod uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Berget.
Rhod bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A little jabbing left from Rhod on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rhod digs a good body shot into Berget's ribs.
Berget throws a right hand that misses
and Rhod counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rhod thumps Berget with a low kick.
Berget keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rhod pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Berget waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Rhod.
Rhod dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rhod connects with a crisp jab.
Berget throws a right hand that misses
and Rhod counters with a low kick, right behind Berget 's knee.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Berget misses with a hook
and Rhod counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Berget has closed the distance and engaged Rhod in a clinch.
Rhod lands an uppercut.
Rhod swings wildly with an uppercut but Berget uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rhod stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rhod lands with a light punch inside.
Rhod scores with a hook to the body.
Berget tries a body shot but Rhod blocks it.
Berget throws a head punch that misses.
Rhod misses with a punch to the body.
Rhod blocks a body shot from Berget.
Rhod lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Berget or not.
Berget's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rhod looking to stall.
A right hook to the body lands for Rhod.
Evan Berget has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhod pushes Berget back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Berget's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Rhod lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short left from Rhod.
Rhod tries to stall but Berget uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Berget misses with a hook to the ribs.
Rhod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Berget tries to work over Rhod's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rhod is trying to maintain a safe position but Berget gets an underhook and turns Rhod into the ropes.
Rhod tries to stall but Berget uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Rhod gets through Berget's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Berget working aggressively here.
Rhod softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Rhod makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rhod works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rhod lands a right hand.
Rhod has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Rhod breaks from the clinch.
Berget misses with a left hand

and Rhod counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Berget prevents a body shot from Rhod.
Berget is trying to pull guard but Rhod turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Rudy Rhod is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berget misses with a punch to the body.
Berget jumps guard but Rhod turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Rhod lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Berget backwards.
Rhod scores with a shot to the side of Berget's head.
Rhod lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Berget tries to pull guard but Rhod holds him up against the ropes and eventually Berget drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evan Berget. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berget tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rhod smiles and moves away.
Rhod lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rhod throws a series of strikes that have Berget backpedaling.
Rhod uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Berget.
Berget tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Rhod manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rhod moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rudy Rhod comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rhod has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight for Rudy Rhod!
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight for Rudy Rhod!
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight for Rudy Rhod!

Rudy Rhod wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Rudy Rhod thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.