PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gold Berg (ranked 6522 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leha Zver (ranked 24962 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Berg
vs
Zver

195 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

203 cm
22
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gold Berg !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Leha Zver!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berg throws the left hand but Zver avoids the punch easily.
Zver fails with a takedown attempt.
Zver shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Berg defends it nicely.
Berg shoots in for a takedown but Zver shows good takedown defense.
Zver blocks the body kick.
Zver with the counter takedown but Berg avoids it easily.

Zver rushes Berg and presses him up against the cage.
Zver wants a takedown but no success here.
Gold Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leha Zver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zver goes for a takedown in the clinch but Berg prevents it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Zver successfully pulls guard.
Zver looking for a sweep. Not yet Zver, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg wants to control from the top but Zver keeps moving.
Berg is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Zver wants to stand up but Berg is controlling him.
Zver keeping moving, preventing Berg from controlling successfully.

Zver has his feet on Berg 's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Zver drops Berg with a beautiful combination! Berg stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Zver is looking for the KO!

It looks like Gold Berg has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berg gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Zver counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zver pulls guard.
Zver looking for a sweep. Not yet Zver, not yet.

Zver escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berg gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Berg wants to control from the top but Zver keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zver is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berg is aware though and is defending well.
Berg being controlled here momentarily.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Zver is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zver blocks a head kick by Berg .

Zver gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Zver manages to pull guard.
Zver seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zver is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zver holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berg wants to control from the top but Zver keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leha Zver dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gold Berg 's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Zver circles away from the clinch attempt

and Zver counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Berg uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Berg fails with an attempt to clinch.
Berg sets himself, and Zver steps forward looking for the clinch! Berg avoids it this time.
Zver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zver is looking to land body kicks.
Zver throws a combination. Berg tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Zver has Berg up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berg is trying to force a seperation but Zver has the dominant position.
Zver stalling.
Berg tries to pull guard but Zver forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zver manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Zver looking for a sweep. Not yet Zver, not yet.
Berg is stalling in the full guard.
Zver trying to control the position.
Zver is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Berg is controlling him.

That's two 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.
Zver utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zver pulls Berg in close to his closed guard and prevents Berg from doing any damage or advancing position.
Berg trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Gold Berg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zver shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berg wants to clinch up but Zver keeps it at a distance.
Zver feints the counter takedown.
Berg throws a series of punches but Zver moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zver is trying hard to land a takedown here. Berg sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A leg kick checked by Berg .
Berg slaps away a takedown attempt from Zver, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Gold Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leha Zver.

Zver drives through and clinches with Berg against the cage.
Berg jumps guard but Zver stands there with Berg around his waist. Berg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Berg has Zver pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zver manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Berg has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Zver is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Zver.

Zver manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Zver uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Zver shoots in looking for a takedown but Berg manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zver's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Zver pushes Berg up against the cage in a clinch.

Zver successfully pulls guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zver has control of Berg 's left arm, preventing Berg from doing any damage.
Zver lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Zver pushing down on Berg 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leha Zver showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gold Berg 's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zver closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Berg 's guard.
Berg wants to control the position but Zver says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Berg misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Zver controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berg keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zver seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Let's hope that Zver has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Berg blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zver.

Berg looking for subs from the bottom but Zver mounts him!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zver looking to finish Berg with some ground and pound. This is bad for Berg !

Zver gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Berg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Leha Zver seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zver instigates a clinch.

Zver breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zver scores with a three punch combo!

Gold Berg 's cut is getting worse.

Zver drives through and clinches with Berg against the cage.

Zver manages to pull guard.
Zver is controlling Berg 's posture.

Zver manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zver manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zver shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Berg as he avoids it easily.
Berg throws a big counter combination but Zver scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Zver has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Berg throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zver's waist but Zver gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Berg off to one side.
Zver tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Berg defends well and Zver ends up having to push Berg into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gold Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Leha Zver.

Zver throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Berg was covering up waiting for the punch and Zver finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zver postures up.

Zver stands up and waves to Berg to follow him.
Berg fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zver avoids it really well and circles away.
Zver tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zver connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Berg momentarily.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Zver!
Berg throws a lazy head kick

and Zver counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zver.
A body shot lands from Zver.

Zver tightens his grip and picks Berg up, before dumping him to the ground. Berg manages to land in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berg is trying to keep Zver in close.
Zver working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Berg 's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leha Zver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zver has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leha Zver!