PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Ernst Young (ranked 2191 p4p, 311 weight class) and Alexander Berkman (ranked 21001 p4p, 882 weight class). Young's entrance music is Eye Of The Tiger. A fine choice. Berkman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Panopticon - The Ghosts of Haymarket Square kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Young
vs
Berkman

195 cm
39
215 lbs
29 - 8 - 1

189 cm
24
217 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

World class boxer
Insanely flexible

World class MT
Good gas tank

Humanoid Nutrition (160Q for 180$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ernst Young!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Berkman!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young throws a body shot but no joy.
Berkman avoids the body shot from Young.
Young connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Young scores with a shot to the body.
Berkman lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Berkman lands a nice hook to Young's body. Young takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A looping hook to the body misses from Young. Berkman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Young tests Berkman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Berkman avoids the body shot from Young.
Berkman connects with a good right hand that stumbles Young. Young circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Berkman throws out a loose jab but Young uses good head movement to avoid it.
Berkman just misses with a punch to the body.
Young fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Berkman manages to avoid it.
Young bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Berkman's head.
Young ducks under a wild hook from Berkman.
A little feinted left hand from Young on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
We've been informed that Berkman has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Berkman throws a big shot that misses.
A slow jab from Young misses its intended target.
Young misses with a shot to the body
and Berkman counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Young lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Young.
Young misses with a wild body shot.
Berkman feints a counter leg kick.
Young lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Young fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Berkman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Young throwing a counter right hand but Berkman manages to avoid it.
Berkman throws out a loose jab but Young uses good head movement to avoid it.
Young staying out of range there.
Young connects with a crisp jab.
Young avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Berkman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Young is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Berkman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berkman fails in his attempt to clinch.
Berkman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Young.
Berkman throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Young sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Young. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Young.
Berkman blocks a jab.
Young uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Berkman.
Ernst Young seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berkman connects with a nice looking jab.
Young scores with a jab to the head.
Young takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Young throws a good cross that connects.
Young cracks Berkman with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Young misses with a low kick.
Berkman wants to counter with a clinch but Young pushes him away.
Young scores with a nice strike.
Young thows a left - swing and a miss!
Berkman connects with a body shot.
Berkman comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Young ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Berkman chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Young can pounce on him.
No joy there for Young, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Berkman slips a straight right by Young.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernst Young dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Young misses with a looping right.
Berkman now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Young throws a shot from downtown. Berkman moves away and avoids it.
Berkman throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Young throws a leg kick
and Berkman counters with a nice body kick.
Young steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Berkman.
Berkman throws a body shot but no joy.
Young throws the left hand but Berkman avoids the punch easily.
The fighters circling - Young throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Berkman lands a glancing blow to the side of Young's head.
Young fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Young slips a jab from Berkman.
Young moves out of range of the strikes.
Young is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Berkman moves out of range as Young strikes.
Berkman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Berkman blocks a jab.
Young connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young misses with a body punch
and Berkman counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Young thinking.
Young throws a right hand that misses
and Berkman counters with a nice body shot.
Berkman misses with a looping right.
Berkman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Berkman throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Berkman lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Ernst Young has been cut.
Berkman misses with a hook
and Young counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Young jabbing away but nothing is landing.
No joy there for Berkman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Young tried to counter with a leg kick but Berkman avoided it.
Berkman cracks Young with an open hand slap.
Nice body kick from Berkman.
Berkman lands with a good body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Young avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Young will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Berkman on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Young with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkman throws a low kick, looking for Young's leg but Young calmly moves out of range.
A lazy left from Young finds it's target.
Berkman tries a low kick but Young avoids it.
Young moves out of range of the strikes.
Young scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Young avoids the body shot from Berkman.
Young digs a good hook to Berkman's body.

Berkman has Young up against the ropes in a clinch.
Young wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Berkman has him pressed against the ropes.
Young blocks a body shot from Berkman.
Berkman misses with a hook from the clinch.
Young misses with a hook to the ribs.
Berkman blocks a body shot from Young.
Berkman lands a body shot.
A nice left hand lands by Young.
Berkman with an attempt at a knee that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Berkman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ernst Young's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Berkman digs a good body shot into Young's ribs.
Berkman throws a body punch but Young moves out of range.
Young looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A slow jab from Young misses its intended target.
A countering left hand to the body from Berkman misses.
Young has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Berkman finds it's way round the side to connect with Young's head.
Berkman throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Young counters with a straight right hand.
Young throws a good cross that connects.
Young changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Berkman misses with a low kick.
Berkman thuds his right hand into Young's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Young lands a jab to the head.
Berkman wants to clinch but Young slips to the side
and Young counters with a straight right hand.
Berkman misses with a looping right.
It looked like Young wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Young keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
A slow jab from Young misses its intended target.
Berkman swings widly with a right hand
and Young makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Berkman throws a hook but Young blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young takes one to the chin there.
Berkman blocks a leg kick.
Berkman lunges at Young with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Young's hand.
No joy there for Berkman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Berkman moves forwards but Young connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Young throws the left hand but Berkman avoids the punch easily.
Young displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Berkman throws out the jab.
Young swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Berkman lands with a nice body kick.
Young throws an overhand right that lands on Berkman's shoulder, as Berkman tries to avoid the shot.
Berkman scores with a jab to the jaw.
Young misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Berkman.
Young misses the shot to the body.
Berkman unleashes a big counter combination but Young bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Young fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Berkman.
Berkman throws a head kick that Young semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Young dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Berkman. That did some damage!
Berkman checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkman throws a body shot but no joy.
Young was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Young scores with a jab to the head.
Berkman throws a chopping leg kick but Young manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Berkman takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A looping hook to the body misses from Berkman. Young does a little dance to reset his feet.
A swing and a miss from Young.
Berkman looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Young swings for the body but Berkman moves out of range.
A nice side step and Berkman releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Berkman lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Berkman has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Berkman looks to throw the jab but Young is out of range.
Berkman misses with a looping right.
Young throwing a counter right hand but Berkman manages to avoid it.
Young throws a hook but Berkman blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Berkman lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Young throws a shot from downtown. Berkman moves away and avoids it.
Berkman tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Berkman just misses with a punch to the body.
Young was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Alexander Berkman just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Ernst Young's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Berkman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Young at a distance.
Young misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Berkman.
Berkman misses with a body punch
and Young counters with a stiff right hand.
Young lands with a good body shot.
Young slips a straight right by Berkman.
Young is looking to counter punch.
Berkman throws a lazy right hand but Young sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Young scores with a jab to the head.
Berkman throws a hook but Young blocks it.
Young loads up on a big right hand but Berkman slips the punch.
Young moves out of range of the strikes.
Young bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Berkman's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkman avoids the body shot from Young.
Young misses with a body punch
and Young takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Young lands with a shot to the body.
Young ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Young fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Young throws out a loose jab but Berkman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Berkman takes a swing at Young's ribcage but misses.
A slow jab from Young misses its intended target.
Ernst Young is winning the standup battle so far.
Young throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A big right from Young misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Young misses the target.
Young takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Young throws a poor cross that misses
and Berkman counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Young lands with an overhand left.
Berkman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Young moves away.
Young throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Young misses with a hook.
Berkman misses with a body shot.
Young throws a lazy right hand but Berkman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Berkman was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Berkman works Young's body with a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkman throws a sloppy body shot
and Young counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Berkman keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Young.
Berkman tries to counter by closing the distance.
Young misses with a two punch combination.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berkman throws a big shot that misses.
Berkman wants to land a leg kick but Young is out of range.
Young smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A telegraphed right hand from Berkman misses the target.
Young connects with a good right hand that stumbles Berkman. Berkman circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Young thows a left - swing and a miss!
Young cracks Berkman with a right hand to the side of the head.
Young throws a looping overhand right but Berkman ducks down to avoid it.
Berkman uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Young.
Berkman ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Young lands with a thumping leg kick.
Berkman missing with a left hand there. Young was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernst Young had his way with Alexander Berkman in that round.
The cut man is working on Ernst Young's cut.
That's time! Young's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Berkman throws a body shot but no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Young. Berkman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Young misses with a wild body shot.
Berkman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Berkman checks a low kick from Young.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Berkman! But no joy.
Berkman looks to score with a jab to the body but Young is just out of range.
Berkman ducks under a wild hook from Young.
Berkman's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Berkman throws a solid leg kick but Young takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Berkman.
Young throwing a counter right hand but Berkman manages to avoid it.
Berkman ducks under a wild hook from Young.
No joy there for Berkman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Young throwing a counter right hand but Berkman manages to avoid it.
Young is looking to chop away at Berkman's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkman blocks a leg kick.
Young on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Berkman tries to land a leg kick but Young saw it coming and moves away.
Berkman displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Young throws out the jab.
Berkman ducks under a wild hook from Young.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkman thuds a left hand into Young's body.
Berkman checks a leg kick nicely.

Berkman pushes Young up against the ropes in a clinch.
Young misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Young misses with a hook from the clinch.
Berkman lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Berkman.
Knees in the clinch landing for Berkman.
Berkman lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Berkman scores with a hook to the body.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
A short left from Berkman.
Young swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Berkman working aggressively here.
Berkman blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Berkman.
Young misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Young.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkman lands a left hand.
Berkman lands with a left to the head.
Berkman tries to throw a body punch but Young avoids it by throwing Berkman back against the ropes.
Alexander Berkman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Young avoiding damage as Berkman throws knees to the body.
Berkman tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Young's elbow.
Berkman landing knees to the body.
Berkman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Young.
Berkman blocks an uppercut.
Berkman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Berkman obliges.
Berkman digs a right hand into Young's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Young's gas tank.
Berkman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Youngs head.
A short right from Berkman on the inside.
Berkman throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Berkman lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Berkman prevents Young from breaking the clinch.
Berkman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Young.
Berkman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A short right from Berkman.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Berkman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Berkman 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 48:47
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 47:48
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexander Berkman!
Alexander Berkman is the new light heavyweight champion!
Alexander Berkman decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.