PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Tang Maul (ranked 6592 p4p, 6524 weight class) and Benjamin Berkley (ranked 242 p4p, 239 weight class). Berkley has chosen X as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Maul
vs
Berkley

165 cm
20
135
4 - 1 - 0

168 cm
20
147
5 - 1 - 0

World class MT
Cardio machine

Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tang Maul!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Benjamin Berkley!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, Steve Montenegro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maul fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Maul blocks the low kick.
Maul is looking to counter punch.
Berkley checks a low kick from Maul.
Berkley is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Maul throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Maul takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Maul wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Berkley uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Maul.
Berkley thinks about the counter body kick.
A punch combination from Berkley misses.
Maul avoids the head kick by Berkley.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkley ducks under a wild hook from Maul.

Maul moves into the clinch successfully.
Berkley blocks an elbow strike.
Maul lands a damaging elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maul tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A short uppercut from Maul.
Maul lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Berkley working hard to break the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Berkley.
Berkley is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Berkley working aggressively here.
Maul landing knees to the head.

It looks like Benjamin Berkley has been cut.
Maul lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Berkley scores with a nice hook to the head.
Maul digs a right hand underneath Berkley's ribcage. Berkley let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Maul tries to land knees in the clinch but Berkley avoids the damage to the body.
Maul tries a knee to the head but Berkley blocks it.
Berkley lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Maul lands a hook that snaps the head of Berkley backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maul tries to land a knee to the head but Berkley blocks with his arms.
Maul lands a nice elbow.
Berkley throws an elbow that misses.
Maul gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Berkley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Berkley throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maul avoids a kick to the body.
It looked like Maul was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Berkley.
Maul seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Berkley lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Maul blocks a head kick by Berkley.
Berkley throws the kick towards the body but Maul avoids it.
Maul dodges the punch combination from Berkley.
Berkley slips a jab from Maul.
Maul walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Berkley checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Berkley follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maul tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Berkley was well out of range. Poor timing from Maul.
Berkley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice uppercut there from Maul.
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 Tang Maul will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Berkley's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Maul looks to throw the jab but Berkley is out of range.
As Maul backs off Berkley throws a huge counter combo but Maul manages to avoid it all.
A combination from Berkley does no damage.
Maul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Berkley throws a right and a left that Maul avoids nicely.
Maul is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Berkley.
Maul lands with a shot to the body.
Maul lands a jab to Berkley's midsection.
A slow jab from Maul misses its intended target.
Berkley lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maul jabs Berkley right on the nose. Berkley blinks but takes it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maul throwing a counter right hand but Berkley manages to avoid it.
Benjamin Berkley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Berkley throws a right and a left that Maul avoids nicely.
Maul scores with a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Berkley moves away.
Berkley takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Berkley drops his hands momentarily and Maul takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A big right from Maul misses.
Berkley checks a low kick from Maul.
Berkley throws out a counter right but Maul avoids it with no problem.
Berkley misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tang Maul is winning the standup battle so far.
Berkley misses with a double jab.
Maul with a nice cross.
Berkley thows a left - swing and a miss!
Maul rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Berkley moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berkley misses with a low kick.
Berkley tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Berkley tries to get set, Maul tries to push him back and clinch up but Berkley manages to avoid the attempt.
Berkley throws a right and a left that Maul avoids nicely.
Maul blocks a head kick by Berkley.
Maul cracks Berkley with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the ropes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berkley throws a left and a right that both miss
and Maul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Berkley is rocked!
Maul misses with a body shot.
Berkley is still on wobbly legs! Can Maul finish him?
Maul throws a right hand that misses
and Maul takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Berkley seems to have recovered his senses.

Maul closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Maul gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Berkley creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maul's defenses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tang Maul dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Berkley's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Berkley takes one to the side of the head.
Berkley ducks right into an uppercut from Maul.
Berkley misses with a straight right.
Maul's jab looks to have found its range, popping Berkley under the eye.

Maul has closed the distance and engaged Berkley in a clinch.
Maul throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Berkley pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Maul lands an elbow inside.
Maul is leaning against Berkley and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Berkley looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maul lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Maul blocks the elbow strike.
Berkley wants to break free but Maul has control.
Maul throws an elbow that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Maul.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berkley misses with an elbow strike.
Berkley lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Maul backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Maul is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Maul lands a hook that snaps the head of Berkley backwards.
Maul with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Maul lands a damaging elbow.
Maul misses with a knee strike.
Maul softening up his opponent with strikes, against the ropes.
Maul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berkley can do to turn this around?
Maul misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Berkley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Berkley keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Berkley takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Berkley checks a leg kick nicely.
Berkley lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Maul motions for Berkley to come forward. Maul throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Berkley drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Maul bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maul lands a jab to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Maul swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Berkley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Maul was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Maul scores with a jab to the body.
Maul throws a shot from downtown. Berkley moves away and avoids it.
Maul is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Berkley.
Berkley jabs Maul right on the nose. Maul blinks but takes it well.

Berkley gets tackled into the ropes by Maul. Maul maintains the clinch.
Berkley creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Maul's defenses.
Maul misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berkley.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Berkley throws an elbow but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tang Maul clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Berkley's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Berkley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maul circles away quickly and effectively.
Berkley throws a quick inside leg kick.
Berkley misses with a few strikes there.

Maul closes the distance and pushes Berkley back into the ropes.
Maul lands an elbow just above Berkley 's eye.
Maul using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berkley has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Berkley breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Berkley throws a leg kick
and Maul counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benjamin Berkley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berkley throws a right hand that misses
letting Maul counter with a right hand.

Berkley tries to keep at a distance but Maul has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maul lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berkley is trying to force a seperation but Maul has the dominant position.
Maul landing knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maul lands an elbow inside that Berkley shrugs off.
Maul lands a nice knee to the body.
Berkley takes an elbow to the temple.
Maul connects with a knee to the head.
Maul connects with a knee to the head.
Maul comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Maul throws an elbow but misses.
Berkley is trying to push Maul away but Maul has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Berkley is trying to break the clinch but Maul is controlling him.
Maul trying to land knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the ropes, Maul just misses with a elbow thrown towards Berkley's brow.
Maul lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Berkley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Berkley manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Berkley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Berkley blocks the body kick.
Despite the aggression on Berkley's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Maul fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Berkley, pushing him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maul gets through Berkley's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Maul lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Berkley or not.
Maul is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Berkley is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Maul lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Berkley fails to land.
Maul scores with a knee to the head.
Maul content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Berkley wants to break free but Maul has control.
Maul comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Berkley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maul misses with a series of wild punches.
Maul throws a shot from downtown. Berkley moves away and avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Maul scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Berkley throws out a loose jab but Maul uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tang Maul had his way with Benjamin Berkley in that round.
The cut man is working on Benjamin Berkley's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Maul jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Berkley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Maul moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maul tried to counter with a leg kick but Berkley avoided it.
Maul throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Maul throws a shot from downtown. Berkley moves away and avoids it.
Berkley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Maul.
Maul lands a nice shot that snaps Berkley's head back.
Berkley throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Berkley is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkley moves out of range of the strikes.

Maul closes the distance and pushes Berkley back into the ropes.
Maul dodges an elbow strike from Berkley.
Berkley lands a nice uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkley pushes Maul back against the ropes and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Berkley avoiding damage as Maul throws knees to the body.
Berkley swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maul missing with knees to the body.
Maul using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berkley has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Berkley avoids a wild elbow strike from Maul.
Tang Maul has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Berkley throws an elbow but it misses.

Berkley breaks the clinch.

Maul clinches up with Berkley and pushes him back against the ropes.
A frustrated look appears on Berkley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maul is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berkley is defending well for now.
Berkley blocks a body shot from Maul.
Maul trying to land knees to the body.
Berkley on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Berkley's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Maul crunches a lovely knee into Berkley's ribcage.
Berkley lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Berkley throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mauls head.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Maul throws an elbow but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Maul.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maul landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Berkley misses with an elbow over the top.
Maul using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Berkley is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Maul tries to land knees in the clinch but Berkley avoids the damage to the body.
Maul missing with knees to the body.
Berkley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Berkley pushes off an throws an elbow but Maul leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Berkley pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Berkley blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Maul can't find room to land a body shot as Berkley controls the action.
Benjamin Berkley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Berkley has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Maul lands a body punch.
Maul blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Maul.
Maul landing knees to the head.
Berkley lands a hook that snaps the head of Maul backwards.
Maul utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tang Maul is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Maul lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tang Maul showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Maul 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight for Tang Maul!
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight for Tang Maul!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Tang Maul!

Tang Maul wins by unanimous decision!
Tang Maul retains his bantamweight title!
A relieved looking Tang Maul thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.