PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Maciej Michura (ranked 2021 p4p, 4959 weight class) and Pierre Bernard (ranked 279 p4p, 557 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Michura might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Can't Be Touched. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Michura
vs
Bernard

178 cm
26
175
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
175
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Maciej Michura!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Pierre Bernard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernard wants to clinch up but Michura keeps it at a distance.
Michura tries to counter with a takedown but Bernard is quick to defend against it.
Bernard throws a body punch but Michura moves out of range.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch but Michura swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Michura gets caught napping as Bernard dives in and scores a takedown. Michura manages to retain guard.
Michura keeping moving, preventing Bernard from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Michura is on top in guard.

Michura has gone for a leg lock! Bernard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Michura's guard.

Bernard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bernard won't allow Michura to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bernard drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bernard jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Michura keeping moving, preventing Bernard from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michura escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bernard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
My spies in DK MMA inform me that Bernard has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Bernard wants to control from the top but Michura keeps moving.

Michura working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bernard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bernard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Michura keeping full guard, as Bernard tries to pass.
Bernard trying to control but Michura is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Michura looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bernard controlling from the top position.

Michura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Michura wants to sweep but no luck.
Michura working a defensive guard here.

Michura looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Michura seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Bernard trying to control the position from guard on top but Michura is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard stopping the sweep attempt from Michura.
Michura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bernard not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Michura sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bernard's guard.

Michura is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bernard is trying is best to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Michura is looking for a kimura here.
Bernard is trying to stand.
Bernard is trying to maintain the position but Michura is very close to passing his half guard.
Michura blocks the strikes from Bernard.

Bernard has one foot on Michura's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Michura tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bernard defends well and Michura ends up having to push Bernard into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Michura has picked Bernard up - he's going for a ride! Michura dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bernard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Michura preventing the sweep.
Bernard is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Michura content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Maciej Michura will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bernard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Michura counters with a single leg into guard. Bernard didn't expect that.
Michura wants to pass the guard but Bernard is keeping the position.
Bernard is looking to stand up but Michura isn't so interested in that idea.
Michura with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bernard keeping moving, preventing Michura from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Michura throws a big right hand that misses.
Bernard wants to sweep here but Michura controlling him for the moment.
Michura postures up in Bernard's guard and throws a big left but Bernard blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Michura thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bernard throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Michura trying to control but Bernard is working from the bottom.

Michura drops back looking for a leg! Bernard is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bernard manages to kick Michura off! Michura jumps back into Bernard's guard.
Michura trying to control the position from guard on top but Bernard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Michura postures up in Bernard's guard and throws a big left but Bernard blocks it.
Bernard is trying to keep Michura in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Michura gets a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Michura seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bernard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Michura is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bernard blocking the ground and pound attempt from Michura.

Michura is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bernard sees it coming and defends easily.
Bernard is not content to let Michura control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Michura prevents Bernard from standing back up.

Michura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bernard is just riding it out for now. Michura eventually gives up the hold.
Bernard regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bernard is controlling Michura's posture.
Bernard utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bernard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Michura doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Michura manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Michura throwing strikes from guard but Bernard blocks nicely.

That's four 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.
Bernard working a defensive guard here.
Michura trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bernard working a defensive guard here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Michura bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bernard is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Michura's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Michura is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bernard is just riding it out for now. Michura eventually gives up the hold.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Maciej Michura dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Bernard shoots in and drives through. Michura sprawls well.
Michura feinted with a counter takedown.
Bernard tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Michura was well out of range. Poor timing from Bernard.
Bernard throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Michura decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bernard's guard.
Michura trying to control the position from guard on top but Bernard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Michura throwing strikes but missing.
Bernard bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Michura's guard.

Michura preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard looking to sit in guard and control but Michura gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Michura working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Michura drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bernard looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bernard looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bernard!

Michura is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Michura is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Bernard prevents Michura from improving his position.
Michura keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bernard seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Michura is looking for a sweep. Bernard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Michura has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bernard is working away from the top position though.
Bernard is keen to just control but Michura is a slippery customer.
The fighters are battling for position here. Michura manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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.
Michura tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Michura lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Michura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bernard throwing rabbit punches from the bottom - showing the judges that he's keeping busy.
Michura trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Michura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Michura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Michura is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Michura is sitting in close to Bernard's body. Bernard has gone for a guillotine from the bottom. Oh damn, that looks pretty tight! Michura is panicking - it looks like this one could be all over! Yes, Michura is tapping! That was a very nice submission by Bernard.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Pierre Bernard!