PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Bermalingo (ranked 1514 p4p, 1273 weight class) and Raymond Lee (ranked 233 p4p, 192 weight class). Rocco Bermalingo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bermalingo
vs
Lee

188 cm
28
205
13 - 7 - 0

194 cm
28
225
6 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocco Bermalingo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Raymond Lee!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bermalingo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bermalingo looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lee lands a jab to the nose.
Lee is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bermalingo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bermalingo.

Lee drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bermalingo is looking to stand up but Lee isn't so interested in that idea.
Lee is working Bermalingo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lee is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bermalingo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Bermalingo has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Lee is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bermalingo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lee is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bermalingo to the mat. Bermalingo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lee is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Let's hope that Lee 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.
Lee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee wants to control from the top but Bermalingo keeps moving.
Bermalingo wants to get back to his feet but Lee is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lee controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bermalingo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Rocco Bermalingo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bermalingo misses with a looping left.
Bermalingo ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Lee misses the target.
Bermalingo scores with a jab.
Bermalingo throws a body punch but Lee moves out of range.
Lee slips a straight right by Bermalingo.
Lee steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bermalingo.
Bermalingo misses with an uppercut. Lee saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bermalingo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lee.
Bermalingo missing with a left hand there. Lee was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bermalingo rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Lee counters with a takedown into side control.
Bermalingo is letting Lee control him for a moment.
Bermalingo wants to get back to his feet but Lee drags him back down.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
The referee asks Lee politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Lee prefers to stall for the moment though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bermalingo wants to get back to his feet but Lee drags him back down.
Lee is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bermalingo is not content to let Lee control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bermalingo prevents Lee from improving position.
Lee wants to control for a moment but Bermalingo uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Bermalingo pushes Lee off but Lee dives into side control.
Lee controlling from side mount.
Lee prevents Bermalingo from escaping the position.
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 Rocco Bermalingo will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Bermalingo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lee moves away.
Lee throws a lazy right hand but Bermalingo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bermalingo misses with a double jab.
Lee feints the counter takedown.
Bermalingo misses the jab.
Bermalingo slips a straight right by Lee.
Lee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bermalingo.
Lee lands a right hook to the body.
Lee scores with a jab. Bermalingo acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Lee uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bermalingo.
Rocco Bermalingo is winning the standup battle so far.
Lee will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Lee scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Lee is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lee wants to free his trapped foot but Bermalingo is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee prevents Bermalingo from standing back up.
Raymond Lee has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lee perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Bermalingo steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lee.
Bermalingo slips a straight right by Lee.

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.

Bermalingo gets caught napping as Lee dives in and scores a takedown. Bermalingo manages to retain guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bermalingo wants to stand but Lee is controlling the position.

Bermalingo scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bermalingo catches Lee with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bermalingo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lee.
A telegraphed right hand from Bermalingo misses the target.
Bermalingo looks to land a combination but Lee avoids it well.
Nice shot by Bermalingo.
Bermalingo misses with a hook.
Bermalingo lands a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lee looking to score a takedown here. Bermalingo is defending well but Lee drives through and ends up in Bermalingo's guard.
Lee prevents Bermalingo from getting back to his feet.
Bermalingo keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
Lee stops Bermalingo from standing up.
Lee landing with the ground and pound.
Bermalingo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lee controls the pace.
Lee passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bermalingo bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Lee misses with a body shot.
A shot to the liver by Bermalingo. Beautiful body shot.

Lee decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lee performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lee is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bermalingo!
Bermalingo really wants to buck Lee off and get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Raymond Lee will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bermalingo lands with a nice combination. Lee backs away looking to recover.
Bermalingo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lee misses with a looping left.
Bermalingo takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Lee changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bermalingo misses the shot to the body.
Bermalingo throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Lee counters with a single leg into guard. Bermalingo didn't expect that.
Lee cracks Bermalingo with a solid left hand.
Bermalingo wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Lee manages to pass to side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lee stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lee is pressing down on Bermalingo's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bermalingo is holding on for now.
Lee prevents Bermalingo from standing back up.
Lee trying to pass the guard but Bermalingo defending well.
Lee throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lee slows the pace down in half guard.

Lee is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bermalingo tries to kick Lee off but Lee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Lee closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bermalingo to the mat! Bermalingo manages to get full guard.
Bermalingo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lee is controlling him.
Bermalingo wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Lee manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee slows the pace down in half guard.
Bermalingo is trying to stand.
Lee is controlling the pace.

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.
Bermalingo tries to kick Lee off but Lee keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lee slips a jab from Bermalingo.
Lee sizes up Bermalingo with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
A swing and a miss from Bermalingo.
Lee throws a jab but it's blocked by Bermalingo.
Danga de danga de dang - Bermalingo scores with a four punch combination!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bermalingo moves out of range of the strikes.
Bermalingo throws a hook to the side of Lee's head but Lee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lee avoids the body shot from Bermalingo.
Lee bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raymond Lee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lee 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30

The fight is ruled a majority draw!