PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kirill Berkut (ranked 1775 p4p, 2600 weight class) and Arturo Ellacuria (ranked 182 p4p, 241 weight class). Ellacuria has chosen The Boss- James Brown as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Berkut
vs
Ellacuria

160 cm
27
152
12 - 6 - 0

183 cm
33
149
20 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conviction
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirill Berkut!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Arturo Ellacuria!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Ellacuria, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ellacuria throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ellacuria throws a combination that misses
and Berkut counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Berkut swings for the body but Ellacuria moves out of range.
Berkut staying out of range there.
Berkut throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ellacuria is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Jab by Berkut.
Berkut just misses with a punch to the body.
Berkut lands a nice shot to the body.
Ellacuria is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Berkut.
We've been informed that Ellacuria 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 had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ellacuria lands a nice looking body kick.
Berkut defending well as Ellacuria loads up on a big left hand.
Ellacuria feints and then cracks Berkut's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Berkut down.
Berkut misses with a body shot.
Berkut swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Ellacuria.
Ellacuria looks to land a left hand but Berkut moved out of range nicely.
Berkut goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Berkut steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ellacuria.
Arturo Ellacuria is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ellacuria drops his hands momentarily and Berkut takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Ellacuria pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Berkut throwing a counter right hand but Ellacuria manages to avoid it.
Ellacuria misses with a few strikes there.
Berkut misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ellacuria.
Ellacuria takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Berkut closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berkut scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Ellacuria to see if he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Ellacuria's face as Berkut controls the position.
We've been hearing that Berkut has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Berkut has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Berkut working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Berkut wants to control but Ellacuria is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ellacuria is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Berkut is controlling him well.
Ellacuria managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Berkut.
Ellacuria is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Ellacuria is looking to get back to his feet here but Berkut is keeping cool and he's managed to take Ellacuria's back.
Ellacuria wants to get back to his feet.
Berkut missing with strikes from the back.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkut controlling the position well here. Ellacuria rolled but Berkut kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Berkut is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Ellacuria. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Ellacuria trying to get back to his feet but Berkut is in full control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Berkut is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but Berkut has full control of the position and if anything, Ellacuria has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Berkut working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkut keeps control of the position easily here as Ellacuria tries to buck him off.
Ellacuria trying to get back to his feet but Berkut is in full control for now.
Ellacuria is trying to remain composed but Berkut is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Berkut keeps control of the position easily here as Ellacuria tries to buck him off.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ellacuria is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Berkut off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Berkut lands a shot to the head.
Berkut lands strikes to the head.

Ellacuria is rocked!

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ellacuria trying to get back to his feet but Berkut is in full control for now.
Berkut is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Ellacuria up.
Ellacuria is still in real trouble! Can Berkut finish him?
Ellacuria is trying to stand back up.
Berkut trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Ellacuria doesn't escape.
Ellacuria seems to have recovered his senses.
Ellacuria is trying to stand back up.
Berkut lands punches and elbows.
Berkut keeps control of the position easily here as Ellacuria tries to buck him off.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Berkut's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Berkut lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Berkut is landing with strikes. Ellacuria can't take much more of this.
Ellacuria wants to get back to his feet.
Berkut is punishing Ellacuria with some ground and pound.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ellacuria looking very determined here, making life difficult for Berkut.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Berkut biding his time, looking for the opening.
Ellacuria is trying to stand back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ellacuria is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Berkut gets his way!

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ellacuria staying busy and making it hard for Berkut to control.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berkut is riding his opponent, not letting Ellacuria buck him off.
Berkut lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Ellacuria hold on?!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Berkut's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Ellacuria is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Berkut looking for the RNC.
Berkut scores with punches and elbows.
Ellacuria trying to get back to his feet but Berkut is in full control for now.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Berkut struggling to keep hold of the position.
Berkut is punishing Ellacuria with strikes - can he finish him?!
Ellacuria trying to get back to his feet but Berkut is in full control for now.
Berkut lands strikes from the back and Ellacuria isn't doing enough to escape the position. The referee steps in to end the fight.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 8:39 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Kirill Berkut!
Kirill Berkut decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Arturo Ellacuria was interviewed post fight and said 'Fuck it. I'm doing coke with Diego after this, win or lose, anyway.'.