PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Iago Maldonado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carlo Bertozzi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Maldonado
vs
Bertozzi

200 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

183 cm
26
270 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Iago Maldonado!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Carlo Bertozzi!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Matheus Silva and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maldonado tries a head kick but it misses.

Maldonado rushes Bertozzi and presses him up against the cage.
A body shot lands from Maldonado.
Maldonado misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bertozzi.
Maldonado on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Maldonado lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

Bertozzi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maldonado tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maldonado circles away from the clinch attempt

and Maldonado moves into the clinch.
Maldonado tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Maldonado has Bertozzi pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Maldonado pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Bertozzi tumbling to the mat - Maldonado dives into Bertozzi's guard.
Maldonado trying to control the position from guard on top but Bertozzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maldonado is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bertozzi is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Maldonado wanted to stand there but Bertozzi had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maldonado trying to control the position from guard on top but Bertozzi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Maldonado being controlled here momentarily.
Maldonado is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Iago Maldonado.
Bertozzi lands a head kick!

It looks like Iago Maldonado has been cut.
Maldonado blocks a head kick by Bertozzi.
Maldonado avoids the head kick by Bertozzi.
Maldonado tries to clinch

and Bertozzi counters by clinching up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maldonado lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maldonado slows down the pace here.
Bertozzi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Maldonado fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maldonado gets a clinch.
Bertozzi looking for a takedown.
Maldonado taking a breather.
Bertozzi drops down looking for an ankle pick but Maldonado pulls his leg out and moves away.
Iago Maldonado has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carlo Bertozzi.
Maldonado tries to clinch up but Bertozzi circles away and keeps his distance.

Maldonado has closed the distance and engaged Bertozzi in a clinch.
Bertozzi tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Maldonado just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bertozzi tries for a takedown but Maldonado manages to get underhooks.
Bertozzi tries to pull guard but Maldonado holds him up against the cage and eventually Bertozzi drops back down to his feet.
Maldonado using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bertozzi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maldonado is trying to break the clinch but Bertozzi is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldonado tries to break the clinch but Bertozzi is controlling the position.
Maldonado digs a right hand into Bertozzi's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Bertozzi's gas tank.

Bertozzi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Maldonado closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Maldonado throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maldonado stalling.
Maldonado looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Maldonado creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bertozzi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maldonado walks away with a smile on his face. Bertozzi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Maldonado tries to clinch

and Bertozzi counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Maldonado is breathing heavily.
Maldonado trying to keep a closed guard but Bertozzi is proving a slippery customer.
Maldonado is wriggling around but Bertozzi manages to pass to half guard.
Bertozzi lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Maldonado tries to roll over but Bertozzi keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Maldonado is trying to stand up here but Bertozzi is controlling him well.
Bertozzi working the head and body with strikes.
Bertozzi landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Maldonado looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Maldonado is refusing to be controlled, as Bertozzi sits in half guard.
Maldonado wants to get back to his feet.
Bertozzi lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bertozzi working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bertozzi is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Nice strikes from Bertozzi there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlo Bertozzi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Iago Maldonado's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bertozzi has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Maldonado regains guard immediately.
Bertozzi is working Maldonado over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bertozzi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bertozzi trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Maldonado thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Maldonado is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Bertozzi drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Bertozzi as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Maldonado screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Bertozzi! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Carlo Bertozzi!