PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Calzaghez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and baily bermingham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Calzaghez has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Joe Calzaghez has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Calzaghez
vs
bermingham

225 cm
22
297 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
281 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Calzaghez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, baily bermingham!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A choreographed right hand from bermingham misses the target.

Calzaghez clinches.
bermingham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
bermingham creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
bermingham lands a nice elbow.
bermingham throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Calzaghez dodges an elbow strike from bermingham.
bermingham throws an elbow but it misses.
bermingham prevents a takedown attempt there.
A shot in the inside from bermingham.
bermingham managing to block the knees to the body from Calzaghez.
bermingham stops a takedown attempt from Calzaghez.
Calzaghez dodges an elbow strike from bermingham.
bermingham pushes off an throws an elbow but Calzaghez leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
bermingham fails to pull guard.
Calzaghez dodges an elbow strike from bermingham.
A short left from bermingham.
Calzaghez tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Calzaghez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Calzaghez is breathing heavily.
Calzaghez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but bermingham has him pressed against the cage.
bermingham lands an elbow that stopped Calzaghez in his tracks for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by bermingham.
Calzaghez blocking some punches.
Calzaghez tries to pull guard but bermingham won't allow it.
bermingham lands on the inside with an uppercut.
bermingham fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
bermingham misses with a short punch on the inside.
bermingham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
bermingham looking for a takedown.
bermingham misses with a short punch on the inside.
bermingham softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Calzaghez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, bermingham throws an elbow but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
bermingham misses with an elbow over the top.
bermingham misses with a hook from the clinch.
bermingham gets through Calzaghez's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
bermingham lands an elbow just above Calzaghez 's eye.
Calzaghez takes an elbow to the temple.
Calzaghez has had enough of the clinch but bermingham keeps him there for the moment.
bermingham lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
bermingham throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Calzaghezs head.
Calzaghez dodges an elbow strike from bermingham.
Calzaghez tries to land knees in the clinch but bermingham avoids the damage to the body.
Calzaghez wants to get back to striking at distance but bermingham won't allow it.
bermingham lands a hook that snaps the head of Calzaghez backwards.
Calzaghez tries to pull guard but bermingham holds him up against the cage and eventually Calzaghez drops back down to his feet.

Calzaghez manages to break the clinch.
bermingham throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
bermingham misses with an uppercut. Calzaghez saw that one coming.
bermingham jabbing away but nothing is landing.
bermingham is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Calzaghez.
bermingham shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Calzaghez as he avoids it easily.

Calzaghez shoots in and bounces bermingham off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Calzaghez gets to his feet. bermingham looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
bermingham throws an overhand right that lands on Calzaghez's shoulder, as Calzaghez tries to avoid the shot.
bermingham throws a big shot that misses.
bermingham is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
bermingham throws a jab when Calzaghez was well out of range.
bermingham fails with the takedown

and Calzaghez counters with a shoot takedown. bermingham fights it but they end up in guard.
bermingham being controlled here, momentarily.
Calzaghez tries to free his leg and advance position but bermingham is retaining full guard.
Calzaghez is working hard here to advance position.
Calzaghez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Calzaghez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
bermingham really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Calzaghez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Calzaghez throwing strikes but missing.
bermingham keeping full guard, as Calzaghez tries to pass.

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.
bermingham working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Calzaghez passes into half guard.
Calzaghez wants to stand but bermingham has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
bermingham wants to control but Calzaghez is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Calzaghez wants to free his trapped foot but bermingham is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghez dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

bermingham misses with a hook

and Calzaghez counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in bermingham's guard now.
Calzaghez slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Calzaghez stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Calzaghez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Calzaghez gets to his feet - bermingham follows without any prompting.
Calzaghez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Calzaghez closes this distance looking for a takedown but bermingham circles away.
bermingham tests Calzaghez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Calzaghez moves out of range as bermingham strikes.
Calzaghez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Calzaghez misses with the combination.

Calzaghez scores with a takedown into bermingham's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghez is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Joe Calzaghez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Calzaghez tries to free his leg and advance position but bermingham is retaining full guard.
bermingham avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
bermingham looking to control.
bermingham has control of Calzaghez's left arm, preventing Calzaghez from doing any damage.
Calzaghez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. bermingham swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Calzaghez 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.

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.
Calzaghez wants to get up but he can't break bermingham's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Calzaghez is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
bermingham tries for a takedown but Calzaghez circles away easily
and Calzaghez counters with a left and a right that stings bermingham.
Calzaghez slips under a jab from bermingham.
Calzaghez scores with a leg kick.

Calzaghez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Calzaghez controlling from mount.
Calzaghez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down bermingham for as long as he can get away with.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghez lands a big shot there that rocks bermingham but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Calzaghez looking to control and managing it successfully.
bermingham is wriggling around trying to escape.

Calzaghez looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Calzaghez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

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.
Calzaghez tries to control but bermingham wriggling away.
bermingham is desperately trying to improve his position but Calzaghez has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
bermingham tries to lock up and control but Calzaghez gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
bermingham is squirming around, avoiding Calzaghez's attempts to control the action.

Calzaghez working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Calzaghez dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

bermingham is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Calzaghez.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Calzaghez. bermingham shrugs it off though.
The fighters circling - bermingham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Calzaghez.
bermingham throws a lazy uppercut

so Calzaghez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
bermingham trying to control the position.
Calzaghez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. bermingham is keeping the position for now.
bermingham looking to control.
Calzaghez pushing down on bermingham's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Calzaghez wants to free his trapped foot but bermingham is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calzaghez throwing shots but bermingham is blocking nicely.

Calzaghez is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so bermingham is just riding it out for now. Calzaghez eventually gives up the hold.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
bermingham throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Calzaghez counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Calzaghez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
bermingham with a hook.
The fighters circling - bermingham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Calzaghez moves out of range as bermingham strikes.
Calzaghez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says bermingham as he avoids it easily.
bermingham misses with a looping right.
baily bermingham has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
bermingham shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Calzaghez but Calzaghez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
The fighters circling - bermingham throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Calzaghez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
bermingham wants to hold on but Calzaghez pushes him away.
Calzaghez prevents bermingham from getting the reversal.
Calzaghez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
bermingham is squirming around, avoiding Calzaghez's attempts to control the action.
Calzaghez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Calzaghez get's back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calzaghez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Calzaghez wants to clinch.
Calzaghez tries to close the distance and clinch but bermingham swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A big right from bermingham misses.
Calzaghez is looking to slow bermingham down with leg kicks.

bermingham tries to keep at a distance but Calzaghez has taken the fight into the clinch.
bermingham misses with the head strike.
bermingham misses with some punches.

Calzaghez manages to break the clinch.
bermingham throws a jab but it's blocked by Calzaghez.
Calzaghez tries to close the distance and clinch up but bermingham swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Calzaghez is looking to clinch but bermingham is avoiding it.

Calzaghez shoots in and bounces bermingham off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Calzaghez content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
bermingham trying to keep a closed guard but Calzaghez is proving a slippery customer.

Calzaghez stands up and waves to bermingham to follow him.
Calzaghez wants to clinch up but bermingham keeps it at a distance.
Calzaghez throws a head kick that bermingham semi-blocks.
Calzaghez blocks a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Calzaghez gets the takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Calzaghez tries to move to mount but bermingham blocks the move with his legs.
bermingham is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Calzaghez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Calzaghez, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Calzaghez!