PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andy Berger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Zuko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andy Berger could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Danny Zuko's chin.

Berger
vs
Zuko

188 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

191 cm
20
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Andy Berger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Danny Zuko!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Russell Pearce and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Zuko. No joy for Berger on that attempt.

Berger decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Zuko is refusing to be controlled, as Berger sits in half guard.
Berger seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Berger seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Zuko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andy Berger.
Zuko moves out of range as Berger strikes.
Berger looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Berger shoots in and gets a takedown into Zuko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zuko is looking to stand up but Berger isn't so interested in that idea.
Berger trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Berger sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

We're going to have a standup here because Andy Berger wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Berger tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zuko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Berger somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Berger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berger is breathing heavily.
Berger shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zuko as he avoids it easily.
Berger fails to land with a series of punches.
Berger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zuko counters with a stiff right hand.
Andy Berger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berger rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zuko moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Zuko leaves Berger with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The crowd cheers as Zuko lands an impressive looking overhand right. Berger doesn't seem phased though.
Berger with a poor takedown
and Zuko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Berger takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zuko connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Berger's hands.
Berger fails with a takedown attempt.

Zuko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Berger, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berger wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Zuko has him pressed against the cage.

Zuko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Berger shoots in for a double leg but Zuko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Berger takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Berger misses with an uppercut. Zuko saw that one coming.
Zuko works the jab nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Berger fails with the takedown
and Zuko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andy Berger dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Zuko lands a high kick!
Berger shoots for a double leg takedown but Zuko sprawls well. He's pushed Berger's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zuko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Berger fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Berger. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berger shoots for a takedown but Zuko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zuko lands a glancing blow to the side of Berger's head.
Berger misses with a takedown attempt
and Zuko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Berger shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Zuko counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zuko lands with a slapping head kick.
Zuko jabs Berger right on the nose. Berger blinks but takes it well.
Berger shoots and misses
and Berger takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zuko might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Berger closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Berger shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zuko but Zuko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Berger with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zuko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Berger on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuko stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Berger's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Zuko connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Berger scrambles back to his feet.
Berger gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Zuko to counter with a crisp jab.
Berger ducks right into an uppercut from Zuko.
Berger takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Berger fails with the takedown.
Berger throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zuko's waist but Zuko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Berger off to one side.
Andy Berger is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berger gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Berger wants to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Jab, jab by Zuko - just one landing.
Berger tries to score a power double leg takedown but Zuko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Berger somewhat.
Berger tries to close the distance and clinch but Zuko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zuko thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Berger if he has to take too many more of those.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuko slaps away a takedown attempt from Berger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A lazy left from Zuko finds it's target.
Jab from Zuko.
Berger leaves Zuko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Berger looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Zuko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Berger.
Berger takes a jab right on the kisser.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Zuko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Zuko slaps away a takedown attempt from Berger, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Berger.
Danny Zuko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck for Berger with that takedown attempt.
Zuko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Berger sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berger will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Berger shoots for a takedown but Zuko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Berger. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Berger shoots in and bounces Zuko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Zuko seems keen to control Berger's posture.
Berger stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zuko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berger has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zuko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Berger.
Berger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Zuko pushes Berger off and gets back to his feet.
Nice defenses there by Berger.
Zuko looks to throw the jab but Berger is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zuko misses with a looping left.
Berger works over Zuko's head and body with a nice combination.
Berger tries for a takedown but Zuko circles away easily
letting Zuko counter with a right hand.

Zuko rushes Berger and presses him up against the cage.
Berger has Zuko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Zuko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Zuko working hard to break the clinch.
Zuko is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Zuko is trying to break the clinch but Berger is controlling him.
Berger is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Zuko pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zuko working hard to break the clinch.

Zuko breaks from the clinch.
Zuko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Berger looks for a takedown but Zuko sprawls well.
Berger shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Zuko as he jumps to the side.
Berger tries for a takedown but Zuko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Berger shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andy Berger.
I think Berger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andy Berger!