PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Berzins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Drago Maximov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Berzins comes to the cage accompanied by Takedown - Blue Stahli. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Berzins
vs
Maximov

167 cm
27
218 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

182 cm
21
211 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Michael Berzins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Drago Maximov!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Wagner Zegers and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maximov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maximov tries to clinch up.
Maximov moves into range and connects with a jab.

Maximov closes the distance and pushes Berzins back into the cage.
Berzins tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Maximov smiles and moves away.
Berzins swats away the attempt to clinch by Maximov.
Berzins doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Maximov counters with a solid body kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Maximov.
Michael Berzins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maximov lands with a nice body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maximov lands with a kick to the temple. Berzins shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Michael Berzins has been cut.

Berzins shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maximov being controlled here, momentarily.
Maximov wants to stand up but Berzins is controlling him.
Berzins might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzins wants to pass the guard but Maximov is keeping the position.

Berzins drops back looking for a leg! Maximov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Maximov manages to kick Berzins off! Berzins jumps back into Maximov's guard.
Maximov wants to stand up but Berzins is controlling him.
Maximov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Berzins. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Berzins stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Maximov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Berzins advances to half guard.
Maximov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Maximov tries to kick Berzins off but Berzins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Berzins is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Berzins looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berzins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Maximov keeps working.
Maximov tries to kick Berzins off but Berzins keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Berzins is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Maximov is looking to escape.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Berzins content to control rather than advance.
Berzins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maximov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Berzins is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Maximov defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berzins is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Maximov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Maximov wants to get back to his feet.
Maximov won't allow Berzins to pass to mount.
Berzins prevents Maximov from standing back up.
Berzins trying to control the pace.

Berzins is looking for a kimura here.

Berzins is looking for a kimura but Maximov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Berzins to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berzins is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Maximov is trying to stand up here but Berzins is controlling him well.
Maximov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Berzins works his way into full mount!
Berzins content just to control the position here.

Berzins is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Maximov is surviving well by controlling Berzins's body position as best he can.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Maximov is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Berzins has control of Maximov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Maximov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Drago Maximov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Michael Berzins's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Maximov tries to close the distance and clinch but Berzins swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Maximov drives through and clinches with Berzins against the cage.
Maximov looking to throw knees to the head but Berzins is blocking nicely.
Maximov being controlled against the cage.
Maximov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Berzins can't break the clinch.
Berzins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Maximov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Maximov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Berzins paws at him with a jab and circles away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Maximov enables Berzins to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Maximov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Maximov wants to stand up but Berzins is controlling him.
Berzins's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzins pushes down on Maximov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Maximov wants to get back to his feet.
Berzins trying to control the pace.
Berzins is keen to just control but Maximov is a slippery customer.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Maximov looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berzins trying to pass the guard but Maximov defending well.
Maximov is trying to stand.
Berzins wants to pass the guard but Maximov is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Maximov is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Maximov darts in and clinches Berzins up against the cage.
Maximov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Berzins's efforts to push away.

Berzins has picked Maximov up - he's going for a ride! Berzins dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maximov is trying to stand back up but Berzins is controlling him
Maximov is breathing heavily.
Berzins wants to take a breather but Maximov is having none of it.
Maximov pushes Berzins off looking to stand but Berzins dives back in and keeps control.
Berzins tries to pass the half guard into mount. Maximov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Berzins is looking to take a break and control but Maximov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Berzins seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Maximov is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Michael Berzins!
In his post fight interview, Michael Berzins started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.