PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Marious La De Hoya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Berdnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marious La De Hoya could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Alexei Berdnikov's chin.

La De Hoya
vs
Berdnikov

169 cm
20
139 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

168 cm
26
145 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Marious La De Hoya!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Berdnikov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! La De Hoya slams his shin into Berdnikov's torso.
Berdnikov throws a leg kick that is checked
and La De Hoya counters with a straight right hand.
Berdnikov swings for the body but La De Hoya moves out of range.
It looked like La De Hoya was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Berdnikov.

La De Hoya moves into the clinch successfully.
Berdnikov takes a shot to the head.
La De Hoya has Berdnikov pressed against the cage.
Berdnikov is trying to drag La De Hoya to the mat but La De Hoya just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
La De Hoya stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berdnikov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
La De Hoya lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La De Hoya tries to throw a body punch but Berdnikov avoids it by throwing La De Hoya back against the cage.
La De Hoya misses with a shot to the kidneys.
La De Hoya content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Berdnikov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
La De Hoya throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Berdnikovs head.
La De Hoya lands with a short shot to the head.
La De Hoya tries to throw a body punch but Berdnikov avoids it by throwing La De Hoya back against the cage.
La De Hoya is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for La De Hoya.
La De Hoya misses with a hook from the clinch.

Berdnikov turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Berdnikov manages to end up in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berdnikov throws a strike aimed at the side of La De Hoya's head but La De Hoya avoids it well.
La De Hoya's coaches at mickeyharts the greatest have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
La De Hoya keeping his opponent close.
La De Hoya is trying to control Berdnikov's posture but Berdnikov avoids it.
Berdnikov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

Berdnikov is trying to get an arm triangle but La De Hoya is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
La De Hoya tries to buck Berdnikov off but Berdnikov is having none of it.
Berdnikov is looking to take a break and control but La De Hoya is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Berdnikov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
La De Hoya manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
La De Hoya is looking to control Berdnikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can La De Hoya avoid being mounted?
Berdnikov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Berdnikov trying to pass the guard but La De Hoya defending well.
Berdnikov is keen to just control but La De Hoya is a slippery customer.

Berdnikov is looking for a kimura but La De Hoya is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Berdnikov to get the leverage.
La De Hoya knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Berdnikov on the ground.
Berdnikov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
La De Hoya is looking for a sweep. Berdnikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
La De Hoya on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if La De Hoya tries to get out of the position.
Still in half guard, Berdnikov seems content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Berdnikov drops his hands momentarily and La De Hoya takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
La De Hoya lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marious La De Hoya dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Berdnikov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Berdnikov is rocked!

La De Hoya closes the distance and clinches.
La De Hoya has a couple of punches blocked by Berdnikov.
La De Hoya misses with a hook from the clinch.
Berdnikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
La De Hoya lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Berdnikov.
La De Hoya pressing his opponent against the cage.
A shot in the inside from La De Hoya.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La De Hoya lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from La De Hoya fails to land.
La De Hoya is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
La De Hoya pushes Berdnikov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Berdnikov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
La De Hoya tries to throw a body punch but Berdnikov avoids it by throwing La De Hoya back against the cage.
La De Hoya tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
La De Hoya doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Berdnikov goes for a takedown attempt but La De Hoya pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Berdnikov misses with a hook.
Berdnikov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
La De Hoya's corner calls for a 1-2. La De Hoya obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
La De Hoya scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
La De Hoya checks a low kick from Berdnikov.
Alexei Berdnikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

La De Hoya gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Berdnikov jumps guard but La De Hoya stands there with Berdnikov around his waist. Berdnikov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
La De Hoya can't find room to land a body shot as Berdnikov controls the action.
La De Hoya tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Berdnikov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Marious La De Hoya has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexei Berdnikov.
Berdnikov prevents a body shot from La De Hoya.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Berdnikov.
Berdnikov is pushing La De Hoya up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Berdnikov takes a shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berdnikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
La De Hoya lands an uppercut.
La De Hoya throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Berdnikovs head.
La De Hoya working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
La De Hoya misses with a body punch.
Berdnikov working aggressively here.
Berdnikov being controlled against the cage.
La De Hoya misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice left hand lands by La De Hoya.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
La De Hoya stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
La De Hoya misses with a body punch.
Berdnikov working aggressively here.
La De Hoya lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short left from La De Hoya.
Berdnikov is still on wobbly legs! Can La De Hoya finish him?
Berdnikov gets through La De Hoya's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Berdnikov seems to have recovered his senses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A short left from La De Hoya.
A right hand to the body from La De Hoya.
Berdnikov is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
La De Hoya lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from La De Hoya.
Berdnikov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marious La De Hoya dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Berdnikov fails with the takedown.
La De Hoya misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
La De Hoya is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berdnikov can do to turn this around?
Berdnikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Berdnikov.
La De Hoya looks to score with a jab to the body but Berdnikov is just out of range.
La De Hoya connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
La De Hoya scores with a punch to the head.
Marious La De Hoya seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berdnikov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. La De Hoya sees it coming and avoids it easily.
La De Hoya seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
La De Hoya cracks Berdnikov with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Berdnikov tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but La De Hoya pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Berdnikov is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marious La De Hoya!
Marious La De Hoya retains his featherweight title!
Marious La De Hoya seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.