PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Strategos Themistokles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Bernside (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Bernside has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Themistokles
vs
Bernside

187 cm
28
210 lbs
16 - 9 - 0

186 cm
30
213 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Strategos Themistokles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, David Bernside!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Columbo Gatti and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernside swings widly with a right hand
and Themistokles counters with a three punch combo that has Bernside backing up. Bernside nods at Themistokles to acknowledge the strikes.
Themistokles circles away from the clinch attempt.
Themistokles throws a big counter combination but Bernside scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bernside misses with an uppercut
and Themistokles counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bernside, right into the meat.
Bernside shoots in but Themistokles avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bernside throws a looping overhand right but Themistokles ducks down to avoid it.
David Bernside seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bernside bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Themistokles tries to improve position but can't.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bernside tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Themistokles is looking to regain half guard here but Bernside keeps moving and retains side control.
Bernside wants to lay and pray for a moment but Themistokles keeps working.
Themistokles is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Bernside is looking to take a break and control but Themistokles is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bernside in side control, throwing shots but Themistokles defends.
Themistokles takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bernside lands a few punches from side control.
Themistokles is looking to regain half guard here but Bernside keeps moving and retains side control.
Bernside is chipping away with strikes.
Bernside scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Themistokles to see if he's OK.
Bernside has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bernside controlling from side mount.
Bernside creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bernside is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Themistokles is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Themistokles is trying to improve his position.
Themistokles is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Themistokles moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Themistokles manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bernside manages to get himself to full guard.

Bernside has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Themistokles has passed into side control.
Themistokles scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles working the head and body with strikes.
Bernside manages to get back to half guard.
Themistokles landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bernside is trying to get back to full guard.
Themistokles looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Bernside with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bernside is pressing down on Themistokles's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bernside trying to control the position here.
Themistokles missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Themistokles wants to control from the top but Bernside keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but David Bernside will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bernside closes this distance looking for a takedown but Themistokles circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Themistokles as Bernside shoots in.
Themistokles seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Bernside connects with a body shot that sends Themistokles's belly button to the back.
Bernside thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bernside goes for a double leg but Themistokles avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Themistokles continues to drive forward.
Themistokles is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bernside.
Strategos Themistokles has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Bernside.
Bernside lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Themistokles moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernside swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Themistokles misses its target.
Strategos Themistokles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Themistokles wants to clinch up but Bernside keeps it at a distance.
Themistokles walks into a straight right hand from Bernside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernside misses with a right hand
and Themistokles cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Bernside closes the distance and clinches.
Bernside misses with a hook to the ribs.
Themistokles misses with the head strike.
Bernside works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bernside trying to stall but Themistokles improves his position.
A head punch on the inside from Themistokles fails to land.
Bernside struggles to land a body shot inside as Themistokles controls his hands.
Themistokles lands with a left to the head.
Themistokles throws a punch but it's blocked by Bernside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Themistokles.
A head punch on the inside from Themistokles fails to land.
Themistokles blocks an uppercut.
Themistokles lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bernside throws a punch but it's blocked by Themistokles.
Bernside is looking for a takedown.
Bernside doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bernside blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernside blocks an uppercut.
Bernside doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bernside lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Themistokles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bernside is working Themistokles over against the cage.
Good body shot from Bernside.
Bernside blocking some punches.
Bernside misses with a punch to the body.
Bernside lands a right hand that snaps the head of Themistokles backwards.
Themistokles tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bernside misses with a short punch on the inside.
Themistokles stops a takedown attempt from Bernside.
Bernside has Themistokles pressed against the cage.
Themistokles tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Themistokles.
Themistokles misses with some punches.
Bernside lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bernside working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bernside.
Themistokles throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bernsides head.

Bernside gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Bernside showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bernside pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Themistokles is keeping the position for now.
Themistokles manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bernside manages to get himself to full guard.

Themistokles throws an elbow that misses. Bernside uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Themistokles's guard. Nice move by Bernside!

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bernside slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Themistokles.
Themistokles is refusing to be controlled, as Bernside sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles wants to improve his position but Bernside is controlling well.
Themistokles is working hard here to advance position.
Bernside lands with a punch from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Themistokles manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Themistokles is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bernside looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bernside wants to improve his position but Themistokles is controlling well.
Bernside is staying active underneath Themistokles, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Bernside showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Bernside throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Themistokles stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A big left from Bernside misses.

Bernside moves into the clinch.
Bernside misses with some punches.
David Bernside seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Themistokles blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bernside misses with a short punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Bernside scores with a nice short uppercut.
Bernside blocks an uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Bernside.
Themistokles working aggressively here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Themistokles.
Themistokles fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bernside doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A left hand lands to the body for Themistokles.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Themistokles.
Themistokles lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

It looks like David Bernside has been cut.
Bernside struggles to land a body shot inside as Themistokles controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Themistokles is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bernside prevents a body shot from Themistokles.
Themistokles's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Themistokles working aggressively here.
Bernside misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bernside has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Themistokles avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Themistokles lands a hook that snaps the head of Bernside backwards.
Themistokles has a couple of punches blocked by Bernside.
Bernside misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bernside misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bernside lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bernside can't find room to land a body shot as Themistokles controls the action.
Themistokles swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Themistokles lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Themistokles blocks a body shot from Bernside.
Themistokles scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bernside is looking to control Themistokles's arms but Themistokles gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bernside has his back to the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Themistokles.
Bernside prevents a body shot from Themistokles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernside blocking some punches.
Themistokles lands with a right to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Themistokles gets through Bernside's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Themistokles lands with a light punch inside.
Themistokles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bernside's elbow.

Bernside gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Themistokles slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bernside preventing the sweep.
Themistokles bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bernside's guard.

David Bernside has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bernside is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Themistokles is aware though and is defending well.
Bernside tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bernside is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Themistokles accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bernside avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bernside working a defensive guard here.
Themistokles connects with a couple of short punches.
Themistokles trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bernside looking for a sweep. Not yet Bernside, not yet.
Bernside preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bernside lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bernside trying to control the position from guard on top but Themistokles is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Themistokles looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bernside puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Themistokles avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bernside.
Themistokles is staying active underneath Bernside, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Bernside seems to be working for a kimura but Themistokles defends the submission attempt.
Themistokles trying to control from the bottom.
Strategos Themistokles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bernside sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Themistokles defending well though.
Themistokles wants to get back to full guard.
Themistokles trying to get back to full guard but Bernside takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Bernside lands a heavy elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David Bernside.
I've got Bernside winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Bernside!
David Bernside spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.
The defeated Strategos Themistokles had this to say: 'Ill be back'.