PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Turk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jauque Berkeley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jauque Berkeley told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Turk
vs
Berkeley

183 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Chris Turk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jauque Berkeley !
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Turk shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Berkeley misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Berkeley won't allow Turk to pass to mount.
Berkeley regains full guard. Nicely done.
Turk wants to control from the top but Berkeley keeps moving.
Turk knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Berkeley on the ground.
Berkeley not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Turk connects with a couple of short punches.
Turk throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Berkeley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Berkeley keeping full guard, as Turk tries to pass.
Turk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Turk throws and elbow that misses. Berkeley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Turk's guard. Nice move by Berkeley !
Turk is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turk keeping moving, preventing Berkeley from controlling successfully.
Berkeley passes Turk's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Berkeley looks gassed!
Turk wants to improve his position but Berkeley is controlling well.
Turk is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Turk throws a series of punches but Berkeley moves out of range.
Turk throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Berkeley throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Turk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Turk scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Turk takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Berkeley trying to control from the bottom.
Turk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berkeley keeps working.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Turk lands a nice short elbow.
Berkeley makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Berkeley .
Turk wants to control from the top but Berkeley keeps moving.
Turk is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Berkeley looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berkeley looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Turk wants to pass the guard but Berkeley is keeping the position.
Berkeley is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Berkeley takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Berkeley on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
A left and a right from Turk both land. Nice combination.
A punch combination from Turk misses.
Berkeley fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Berkeley loads up on a big right hand but Turk slips the punch.
The crowd cheers as Turk lands an impressive looking overhand right. Berkeley doesn't seem phased though.
Berkeley misses with a takedown
and Turk counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Berkeley takes a jab right on the kisser.
Berkeley avoids a punch combination nicely.
Turk misses with a double jab
and Berkeley counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Berkeley decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Turk wants to get back to full guard but Berkeley has passed into side control.
Berkeley lands with some strikes.
Turk working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Turk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Berkeley counters with a big head kick but Turk shrugs it off.
Turk throws a left and a right that both miss

and Berkeley holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Turk wants to get back to striking at distance but Berkeley won't allow it.
Turk can't break the clinch.
Turk is looking to break free of the clinch but Berkeley has double underhooks.
Turk managing to block the knees to the body from Berkeley .
Turk wants to break free but Berkeley has control.
A short right from Berkeley .
Turk is trying to break free.
Berkeley keeps control of Turk as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Berkeley tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Turk just stands there and leans against the cage.
Turk wants to get back to striking at distance but Berkeley won't allow it.

Berkeley pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Turk lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Turk throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Berkeley .
Turk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Berkeley gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Berkeley bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Turk's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turk working a defensive guard here.
Turk keeping moving, preventing Berkeley from controlling successfully.
Turk trying to keep a closed guard but Berkeley is proving a slippery customer.
Turk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Berkeley .
Turk keeping moving, preventing Berkeley from controlling successfully.
Berkeley missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Turk on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Turk tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Turk throws a right hand that Berkeley ducks under and follows up with a left that Berkeley also avoids with ease.
Berkeley shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Turk as he jumps to the side.
Berkeley takes one to the chin there.
Berkeley doesn't manage to clinch there - Turk circles away.
Turk misses with a two punch combination.
Turk uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Berkeley has time to react.
Chris Turk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Berkeley feints and as Turk raises his hands in defense, Berkeley changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Berkeley wants to control from the top but Turk keeps moving.
Berkeley stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Turk swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berkeley lands a couple of digs.
Berkeley trying to control but Turk is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turk wants to sweep here but Berkeley controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Turk is looking to sweep but instead, Berkeley has passed into half guard.

Berkeley is looking for a kimura but Turk is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Berkeley to get the leverage.
Berkeley seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Turk does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Turk scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Berkeley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Turk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Turk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Turk does no damage.
The fight stays on the outside here - Berkeley looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Turk will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four 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.
Turk misses with a combination
and Berkeley counters with a nice body kick.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Turk.
Berkeley throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Berkeley is looking to regain half guard here but Turk keeps moving and retains side control.
Berkeley manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Turk wants to get back to full guard.
Turk misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Turk tries to roll over but Berkeley keeps him under control.
Turk is staying active underneath Berkeley , 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.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Turk will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Berkeley looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Turk scores with a jab.
Turk falls off balance throwing a combination
and Berkeley counters with a head kick. That will keep Turk thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
A right-left combo lands from Turk.
Turk lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Berkeley backs up against the cage.
Turk misses with a jab, cross combination.

Turk looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Berkeley !
A nice elbow there by Turk.
Berkeley is wriggling around trying to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Turk cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Berkeley is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkeley wants to hold on but Turk pushes him away.
Turk content just to control the position here.
Turk wants to control the pace but Berkeley is squirming around nicely.
Turk breaks from Berkeley 's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Turk looking to control but Berkeley is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Turk scoring with strikes but Berkeley is staying in there.
Berkeley tries to lock up and control but Turk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Berkeley wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Berkeley bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Turk keeping moving, preventing Berkeley from controlling successfully.
Turk looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Berkeley has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Turk is proving hard to escape from.
Chris Turk overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Berkeley trying to control but Turk is working from the bottom.
Turk wants to sweep but no luck.
Berkeley wants to control from the top but Turk keeps moving.
Berkeley is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Turk looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Berkeley puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkeley wants to stand up but Turk is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Berkeley shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Turk counters with a stiff right hand.
Berkeley thuds his shin into the meat of Turk's side.
Berkeley tries to bum rush Turk with a series of wild strikes but Turk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Turk swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Berkeley counters with a single leg into guard. Turk didn't expect that.
Turk is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Berkeley trying to control but Turk is working from the bottom.
Turk wants to hit a switch here but Berkeley passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Turk there!
Turk is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkeley lands a nice shot to the head.
Berkeley tries to control but Turk wriggling away.
Berkeley cracks Turk with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Turk really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Berkeley wants to control the pace but Turk is squirming around nicely.
Turk keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

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 Chris Turk.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Turk, 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Turk!