PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Halpert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Berry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Berry is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Tony Allen - Take Me Higher. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Halpert
vs
Berry

190 cm
18
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
23
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jim Halpert!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Phil Berry!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Halpert tries for a takedown but Berry sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Halpert closes this distance looking for a takedown but Berry circles away.

Berry shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Berry not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Halpert is trying to control but can't.

Halpert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Halpert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berry seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Halpert does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Halpert trying to control from the bottom.
Berry is taking a breather. Halpert says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

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

Berry scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halpert holds on to Berry's head and controls the position momentarily.
Berry trying to control the action but Halpert is working from the bottom.

Berry is trying to get an arm triangle but Halpert is defending well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Halpert tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Berry easily slips into full mount!
Berry landing strikes from the mount and Halpert is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Halpert is trying to escape the mount.
Berry lands with some strikes.
Berry putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Berry raining down shots from the mount!
Berry prevents Halpert from getting the reversal.
Berry is landing with some decent strikes but Halpert is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Halpert wants to control but Berry is having none of it.
Halpert sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Berry looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Halpert with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Halpert trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Halpert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berry looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Halpert trying to control but Berry postures up.

Berry seems to be looking for submissions.
Berry is trying to control. Halpert wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Halpert actively working from the bottom here.
Halpert trying to control but Berry postures up.

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

Berry looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Halpert looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Berry has picked Halpert up and slammed him! Halpert can't keep hold of the triangle and Berry manages to pass to side control!
Halpert is breathing heavily.
Berry working the ground and pound from side control.
Halpert tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Berry wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Berry in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Berry working the head with strikes.
Berry connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Halpert some visible discomfort.
Berry creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Berry working the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Berry is looking to take a break and control but Halpert is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Halpert's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Berry dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Halpert has his takedown stuffed

and Berry counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Halpert has his foot on Berry's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berry works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Halpert working for a triangle but Berry defends it easily.
Berry postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Berry is stalling in the full guard.
Berry trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Berry sitting in guard here, content to control.

Halpert working for a triangle but Berry defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berry tries to stand but Halpert is controlling from the bottom.
Phil Berry has got the better of the ground game so far.
Berry trying to control but Halpert is working from the bottom.

Halpert has an active guard here but Berry has managed to pass into half guard.
Berry thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Halpert looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Berry connects with a nice short shot to Halpert's temple.

That's two 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.
Berry wants to take a breather but Halpert is having none of it.

Berry decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Berry scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Berry is thwarting Halpert's attempts to control the position.
Berry is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Berry is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Halpert is trying to maintain the position but Berry is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halpert is pressing down on Berry's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Halpert pulls Berry in close to prevent any damage.
Halpert looking to control.

Berry avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Halpert will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Halpert throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Berry is pushing down on Halpert's leg trying to pass to half guard. Halpert is fighting to maintain full guard but Berry has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four 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.
Berry performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Halpert is trying to control but can't.
Halpert tries to get to full guard but Berry has control of the leg.
Berry wants to control but Halpert is keeping him busy.

Halpert actively working from the bottom here.

Berry 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.
Berry keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Berry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Berry clinches up against the cage.

Berry escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Halpert doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Berry counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Berry throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Halpert works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Berry stands and steps away. Halpert gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Halpert gets caught flat footed, as Berry shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Halpert pulls Berry in close to prevent any damage.

Halpert is looking for a triangle here but Berry uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Halpert is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Check out the look on Berry's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berry is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Halpert's shoulder. That is not cool.

Berry is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Halpert knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Halpert tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Berry tries to move to mount but Halpert blocks the move with his legs.
Berry is looking to take a break and control but Halpert is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Berry lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Halpert is trying to get back to half guard.
Halpert struggling a bit here.
Halpert manages to get back to half guard.
Halpert wants to control but Berry is keeping busy.
Berry thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Halpert wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berry tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Berry closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Halpert tries to pull guard but Berry won't allow it.

Berry turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Berry manages to end up in side control.
Halpert manages to work his way to half guard, despite Berry's best efforts.
Halpert is controlling Berry's trapped leg to prevent Berry from advancing to side control.
Halpert trying to control here.

Halpert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Halpert is concentrating on defense, preventing Berry from advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halpert wants to improve his position but Berry is controlling well.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Halpert trying to control here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Berry in particular looking to stall.
Halpert has hold of Berry's hands but Berry slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Berry trying to control from half guard but Halpert is working away.
Berry throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Halpert is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Berry is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Berry closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Halpert to the mat! Halpert manages to get full guard.
Berry tries to free his leg and advance position but Halpert is retaining full guard.

Halpert is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Halpert working for submissions but it's allowed Berry to get to half guard.
Berry is nestled in close to Halpert, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Halpert is looking to improve his position.
Berry perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Berry seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Halpert does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Berry tries to stand but can't do so whilst Halpert controls his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berry looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Halpert trying to control from the bottom.

Halpert looking for submissions off his back.
Berry prevents Halpert from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Berry clinches.
Berry lands an elbow that stopped Halpert in his tracks for a moment.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Halpert.
Berry drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Halpert jumps guard but Berry stands there with Halpert around his waist. Halpert gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Berry manages to break the clinch.
Berry has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Halpert misses with a takedown

and Berry counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Halpert looking for submissions off his back.
Berry wants to control but Halpert is keeping him busy.
Berry scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Halpert is controlling Berry's trapped leg to prevent Berry from advancing to side control.
Berry looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halpert wants to control but Berry is keeping busy.
Berry takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Halpert looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berry wants to get back to his feet.

Berry is working for a kimura but Halpert is defending it quite comfortably.
Halpert is looking to control Berry's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Halpert avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Berry is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Halpert has managed to free his arm - good work.
Halpert trying to hold on to Berry's head to control him but Berry postures up.

Berry stands up and beckons Halpert to join him on the feet.
Berry moves in looking to clinch but Halpert pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Berry dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Berry clinches.

Halpert pulls guard effortlessly.
Berry trying to control the position from guard on top but Halpert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Halpert looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Berry pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Halpert is keeping the position for now.
Halpert working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Halpert has his feet on Berry's thighs here. He's pushed Berry off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Berry screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:02 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jim Halpert!
Jim Halpert retains his light heavyweight title!