PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimmi Raikkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Valentin Berg has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Berg
vs
Raikkonen

170 cm
19
150 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valentin Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimmi Raikkonen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raikkonen clinches.

Raikkonen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Berg can't fight it off and eventually Raikkonen manages to take the fight to the floor. Berg looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Berg is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Raikkonen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Berg is pressed up against the cage. Raikkonen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Berg down to the mat. Berg avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Raikkonen gets the takedown into side control.
Raikkonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Berg. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Berg pushes Raikkonen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Raikkonen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Raikkonen is trying to ground and pound but Berg uses the momentary lack of control by Raikkonen to regain half guard.
Raikkonen throws a strike but Berg avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Raikkonen is working Berg over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Berg has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Berg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raikkonen's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg wanted to stand there but Raikkonen had control of the position.

Berg stands up and waves to Raikkonen to follow him.

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.
Berg throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Kimmi Raikkonen has been cut.
Berg throws a leg kick which misses Raikkonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Raikkonen tries to avoid it.
Raikkonen looks gassed!
Berg throws a leg kick which misses Raikkonen's front leg but catches the back leg as Raikkonen tries to avoid it.
Berg throws a head kick that misses.
Berg throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Berg ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Berg lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Raikkonen circles away quickly and effectively.
Berg thumps Raikkonen with a low kick.
Berg feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Raikkonen's calf.
Raikkonen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Berg scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Berg throws a sloppy head kick and Raikkonen moves out of range easily.
Berg is looking to slow Raikkonen down with leg kicks.
Berg throws a sloppy head kick and Raikkonen moves out of range easily.

Berg lands a big head kick that sends Raikkonen tumbling to the mat! Berg takes a step backwards and waves Raikkonen back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Raikkonen is rocked!
Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Berg, right into the meat.
Berg cracks Raikkonen with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Berg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Berg pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Raikkonen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Berg scoring well with a low kick there.
Berg bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Raikkonen takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Berg connects with a high kick.
Raikkonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Berg sprawls well. Berg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Raikkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Berg throws a quick inside leg kick.
Raikkonen blocks a head kick by Berg.
Raikkonen blocks a head kick by Berg.
Raikkonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Berg. Berg obviously looking to wear him down.
Berg throws a head kick that misses.
Raikkonen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Berg tries to avoid it but Raikkonen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Berg to the ground. Berg escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Valentin Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimmi Raikkonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Berg fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Raikkonen.
Berg cracks the inside of Raikkonen's front leg.
Berg lands a head kick!
Berg stuffs the takedown attempt from Raikkonen. Raikkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Berg goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Raikkonen shoots in for a takedown but Berg shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Berg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Berg lands a nice looking body kick.
Raikkonen fails to land the takedown.
Raikkonen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Berg lands a head kick!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Berg lands a high kick!
Berg displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Raikkonen.
Berg throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Berg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kimmi Raikkonen's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Raikkonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Berg manages to avoid it.
Berg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Raikkonen fails to land the takedown.
Berg thumps Raikkonen with a low kick.
Raikkonen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Berg moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Valentin Berg is winning the standup battle so far.
Berg with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Berg throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Berg jabs Raikkonen right on the nose. Raikkonen blinks but takes it well.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Nice body kick there by Berg.
Berg throws a head kick that misses.
Berg chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Berg listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Berg thows a body kick. Raikkonen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Berg looks to score with a jab to the body but Raikkonen is just out of range.
Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Raikkonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Berg lands with a kick to the temple. Raikkonen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.

Raikkonen closes the distance and clinches.

Berg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Berg lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Berg throws a front kick that sends Raikkonen stumbling back into the cage.
Raikkonen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Berg.
Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Berg throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Raikkonen blocks a leg kick.
Raikkonen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Valentin Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimmi Raikkonen.
Nice takedown defense from Berg. No joy for Raikkonen on that attempt.
Berg lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Valentin Berg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Berg lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Raikkonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Berg sprawls well. Berg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Raikkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Berg is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Raikkonen can do to turn this around?
Berg throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Berg scores with a nice head shot.
Berg looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Raikkonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Berg circles away.
Berg lands with a kick to the temple. Raikkonen shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Raikkonen lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Berg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Raikkonen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Raikkonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Raikkonen throwing shots but Berg is blocking nicely.
Raikkonen throws a strike but Berg avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Raikkonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raikkonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen throws a strike but Berg rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Raikkonen is working an open guard so Berg takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Raikkonen closes the distance and clinches up with Berg, looking for a takedown. Raikkonen pushes Berg against the cage but Berg circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Berg throws a sloppy head kick and Raikkonen moves out of range easily.
Berg throws a sloppy head kick and Raikkonen moves out of range easily.
Raikkonen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Berg.
A good leg kick by Berg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Raikkonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Berg can pounce on him.
Berg lands a head kick. Raikkonen smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A thudding body kick lands there by Berg!
Raikkonen walks forward, straight into a front kick from Berg.
Berg looks to land a body kick but Raikkonen moved away.
Raikkonen avoids the head kick by Berg.
Raikkonen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A nice inside leg kick there by Berg. That's going to slow Raikkonen down.
Berg throws a half hearted mid kick.
Raikkonen shoots for a takedown but Berg saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A chopping leg kick lands by Berg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Berg fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Raikkonen.
Berg scores with a leg kick.
Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Berg tries to land a front kick but Raikkonen steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valentin Berg dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kimmi Raikkonen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A jab from Berg misses.
Berg throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Raikkonen's head.
Raikkonen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Berg.
Berg lands a nice looking kick to the body. Raikkonen takes a step back to recover.
A punch lands to the side of Raikkonen 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Raikkonen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Berg can pounce on him.
Berg dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Raikkonen. That did some damage!
Berg scores with a spinning back kick!
Raikkonen takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Raikkonen dodges the punch combination from Berg.
A slapping leg kick lands for Berg.
Raikkonen shoots in for a double leg but Berg sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Berg throws a shot to the body.
Berg throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Nice takedown defense from Berg. No joy for Raikkonen on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Raikkonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Berg sprawls well. Berg wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Raikkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Valentin Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kimmi Raikkonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikkonen tries for a takedown but Berg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Raikkonen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Berg is fending him off so far but Raikkonen persists. Nope, Berg circles away and we're back to standing.
Berg scores with a nice right hand.
Raikkonen takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Berg lands a head shot.
Raikkonen throws a combination that misses
and Berg connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Berg throws the kick towards the body but Raikkonen avoids it.
Raikkonen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Berg throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Berg throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Berg throws a head kick but Raikkonen moves out of range.
Raikkonen shoots in for a takedown but Berg shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Berg misses with the combination.
Raikkonen has a takedown stuffed.
Berg lets loose with a powerful body kick. Raikkonen will feel that in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berg pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Raikkonen tries for a takedown but Berg circles away easily
and Berg counters with a good low kick that Raikkonen was not able to check.
A solid leg kick lands there for Berg.
Berg tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters circling a little - Berg finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Berg misses with the combination.
Raikkonen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Berg delivers a nice body kick.
Berg throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Raikkonen shoots in and drives through. Berg sprawls well.
Berg scores with a three punch combo!
Raikkonen defending well as Berg loads up on a big left hand.

Raikkonen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Berg to the mat! Berg manages to get full guard.
Berg on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Berg tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Berg bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Raikkonen's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raikkonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Raikkonen wants to control the position but Berg says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Berg throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Raikkonen wants to control but Berg is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Berg seems content to control.
Raikkonen is in trouble now - Berg has advanced to mount!
Berg controlling the position easily from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valentin Berg showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Berg, 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valentin Berg!