PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Berdo Haaasik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alvarez has chosen The Enemy by Godsmack as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Haaasik
vs
Alvarez

183 cm
25
185 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
180 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Berdo Haaasik!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Josh Alvarez!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, David Schapiro and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Haaasik fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Alvarez avoids it really well and circles away.

Alvarez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Haaasik to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Alvarez keeping full guard, as Haaasik tries to pass.

Haaasik postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Alvarez is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Haaasik, into his guard.
Haaasik preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Haaasik is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Haaasik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Alvarez's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Alvarez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Haaasik has his foot on Alvarez's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Alvarez works his way back into a safe position though.
Alvarez must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Alvarez trying to control but Haaasik is working from the bottom.
Haaasik keeping full guard, as Alvarez tries to pass.

Haaasik is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Alvarez defends well.
Haaasik is breathing heavily.
Alvarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Haaasik is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Alvarez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Haaasik. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws and elbow that misses. Haaasik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Alvarez's guard. Nice move by Haaasik!
Haaasik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Alvarez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Alvarez is on top in guard.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Haaasik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Alvarez looking to pass the guard.
Alvarez works over Haaasik with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Haaasik keeps moving.
Haaasik controlling Alvarez's posture.

Haaasik looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Alvarez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Alvarez wants to control from the top but Haaasik keeps moving.
Alvarez with a nice head shot there.
Alvarez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four 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.

Haaasik is looking for a triangle but Alvarez pushes his legs off easily.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Haaasik is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Haaasik can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Alvarez controls the pace.
Haaasik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Haaasik pulls Alvarez in to control the position.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Alvarez keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Haaasik's head.

Haaasik working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alvarez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Berdo Haaasik dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Alvarez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Haaasik avoids it really well and circles away.

Haaasik moves into range and clinches up with Alvarez.

Haaasik jumps guard.

Alvarez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Haaasik has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Alvarez has managed to get both his arms back between Haaasik's legs - danger averted.
Alvarez postures up in Haaasik's guard and throws a big left but Haaasik blocks it.
Alvarez looking to sit in guard and control but Haaasik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Haaasik drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Alvarez dives on top into guard.
Alvarez postures up in Haaasik's guard and throws a big left but Haaasik blocks it.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Haaasik has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez trying to control the position from guard on top but Haaasik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Haaasik is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Haaasik working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Alvarez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Alvarez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Alvarez cracks Haaasik with a solid left hand.
Alvarez trying to control but Haaasik is working from the bottom.
Alvarez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Alvarez throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Alvarez postures up and lands a big shot to Haaasik's brow.

Haaasik looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Haaasik is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Alvarez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Haaasik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Haaasik has momentary wrist control but Alvarez slips an elbow through the middle.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Haaasik has wrist control.
Alvarez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Haaasik is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Alvarez has his hands clasped together but Haaasik extends an breaks Alvarez's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Haaasik.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Berdo Haaasik!
Berdo Haaasik retains his middleweight title!