PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Barry Hamasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Claude Van Varen Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Hamasaki
vs
Claude Van Varen Berg

180 cm
25
195 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

177 cm
23
196 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Barry Hamasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jean Claude Van Varen Berg!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hamasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Van Varen Berg fakes the leg kick and cracks Hamasaki in the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Van Varen Berg.
Hamasaki lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Hamasaki misses with a lunging right hand
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice body kick.
Hamasaki swings widly with a right hand
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice kick to the body.
Hamasaki swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Van Varen Berg.
Van Varen Berg misses with a low kick.
A low kick from Hamasaki is predictable there
and Van Varen Berg counters with an inside leg kick.
Van Varen Berg fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Varen Berg tries a head kick but it misses.
Van Varen Berg walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A cross from Hamasaki lands.
Van Varen Berg lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Hamasaki is breathing heavily.
Hamasaki misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Van Varen Berg counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Van Varen Berg throws a body punch but Hamasaki moves out of range.
Hamasaki swings widly with a right hand
and Van Varen Berg counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamasaki avoids the head kick by Van Varen Berg.
Hamasaki throws a leg kick that is checked
and Van Varen Berg finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Van Varen Berg dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Van Varen Berg throws a head kick that misses.
Hamasaki throws a leg kick
and Van Varen Berg finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hamasaki has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Hamasaki there as he acknowledges the shot.
Van Varen Berg lands with a thumping leg kick.
Van Varen Berg throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Van Varen Berg lands a nice looking body shot.
Van Varen Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Varen Berg connects with a right hand. Hamasaki shakes it off.
Hamasaki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Van Varen Berg to counter with a crisp jab.
Van Varen Berg lands a head kick!

It looks like Barry Hamasaki has been cut.
Barry Hamasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Varen Berg fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Varen Berg is looking to clinch.
Van Varen Berg scores with a head kick. Hamasaki tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Hamasaki takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Hamasaki will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Van Varen Berg thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hamasaki if he has to take too many more of those.
Van Varen Berg looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Varen Berg fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hamasaki looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Van Varen Berg throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Varen Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Varen Berg is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Hamasaki rather than just go for the knockout.
Hamasaki throws a leg kick that is checked
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice body kick.
A good leg kick by Van Varen Berg.

Van Varen Berg drives through and clinches with Hamasaki against the cage.
Van Varen Berg tries to land a knee to the head but Hamasaki blocks with his arms.
Van Varen Berg pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Van Varen Berg lands a right hand that snaps the head of Hamasaki backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Varen Berg misses with a knee strike.
Van Varen Berg using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Hamasaki has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Van Varen Berg lands a shoulder strike.
Hamasaki lands with a light punch inside.
Van Varen Berg connects with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Van Varen Berg.
Van Varen Berg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Van Varen Berg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Varen Berg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hamasaki takes a knee right on the jaw!
Van Varen Berg lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hamasaki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Van Varen Berg throws a knee to the head but misses.
Van Varen Berg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Van Varen Berg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Hamasaki.
Hamasaki scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hamasaki.

Hamasaki breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hamasaki tries to bum rush Van Varen Berg with a series of wild strikes but Van Varen Berg uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Van Varen Berg lands a nice hook to Hamasaki's body. Hamasaki takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Van Varen Berg throws a lazy head kick
and Hamasaki counters with a left and a right that stings Van Varen Berg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hamasaki connects with a leg kick. Van Varen Berg looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Van Varen Berg throws a leg kick but Hamasaki checks it.
Hamasaki fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Van Varen Berg has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Hamasaki misses with a hook.
Hamasaki feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Van Varen Berg's calf.
A head kick by Hamasaki misses
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hamasaki thinking.
Hamasaki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Van Varen Berg tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hamasaki swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Van Varen Berg pushes Hamasaki up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Varen Berg blocks an uppercut.
Van Varen Berg pushes off an throws an elbow but Hamasaki leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A short right from Hamasaki on the inside.
Hamasaki lands with a left to the head.
Hamasaki presses Van Varen Berg against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Claude Van Varen Berg dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Barry Hamasaki's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hamasaki throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Hamasaki fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Hamasaki lands a nice looking body shot.
Hamasaki works Van Varen Berg's body with a nice hook.
Van Varen Berg checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Hamasaki misses with a leg kick.
Van Varen Berg has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Varen Berg staying out of range there.
Hamasaki throws a head kick that misses
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hamasaki's knee momentarily.
Hamasaki misses with a low kick.
Hamasaki keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van Varen Berg. Hamasaki shrugs it off though.
Hamasaki throws an overhand right that lands on Van Varen Berg's shoulder, as Van Varen Berg tries to avoid the shot.
Hamasaki fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Van Varen Berg looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Varen Berg lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hamasaki tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Varen Berg was well out of range. Poor timing from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki throws a poor cross that misses
and Van Varen Berg makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Hamasaki really felt that one!
Hamasaki avoids the head kick by Van Varen Berg.

Van Varen Berg takes the fight into the clinch.
Van Varen Berg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hamasaki lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hamasaki works on Van Varen Berg's body with a couple of short punches.
Van Varen Berg connects with a knee to the head.
Van Varen Berg is breathing heavily.
Van Varen Berg tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Van Varen Berg.
Van Varen Berg throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Hamasaki lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hamasaki lands a body punch in the clinch.
Hamasaki lands with a left to the head.
Van Varen Berg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Van Varen Berg misses with a knee strike.

Hamasaki breaks the clinch.
Hamasaki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki lands a leg kick that knocks Van Varen Berg off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Varen Berg moves out of range as Hamasaki strikes.
Hamasaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hamasaki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Van Varen Berg on the side of the head.
Van Varen Berg ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Hamasaki moves away.
Hamasaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hamasaki misses with a straight left.
Barry Hamasaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hamasaki looks to throw a body kick
and Van Varen Berg counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Hamasaki moves out of range of the leg kick from Van Varen Berg.
Hamasaki lands with a hook. Van Varen Berg tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Van Varen Berg takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hamasaki throws a head kick that misses
and Van Varen Berg counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Hamasaki is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Van Varen Berg avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Varen Berg tries a head kick but it misses.
A low kick from Van Varen Berg misses
and Hamasaki counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Hamasaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Van Varen Berg counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Jean Claude Van Varen Berg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hamasaki throws a head kick that misses
and Van Varen Berg counters with a body kick.
Hamasaki misses with a double jab.
Hamasaki jabs at Van Varen Berg's body.
A shot to the liver by Hamasaki. Beautiful body shot.
Hamasaki throws a sloppy head kick
and Van Varen Berg counters with a big head kick but Hamasaki shrugs it off.
Hamasaki checks the leg kick.
Hamasaki throws a leg kick
and Van Varen Berg counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Hamasaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Van Varen Berg counters with a slapping leg kick.
Van Varen Berg misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Varen Berg takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A low kick from Van Varen Berg is predictable there
and Hamasaki counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Good shot there by Van Varen Berg.
Van Varen Berg checks a leg kick.
Hamasaki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Hamasaki changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick by Van Varen Berg misses
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
and Hamasaki counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Van Varen Berg is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Hamasaki throws a leg kick but Van Varen Berg sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hamasaki throws a sloppy head kick
and Van Varen Berg counters with an inside leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hamasaki throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Van Varen Berg on the side of the head.
Hamasaki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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 Barry Hamasaki will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Barry Hamasaki'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. This is the final round!

Hamasaki jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hamasaki takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Van Varen Berg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki throws a head kick that misses
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice body kick.
Van Varen Berg takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hamasaki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Van Varen Berg counters with a head kick. That will keep Hamasaki thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hamasaki throws a leg kick
and Van Varen Berg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Van Varen Berg throws a sloppy head kick and Hamasaki moves out of range easily.
Hamasaki misses with a hook to the body
and Van Varen Berg counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A left lands for Hamasaki.
Van Varen Berg throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A head kick by Van Varen Berg misses
and Hamasaki counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Hamasaki. Van Varen Berg does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hamasaki misses with a looping right.
Van Varen Berg is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Hamasaki.
Hamasaki moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Van Varen Berg thows a body shot but no joy.
Hamasaki scores with a nice head shot.
Hamasaki displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Hamasaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Van Varen Berg counters with a leg kick.
Hamasaki throws out a leg kick but Van Varen Berg moves out of range and Hamasaki only half commits.
Van Varen Berg pushes Hamasaki away with a front kick.
Hamasaki scores with a sloppy right hand. Van Varen Berg should have avoided that one.
Van Varen Berg throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Van Varen Berg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Varen Berg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Varen Berg is looking to land body kicks.
Hamasaki misses with a wild combination.
Van Varen Berg misses with a head kick.
Hamasaki swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Van Varen Berg counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A low kick from Hamasaki is predictable there
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice low kick that buckles Hamasaki's knee momentarily.
Van Varen Berg misses with a kick to the body.
Hamasaki checks a leg kick.
Van Varen Berg looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Van Varen Berg throws a head kick that misses.
Van Varen Berg throws a low kick but Hamasaki avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hamasaki checks a leg kick nicely.
Hamasaki misses with a right hand
and Van Varen Berg finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Hamasaki throws a head kick that misses
and Van Varen Berg counters with a nice body kick.
Van Varen Berg thows a body shot but no joy.
Van Varen Berg thows a body kick. Hamasaki tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hamasaki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Varen Berg throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Van Varen Berg pushes Hamasaki away with a front kick.
Van Varen Berg thuds a left hand into Hamasaki's body.
Van Varen Berg fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
That kick from Van Varen Berg tenderised Hamasaki's leg. Hamasaki is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van Varen Berg looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Varen Berg connects with a solid leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Varen Berg thows a body kick. Hamasaki tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Hamasaki on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Van Varen Berg turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Van Varen Berg looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Varen Berg thumps Hamasaki with a low kick.
Van Varen Berg lands a slapping body shot.
Van Varen Berg throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Van Varen Berg scores with a crisp jab that stopped Hamasaki in his tracks.
Van Varen Berg connects with a jab.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Van Varen Berg scoring well with a low kick there.
Hamasaki throws a left and a right that both miss
and Van Varen Berg counters with a straight right hand.
Van Varen Berg lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jean Claude Van Varen Berg comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Van Varen Berg has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jean Claude Van Varen Berg!