PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alessio Bernardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Rivera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rivera is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mortal Kombat. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bernardi
vs
Rivera

180 cm
25
163 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

177 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Self confident

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alessio Bernardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Diego Rivera!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Bernardi does it's job there.
Bernardi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rivera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rivera rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Bernardi lands a right hook to the body.
Bernardi lands with a nice combination. Rivera backs away looking to recover.
Bernardi misses with a double jab.
Rivera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bernardi.
Rivera misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bernardi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rivera shoots for a double leg takedown but Bernardi sprawls well. He's pushed Rivera's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bernardi tries to bum rush Rivera with a series of wild strikes but Rivera uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bernardi stuffs the takedown attempt from Rivera. Rivera gets slowly back to his feet.
Alessio Bernardi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rivera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardi looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bernardi darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bernardi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rivera swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bernardi is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Bernardi tries to sprawl but Rivera drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bernardi has hold of Rivera's hands but Rivera slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bernardi is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rivera controlling the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernardi tries to kick Rivera off but Rivera keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Rivera is controlling the pace.
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!
Bernardi wants to get back to full guard but Rivera has mounted him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera breaks from Bernardi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Rivera content just to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rivera throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Rivera controlling the pace for now.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Bernardi is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rivera looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rivera dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bernardi throws a head kick that misses.
Bernardi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bernardi misses with a series of wild punches.
Rivera moves forwards but Bernardi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rivera shoots in for a takedown but Bernardi shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bernardi cracks Rivera with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bernardi avoids the body shot from Rivera.
Bernardi lands with a nice combination. Rivera backs away looking to recover.
Bernardi looks to land a combination. Rivera sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Rivera avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bernardi misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardi works over Rivera's head and body with a nice combination.
Bernardi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rivera.
Bernardi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
No joy there for Bernardi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bernardi scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Bernardi scores with a one two! Rivera had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rivera.
Alessio Bernardi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bernardi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rivera avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernardi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bernardi closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Bernardi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bernardi misses with a head kick.
Bernardi displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rivera throws out the jab.
Bernardi ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rivera shoots in for a double leg but Bernardi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Alessio Bernardi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rivera.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bernardi.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No joy there for Bernardi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bernardi looks to land a combination but Rivera avoids it well.
Bernardi throws a right hand that Rivera ducks under and follows up with a left that Rivera also avoids with ease.
Rivera showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bernardi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernardi misses with a two punch combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bernardi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rivera changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bernardi tries to avoid it but Rivera manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bernardi to the ground. Bernardi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Rivera closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bernardi to the mat! Bernardi manages to get full guard.
Rivera controlling from the top position.
Rivera's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Rivera has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Diego Rivera.
Bernardi moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bernardi misses with a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alessio Bernardi dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Bernardi will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bernardi misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bernardi misses with the combination.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bernardi, right into the meat.
Rivera has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bernardi moves away from the strike by Rivera.
Rivera dodges the punch combination from Bernardi.
Bernardi fails to land with a series of punches.
Alessio Bernardi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bernardi scores with a jab.

Rivera drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rivera staying calm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Diego Rivera hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bernardi throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rivera stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bernardi lands with a right hand.
Rivera avoids the head kick by Bernardi.
Rivera blocks the body kick.
That kick from Bernardi tenderised Rivera's leg. Rivera is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rivera throws a jab when Bernardi was well out of range.
A combination from Rivera does no damage.
Bernardi connects with a high kick.
No joy there for Bernardi, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bernardi lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rivera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bernardi. Bernardi obviously looking to wear him down.
Rivera shoots in but Bernardi avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rivera dives in and grabs Bernardi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bernardi pushes down on Rivera's head and hops out.
Rivera has a takedown stuffed.
Alessio Bernardi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Rivera.
Rivera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bernardi. Bernardi obviously looking to wear him down.
Bernardi lands a high kick!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bernardi!
Bernardi throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Alessio Bernardi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rivera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bernardi manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernardi cracks the inside of Rivera's front leg.
Rivera moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Bernardi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bernardi lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bernardi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Alessio Bernardi is winning the standup battle so far.

Rivera closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bernardi's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rivera is pushing down on Bernardi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bernardi is fighting to maintain full guard but Rivera has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rivera with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

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 Alessio Bernardi.
I think Bernardi has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Alessio Bernardi!