PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lala John (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Berlane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

John
vs
Berlane

172 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

181 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lala John!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tim Berlane!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
John shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
John will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Berlane connects with a vicious head kick that knocks John to the floor! Berlane dives in looking for the finish!

John is rocked!
Berlane is looking to stall here but John recovers full guard.
Berlane trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Berlane stands and throws John's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Berlane stands up and we're back to a striking position.

John shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than John was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Berlane tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
John tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Berlane is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Berlane tries to reverse the position but John maintains control.
Berlane is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Berlane gets back to half guard.
It looks like John is going to stand back up.

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.
Berlane is trying to get back to full guard.
John trying to control the action but Berlane is working from the bottom.
John wants to stand up but Berlane is controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berlane trying to control here.
John with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
It looks like John is going to stand back up.
John is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
John throws a nice head kick!
Berlane throws a nice looking combination but John bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice takedown defense from John. No joy for Berlane on that attempt.
John will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

John has closed the distance and engaged Berlane in a clinch.

John escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
John fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Berlane shoots in for a takedown but John shows good takedown defense.

Berlane shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in John's guard.
Berlane looking to pass the guard.

Berlane drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but John manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Berlane has John in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berlane managing to control the position.
John trying to stand up but can't free himself from Berlane's guard.

Berlane looking for a guillotine here but John defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tim Berlane dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Berlane changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. John tries to avoid it but Berlane manages to keep hold of a leg and drag John to the ground. John escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Berlane looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Berlane circles away from the clinch attempt.
John throws a head kick but Berlane moves out of range.
John with a poor takedown

so Berlane counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Berlane stands up and waves to John to follow him.
Berlane wants to clinch.

John clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
John tries to pull guard but Berlane holds him up against the cage and eventually John drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalling in the clinch from Berlane.

Berlane manages to break the clinch.

Berlane drives through and clinches with John against the cage.
Berlane tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Lala John has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tim Berlane.
Berlane fails to pull guard.
Berlane prevents John from breaking the clinch.
John wants to break free but Berlane has control.
John tries to score a body lock takedown but Berlane shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Berlane manages to break the clinch.

John drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Berlane regains half guard.
Berlane controlling the position for now.
John wants to pass the guard but Berlane is defending well.
Well, if John is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berlane wants to control but John is keeping busy.
John is looking to take a break and control but Berlane is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
John wants to get back to his feet.
Berlane is refusing to be controlled, as John sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
John is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

John gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Berlane throws a left and a right that both miss
and John counters with a left and a right that stings Berlane.
John throws a combination. Berlane tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Berlane staying out of range there.
John shoots in for a takedown but Berlane shows good takedown defense.

Berlane shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Berlane was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
John sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Berlane is trying to work for a kimura but John is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berlane wants to take a breather but John is having none of it.
Berlane controlling the pace.
Berlane stops John from getting back to his feet.

Berlane seems to be looking for submissions.
John is trying to stand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Berlane decides to stand up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berlane throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by John.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tim Berlane will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

John fails with an attempt to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Berlane or perhaps it was just good defense by John which made him look bad.
Lala John seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berlane tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Berlane misses with a double jab

and John counters by clinching up.
John has Berlane pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Berlane manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Berlane drops to a knee looking for a takedown but John gets the underhooks and prevents it.

John breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
John lands a head kick. Berlane smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
John wants to clinch up but Berlane keeps it at a distance.

Berlane closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Berlane lands in his opponent's guard.
John keeping full guard, as Berlane tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berlane is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Berlane's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Berlane advances to half guard.
Berlane slows the pace down in half guard.
Ground and pound from Berlane.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Berlane is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Berlane has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Berlane landing shots from mount.
Berlane looking to control and managing it successfully.

Berlane goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now John is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berlane has his foot on John's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. John works his way back into a safe position though.
John won't allow Berlane to get back to his feet.
Berlane is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Berlane is trying to control the action in half guard but John is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Berlane controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Berlane 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.

That's four 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.

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

Berlane gets a takedown into half guard.
Tim Berlane has got the better of the ground game so far.
Berlane controlling the pace.

Berlane is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lala John has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John is not content to let Berlane control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tim Berlane comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Berlane winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tim Berlane!