PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Akio Fox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beckhan Berkut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akio Fox has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Fox
vs
Berkut

182 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Vitality
Cutthroat

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Akio Fox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Beckhan Berkut!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fox clinches up with Berkut and pushes him back against the cage.

Berkut pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fox tries to free his leg and advance position but Berkut is retaining full guard.
Berkut is trying to keep Fox in close.

Berkut escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Fox gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fox is looking to stand up but Berkut won't let him.
Fox wants to control from the top but Berkut keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fox throwing strikes from guard but Berkut blocks nicely.
Fox has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Berkut manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fox tries to hold on but Berkut pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fox tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Berkut misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Berkut wants to take Fox's back but he can't do it this time.
Berkut lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Fox hang on?
Fox is trying to escape the mount.
Berkut looking to control but Fox is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Fox tries to lock up and control but Berkut gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fox is looking to get to half guard.
Fox regains half guard.
Berkut is looking to take a break and control but Fox is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Fox pushes Berkut off looking to stand but Berkut dives back in and keeps control.
Fox slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fox looking for a sweep. Not yet Fox, not yet.

Fox working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Berkut doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Berkut manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Berkut preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fox escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berkut gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Fox looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Berkut won't allow Fox to sweep him here.
Fox keeping full guard, as Berkut tries to pass.

Fox scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Berkut shoots in but no luck this time.
Berkut looks gassed!
Berkut slips a jab and a cross from Fox.
No joy there for Fox, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkut takes one on the button.

It looks like Beckhan Berkut has been cut.
Berkut slaps away a takedown attempt from Fox, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Fox throws a left that rocks Berkut and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Fox dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Berkut regain composure!

Berkut is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berkut is looking to regain half guard here but Fox keeps moving and retains side control.

Fox stands up and beckons Berkut to his feet.
Fox clobbers Berkut with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Berkut is still on wobbly legs! Can Fox finish him?
Fox dances in with a quick combination. Berkut is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Fox snaps Berkut's head back. Berkut stumbles backwards against the cage. Fox steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Berkut's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Berkut just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Akio Fox!