PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Echart Tolle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Severino Bernardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Echart Tolle has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tolle
vs
Bernardo

180 cm
26
182 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

183 cm
27
183 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Red Hand Clothing

Nfinite

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Echart Tolle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Severino Bernardo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bernardo closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Tolle's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Bernardo wants to control from the top but Tolle keeps moving.
Bernardo throwing strikes from guard but Tolle blocks nicely.
Bernardo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bernardo connects with a couple of short punches.
Bernardo advances position into side control!
Tolle struggling a bit here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Tolle is not content to let Bernardo control the position.
Bernardo working the ground and pound.
Bernardo tries to advance to mount but Tolle instead regains half guard.
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!
Bernardo not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernardo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tolle is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bernardo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bernardo's back!
Bernardo tries to break free.

Bernardo defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Tolle lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Bernardo hold on?!
Bernardo is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Bernardo trying to control the hands but Tolle breaks the grip.
Tolle is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tolle is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Bernardo up.
Bernardo trying to get back to his feet but Tolle is in full control for now.
Tolle missing with strikes.
Tolle missing with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo trying to control the hands but Tolle won't let him.
Tolle misses with punches from the back.
Bernardo is really stuck here.

Tolle is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Bernardo defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Tolle 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.
Bernardo trying to control the position but Tolle manages to sink in the hooks.
Bernardo manages to reverse the position and now he's in Tolle's guard. Nice work there by Bernardo.
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.
Tolle is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tolle not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tolle working Bernardo over with strikes.

Tolle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Tolle prevents Bernardo from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tolle connects with a nice short shot to Bernardo's temple.
Bernardo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tolle.
Tolle throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bernardo is trying to stand up here but Tolle is controlling him well.
Bernardo is trying to get back to full guard.
Tolle wants to pass to mount but Bernardo is defending the position.
Bernardo is looking for a sweep. Tolle is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bernardo is trying to maintain the position but Tolle is very close to passing his half guard.
Bernardo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tolle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolle working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tolle looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tolle is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bernardo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tolle.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Tolle lands a nice short elbow.
Bernardo trying to control but Tolle postures up.

Bernardo kicks Tolle off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tolle slips under a jab from Bernardo.

That's five minutes gone in the round.

Bernardo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Tolle did well to prevent Bernardo getting side control.
Bernardo looks winded!
Bernardo thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tolle's head.
Bernardo sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tolle defending well though.
Bernardo throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tolle to regain full guard.
Bernardo wants to control from the top but Tolle keeps moving.
Tolle has control of Bernardo's left arm, preventing Bernardo from doing any damage.
Bernardo postures up.
Bernardo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tolle wants to sweep but no luck.
Tolle is adopting a defensive guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Echart Tolle wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bernardo tries to sprawl but Tolle drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tolle thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bernardo's head.

Tolle is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bernardo sees it coming and defends easily.
Bernardo is looking to control Tolle's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bernardo avoid being mounted?
Bernardo gets back to full guard.
Bernardo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tolle is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bernardo holds on and takes a little breather.
Bernardo wants to sweep but no luck.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Tolle keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bernardo's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tolle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bernardo has control of Tolle's left arm, preventing Tolle from doing any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bernardo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bernardo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tolle is controlling him.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bernardo can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bernardo seems keen to control Tolle's posture.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Severino Bernardo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Bernardo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Tolle preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Tolle regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Tolle is trying to control the position but Bernardo postures up.
Bernardo looking to sit in guard and control but Tolle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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!
Bernardo wants to stand up but Tolle is controlling him.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tolle accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tolle passes Bernardo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Bernardo trying to hold on to Tolle's head to control him but Tolle postures up.
Tolle missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tolle prevents Bernardo from standing back up.
Well, if Tolle 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.
Tolle is thwarting Bernardo's attempts to control the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Tolle sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bernardo defending well though.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Bernardo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bernardo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tolle.
Bernardo gets full guard.
Bernardo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tolle.
Tolle is looking to work some ground and pound but Bernardo has wrist control.
Bernardo wants to improve his position but instead Tolle has moved into half guard.
Tolle trying to control the action but Bernardo is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bernardo is trying to stand.
Tolle trying to mount his opponent but Bernardo defends it.
Tolle lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Echart Tolle will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Nice body punch from Tolle.
Tolle ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Bernardo looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bernardo is trying to control. Tolle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bernardo is thwarting Tolle's attempts to control the position.
Tolle gets back to full guard.
Bernardo throws an elbow that misses. Tolle uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bernardo's guard. Nice move by Tolle!
Tolle scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bernardo is trying to keep Tolle in close.
Tolle scoring with some ground and pound.
Bernardo is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolle trying to control the position from guard on top but Bernardo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolle throwing strikes but missing.
Tolle postures up.
Tolle throwing strikes from guard but Bernardo blocks nicely.
Tolle preventing the sweep.
Tolle with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tolle scoring with some ground and pound.
Tolle is working Bernardo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tolle won't allow Bernardo to get back to his feet.
Bernardo keeping moving, preventing Tolle from controlling successfully.
Bernardo is pulling down on Tolle's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolle chips away with some ground and pound.
Bernardo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tolle is standing up over Bernardo. Bernardo looks to escape but Tolle dives into side control.
Tolle working the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bernardo tries to improve position but can't.
Tolle lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bernardo down.
Tolle in side control, throwing shots but Bernardo defends.
Tolle connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bernardo some visible discomfort.
Tolle misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Bernardo is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Tolle is controlling him well.
Echart Tolle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tolle lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tolle working the body and head with strikes.

Bernardo is rocked!
Tolle throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bernardo is still in real trouble! Can Tolle finish him?
Tolle trying to control the position but Bernardo is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolle lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bernardo is trying to get back to half guard.
Tolle tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Tolle lands a few punches from side control.
Bernardo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tolle wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bernardo dodges the ground and pound from Tolle.

Tolle tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tolle has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Tolle working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bernardo is trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernardo takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Tolle lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bernardo dodges the ground and pound from Tolle.

Tolle is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bernardo knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bernardo tries to bench press Tolle off him but Tolle keeps the position.
Bernardo on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bernardo dodges the ground and pound from Tolle.
Tolle scores with a couple of short elbows.
Tolle tries to score with some ground and pound. Bernardo controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Bernardo manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tolle's best efforts.
Tolle missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Tolle not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tolle tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bernardo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tolle wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bernardo keeps working.
Bernardo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tolle.

Tolle is working for a kimura but Bernardo is defending it quite comfortably.
Bernardo seems to have recovered his senses.
Bernardo wants to control but Tolle is keeping busy.
Bernardo wants to get back to his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Tolle seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Bernardo is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 6:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Echart Tolle!
Echart Tolle thanked the fans post fight for their support.