PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mohamed Houssam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andy Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Houssam
vs
Bernard

193 cm
25
245 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

196 cm
22
230 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mohamed Houssam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andy Bernard!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Houssam.

Bernard takes the fight into the clinch.
Bernard wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Houssam has him pressed against the cage.

Bernard manages to break the clinch.

Bernard feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Houssam pulls Bernard in close to prevent any damage.
Bernard throwing strikes from guard but Houssam blocks nicely.
Bernard must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Houssam is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houssam looking for a sweep. Not yet Houssam, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mohamed Houssam wasn't doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bernard is defended easily by Houssam.

Bernard gets tackled into the cage by Houssam. Houssam maintains the clinch.
Bernard has Houssam pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Houssam manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Bernard lands a takedown into guard.

Houssam is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bernard defends well.
Bernard wants to control from the top but Houssam keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Houssam looking for a guillotine here but Bernard defends easily.
Houssam pulls Bernard in close to his closed guard and prevents Bernard from doing any damage or advancing position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard tries to free his leg and advance position but Houssam is retaining full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Houssam pulls Bernard in close to prevent any damage.

Bernard stands up from Houssam's guard - Bernard perhaps looking for a knockout.

Houssam gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bernard manages to break the clinch.

Bernard closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Houssam quickly recovers to half guard.
Houssam keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Houssam trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houssam is doing well to control the position and prevent Bernard from advancing to side control.
Houssam is trying to control but can't.

Mohamed Houssam has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Houssam has managed to clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard managing to block the knees to the body from Houssam.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Houssam tries to score a body lock takedown but Bernard shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bernard pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Houssam looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Bernard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Houssam to the mat! Houssam manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andy Bernard will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bernard clinches.
Houssam can't get the takedown.
Bernard lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bernard misses with the head strike.
Bernard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Houssam is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bernard is looking for a takedown.

Houssam drags the fight down to the ground.
Houssam bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bernard's guard.

Bernard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Houssam gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Houssam is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Houssam wants to control from the top but Bernard keeps moving.
Houssam landing with the ground and pound.
Houssam controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mohamed Houssam wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch but Houssam swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bernard tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Houssam counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Houssam.
Bernard is trying to push Houssam away but Houssam has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bernard wants a takedown.
Mohamed Houssam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andy Bernard.
Houssam misses with the head strike.

Houssam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Andy Bernard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Houssam tries a head kick but it misses.
Bernard tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Houssam moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bernard jumps into guard, dragging Houssam to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Houssam loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bernard trying to keep a closed guard but Houssam is proving a slippery customer.
Houssam trying to control but Bernard is working from the bottom.
Bernard is trying to keep Houssam in close.
Our spies down at at Synergy Fight Team inform us that Bernard has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Andy Bernard.
Houssam fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bernard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Bernard gets underhooks to prevent Houssam's takedown attempt.
Houssam has Bernard pressed against the cage, preventing Bernard from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bernard obliges.
Houssam is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Bernard successfully pulls guard.
Houssam controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
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 Mohamed Houssam will probably get the nod.
That's time! Houssam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Houssam shoots for a double leg takedown but Bernard sprawls well. He's pushed Houssam's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Houssam dives in and grabs Bernard's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bernard pushes down on Houssam's head and hops out.
Bernard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bernard.

Bernard is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Houssam knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard has control of an arm but Houssam manages to advance to Bernard's back!

Houssam working for a choke but Bernard reverses nicely into Houssam 's guard.
Houssam controls Bernard momentarily but Bernard frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard wants to stand and escape but instead Houssam has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bernard wants to sweep but no luck.
Houssam slips nicely into half guard.
Houssam is looking to advance position but Bernard won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Houssam decides to stand up.
Houssam avoids the head kick by Bernard.
Houssam fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bernard avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mohamed Houssam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bernard fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bernard wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Mohamed Houssam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Houssam darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Houssam thows a huge punch but Bernard dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Houssam 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.
Houssam trying to control from half guard but Bernard is working away.

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 Mohamed Houssam.
I think Houssam 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mohamed Houssam!
Mohamed Houssam got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'