PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Giovanni Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Jaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Jaa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bernard
vs
Jaa

183 cm
20
181 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
162 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Decent knees
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Giovanni Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Jaa!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Jeff Smith and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernard rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Jaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bernard is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Jaa pulls guard effortlessly.
Bernard cracks Jaa with a solid left hand.

Jaa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bernard uses it to pass to side control.

Bernard stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Bernard tries to clinch
and Jaa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bernard thinking.
Bernard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jaa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bernard wants to get back to his feet but Jaa is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Bernard has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Jaa off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Giovanni Bernard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bernard darts in trying to clinch
and Jaa counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bernard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Jaa fails to land the takedown.
Jaa fails with a takedown attempt.
Jaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Jaa closes the distance and clinches up with Bernard, looking for a takedown. Jaa pushes Bernard against the cage but Bernard circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Giovanni Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bernard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good work by Bernard as he checks the leg kick.
Bernard tries to clinch up.
Bernard is looking to clinch.
Bernard tries to clinch there but Jaa circles away.
We've been told by Bernard's head coaches at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $300 fee) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bernard fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard wants to clinch
and Jaa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Bernard fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Jaa, pushing him back against the cage.
Bernard pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bernard with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Jaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bernard ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Jaa moves away.
Bernard tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Jaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Jaa breaks from the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Bernard gets a clinch.
Bernard misses with an elbow over the top.

Jaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jaa shoots in for a double leg but Bernard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jaa shoots in for a double leg but Bernard sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bernard leaves Jaa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jaa looks for the body kick but Bernard saw that one coming.
Jaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jaa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bernard moves away.
Bernard tries to clinch there but Jaa circles away.
Bernard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bernard moves in looking to clinch but Jaa pushes him off.
Bernard looks to clinch

and Jaa counters by clinching up.
Bernard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Jaa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Bernard prevents it.
Bernard throws an elbow that misses.
Bernard misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Jaa.
Bernard with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa jumps guard but Bernard stands there with Jaa around his waist. Jaa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bernard throws a knee to the head but misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Jaa.
Jaa landing knees to the body.

Jaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bernard doesn't manage to clinch there - Jaa circles away.
Jaa fails with a takedown attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch but Jaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bernard is looking to clinch.
Jaa keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Jaa misses with a wild combination.
Bernard looks to clinch

and Jaa moves into the clinch.
Bernard lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Tony Jaa has been cut.
Bernard landing knees to the head.
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 Giovanni Bernard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tony Jaa's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bernard throws a head kick but Jaa moves out of range.
Bernard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bernard tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bernard tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch but Jaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bernard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jaa.

Jaa takes the fight into the clinch.

Jaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch but Jaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bernard misses with an uppercut. Jaa saw that one coming.
Jaa fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jaa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bernard was well out of range. Poor timing from Jaa.
Jaa gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bernard throws an overhand right that lands on Jaa's shoulder, as Jaa tries to avoid the shot.
Bernard moves out of range of the body kick from Jaa.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jaa uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bernard.
Bernard dodges the punch combination from Jaa.
Bernard tries to clinch
and Jaa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Jaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Bernard.
Bernard misses with a straight right.
Tony Jaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bernard misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bernard wants to clinch up but Jaa keeps it at a distance.
Jaa throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bernard is looking to clinch.
Bernard wants to clinch up but Jaa keeps it at a distance.
Bernard stuffs the takedown.
Giovanni Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Jaa swats away the attempt to clinch by Bernard.

Jaa moves into range and clinches up with Bernard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard throws an elbow that misses.
Bernard is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Jaa is defending well for now.
Bernard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bernard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jaa blocks it with crossed arms.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bernard just misses with a elbow thrown towards Jaa's brow.

Jaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bernard swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bernard tries to clinch but Jaa moves out of range.

Jaa drives through and clinches with Bernard against the cage.
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!
Bernard tries a knee to the head but Jaa blocks it.
Bernard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bernard looking to throw knees to the head but Jaa is blocking nicely.

Jaa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jaa uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bernard.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jaa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jaa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bernard circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jaa closes the distance and pushes Bernard back into the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bernard throws an elbow but misses.
Jaa fails to pull guard.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jaa avoids it.
A short uppercut from Jaa.
Jaa blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the head but Jaa blocks with his arms.
Bernard throws an elbow that misses.
Jaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Jaa looking to throw knees to the head but Bernard is blocking nicely.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Giovanni Bernard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Jaa crunches a lovely knee into Bernard's ribcage.
Jaa can't get the takedown.
Jaa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Jaa avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jaa blocks an elbow strike.
Jaa looking for a takedown.
Bernard prevents the takedown attempt.
Jaa goes for a takedown attempt but Bernard pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bernard moves to clinch but Jaa breaks away
and Jaa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch but Jaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bernard doesn't manage to clinch there - Jaa circles away.
Bernard wants to clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bernard tries to clinch up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Giovanni Bernard dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tony Jaa's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jaa misses with a jab, cross combination.
Jaa moves out of range as Bernard throws a body kick.
Bernard wants to clinch.
Jaa keeps the fight on the outside.
Bernard cracks Jaa with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Giovanni Bernard is winning the standup battle so far.
Bernard wants to clinch up but Jaa keeps it at a distance.

Bernard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the head but Jaa blocks with his arms.

Jaa breaks the clinch.
Bernard wants to clinch

and Jaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Jaa changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bernard fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Bernard moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jaa jumps guard but Bernard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jaa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bernard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Giovanni Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tony Jaa.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the head but Jaa blocks with his arms.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the head but Jaa blocks with his arms.

Jaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Jaa moves into the clinch.
Jaa is looking to control Bernard's arms but Bernard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Jaa has his back to the cage.
Jaa jumps guard but Bernard turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
Jaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Jaa looking to stall.
Jaa tries for a takedown but Bernard manages to get underhooks.
Bernard misses with a knee to the head.
Bernard tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard looking to throw knees to the head but Jaa is blocking nicely.

Jaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bernard moves in looking to clinch but Jaa pushes him off.
Bernard moves in looking to clinch but Jaa pushes him off.
Jaa tries to clinch but Bernard is having none of it.
Jaa misses with a takedown attempt - Bernard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jaa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bernard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Jaa blocks a jab.
Jaa moves away from the strike by Bernard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard tries to clinch up

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jaa.
Bernard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Jaa blocks it with crossed arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bernard with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Jaa tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bernard throws a knee to the head but misses.
Knees to the body from Jaa.
Jaa tries to pull guard but Bernard holds him up against the cage and eventually Jaa drops back down to his feet.
Bernard with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Jaa breaks from the clinch.
Bernard closes the distance looking to clinch

and Jaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Jaa.
Bernard creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Bernard looking to throw knees to the head but Jaa is blocking nicely.
Bernard looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jaa can't get the takedown.

Jaa manages to pull guard.
Jaa controls Bernard momentarily but Bernard frees himself.

Bernard stands up from Jaa's guard - Bernard perhaps looking for a knockout.
Jaa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bernard wants to clinch up but Jaa keeps it at a distance.
Bernard wants to clinch.

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 Giovanni Bernard.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bernard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Gruel scores the fight for Giovanni Bernard!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Giovanni Bernard!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Giovanni Bernard!

Giovanni Bernard wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Giovanni Bernard started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.