PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phat Funk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samuel Berzins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Funk
vs
Berzins

185 cm
21
185 lbs
16 - 2 - 0

180 cm
28
170 lbs
14 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Fast

VIRAL COMBAT

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phat Funk!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Samuel Berzins!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Colin Fray and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Funk moves into the clinch.
Berzins stalling in the clinch but Funk improves position.
Funk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berzins is defending well for now.
Funk landing knees to the head.
Berzins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
I was talking to Funk's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Funk with a knee to the head.

It looks like Samuel Berzins has been cut.
Funk blocking some punches.
Berzins misses with some punches.
Berzins misses with a punch to the body.
Berzins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Knees in the clinch landing for Funk.
Funk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Berzins throws a punch but it's blocked by Funk.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Berzins misses with some punches.
Berzins throws a punch but it's blocked by Funk.
Funk blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzins swings wildly with an uppercut but Funk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Berzins swings wildly with an uppercut but Funk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funk stalls.
Funk working Berzins over with knees to the body.
Funk with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Berzins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Berzins lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Funk utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berzins.
Berzins misses with a punch to the body.
Berzins misses with some punches.
Berzins tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Berzins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Funk connects with a knee to the head.
Berzins misses with the head strike.
Funk tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Berzins avoids it.
A right hook to the body lands for Berzins.
Funk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berzins is defending well for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Berzins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Funk.
Berzins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Berzins blocks it with crossed arms.
Funk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berzins is defending well for now.
Berzins swings wildly with an uppercut but Funk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Funk throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzins working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Berzins throws a head punch that misses.
Funk landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Funk throws a knee to the head but misses.
A bit of stalling here from Funk.
Berzins managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Funk landing knees to the head.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berzins.
Berzins managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Funk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berzins is defending well for now.
Berzins throws a head punch that misses.
Berzins looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Funk misses with a knee strike.
Funk lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Funk taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Funk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berzins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Berzins throws a punch but it's blocked by Funk.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berzins managing to block the knees to the body from Funk.
Berzins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berzins swings wildly with an uppercut but Funk uses good head movement to avoid it.
Berzins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Berzins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berzins.
Funk with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Berzins lands a hook that snaps the head of Funk backwards.
Berzins misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Funk scores with a knee to the head.
Funk's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Berzins avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phat Funk dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Samuel Berzins's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Berzins lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Funk backs up against the cage.
Funk is looking to clinch.
Funk tries to clinch up but Berzins circles away and keeps his distance.
Berzins on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Funk. Funk obviously looking to wear him down.
Berzins throws a leg kick

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Funk counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Funk.
Berzins lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Funk backwards.
Funk landing knees to the body.
Funk landing knees to the head.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berzins.
A nice left hand lands by Berzins.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Berzins avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berzins misses with the head strike.
Funk tries a knee to the head but Berzins blocks it.
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Funk blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzins lands with a light punch inside.
Berzins pushes Funk back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section. Berzins lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Funk lands a knee to the body.
Funk blocking some punches.
Knees to the body from Funk.
Berzins is breathing heavily.
Funk blocking some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Come on Funk - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Funk landing knees to the body.
Berzins fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Funk lands a nice knee to the body.
Funk connects with a nasty looking knee right to Berzins's face.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Berzins tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Funk's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Berzins avoids the damage to the body.
Funk is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Funk using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berzins has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Funk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Funk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berzins is defending well for now.
Berzins avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Berzins takes a knee right on the jaw!
Funk blocks an uppercut.
Berzins on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Berzins tries to work over Funk's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Berzins tries a body shot but Funk blocks it.
Funk throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Berzins blocks it with crossed arms.
Berzins blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Funk unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzins lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Funk dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Berzins avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Berzins lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Berzins avoiding damage as Funk throws knees to the body.
Funk misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berzins.
Funk connects with a knee to the head.
Berzins misses with a hook from the clinch.
Berzins misses with a punch to the body.
Funk is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Knees to the body from Funk.
Berzins throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Funks head.
Funk blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berzins misses with a punch on the inside.
Funk stalling in the clinch but Berzins improves position.
Funk misses with a knee to the head.
Berzins misses with a punch to the body.
Funk is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Berzins tries to work over Funk's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Berzins lands a nice uppercut.
Berzins misses with a hook from the clinch.
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!
Berzins swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Berzins tries a body shot but Funk blocks it.
Funk is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Berzins is defending well for now.
Funk tries to land knees in the clinch but Berzins avoids the damage to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Berzins.
Funk blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Berzins goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phat Funk dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Samuel Berzins's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Berzins moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Berzins. Funk does a little dance to reset his feet.
Berzins throws a head kick but Funk moves out of range.
Nice cross by Berzins.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Funk stalling.
Berzins throws a head punch that misses.
Berzins lands a left hand.

Funk is rocked!
Funk lands a good knee to the midsection. Berzins won't want to take too many of those.
Oh Funk is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Funk trying to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Berzins.
Funk crunches a lovely knee into Berzins's ribcage.
Berzins misses with the head strike.
Funk trying to land knees to the body.
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!
Funk blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Berzins creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Funk's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Funk drops to his knees and Berzins pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Samuel Berzins! Samuel Berzins retains his middleweight title!
Our winner, Samuel Berzins, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.