PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pete Damato Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cornelius Berkeley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pete Damato Jr could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Cornelius Berkeley's chin.

Damato Jr
vs
Berkeley

198 cm
25
280 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
242 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Can Moonwalk

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pete Damato Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cornelius Berkeley!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Taro Takaoka and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berkeley misses with the combination.

Berkeley dives in and scores a takedown into Damato Jr's guard.
Damato Jr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Berkeley wants to stand but Damato Jr has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Damato Jr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkeley tries to free his leg and advance position but Damato Jr is retaining full guard.
Berkeley trying to control the position from guard on top but Damato Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berkeley is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berkeley missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Berkeley postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Berkeley wants to control from the top but Damato Jr keeps moving.
Damato Jr pulls Berkeley in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Damato Jr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Berkeley wants to clinch

and Damato Jr counters with a takedown into side control.
Berkeley is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Damato Jr's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Damato Jr 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.
Berkeley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Damato Jr is working away from the top position though.
Damato Jr wants to pass to mount but Berkeley is defending the position.
Berkeley is trying to maintain the position but Damato Jr is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkeley tries to roll over but Damato Jr keeps him under control.
Damato Jr working the head and body with strikes.

Damato Jr seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Berkeley has recovered full guard.
Damato Jr throws an elbow that misses. Berkeley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Damato Jr's guard. Nice move by Berkeley!

Damato Jr trying to control the position.
Damato Jr will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Damato Jr is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Berkeley is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkeley trying to control but Damato Jr is working from the bottom.
Berkeley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Berkeley is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Damato Jr is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Damato Jr has escaped and now he's on top!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Berkeley has his foot on Damato Jr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Damato Jr works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cornelius Berkeley will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Berkeley throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

It looks like Pete Damato Jr has been cut.
Damato Jr shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Berkeley as he avoids it easily.
Berkeley will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Berkeley misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Berkeley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Damato Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Berkeley moves into the clinch.
Berkeley has Damato Jr pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Damato Jr manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pete Damato Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cornelius Berkeley.

Damato Jr wants the takedown. Berkeley is fighting it off but Damato Jr persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Berkeley's guard against the cage.
Damato Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berkeley is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Damato Jr drops back, looking for a kneebar! Berkeley looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Berkeley looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Berkeley!

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berkeley is looking to take a break and control but Damato Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Damato Jr can't do much from the bottom here.

Berkeley tries for a kimura but Damato Jr is defending well.
Damato Jr trying to control but Berkeley flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Berkeley not allowing Damato Jr to control his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Berkeley keeps control of the position as Damato Jr tries to break free.
Damato Jr looking very determined here, making life difficult for Berkeley.
Damato Jr tries to escape the position.
Berkeley lands a shot to the head.
Berkeley misses with an elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berkeley throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Damato Jr just trying to survive but Berkeley is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Berkeley has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Berkeley looking to break Damato Jr's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Damato Jr remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Berkeley will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Berkeley struggling to keep hold of the position.
Berkeley wants to control but Damato Jr manages to buck him off and is now in Berkeley's guard! Nice work there by Damato Jr!
Berkeley throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Berkeley holds on and takes a little breather.
Damato Jr has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Damato Jr with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berkeley lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Cornelius Berkeley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Berkeley throws a strike but Damato Jr rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Damato Jr throws an elbow that misses. Berkeley uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Damato Jr's guard. Nice move by Berkeley!

Berkeley trying to control the position from guard on top but Damato Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Damato Jr is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Berkeley moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Berkeley looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cornelius Berkeley showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pete Damato Jr's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Berkeley misses with a takedown attempt - Damato Jr sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Damato Jr attempts a counter takedown but Berkeley avoids it well and moves away.
Damato Jr stuffs the takedown attempt from Berkeley. Berkeley gets slowly back to his feet.
Damato Jr feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice takedown defense from Berkeley. No joy for Damato Jr on that attempt.
Berkeley misses with a double jab.
Damato Jr slips a jab and a cross from Berkeley.
Damato Jr appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Pete Damato Jr is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
An inside leg kick lands from Berkeley.
No luck for Berkeley with that takedown attempt.
Pete Damato Jr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cornelius Berkeley.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berkeley tries to close the distance and clinch but Damato Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Damato Jr half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Cornelius Berkeley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Damato Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Damato Jr darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Berkeley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Damato Jr is looking for a kimura here.

Damato Jr is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Berkeley is just riding it out for now. Damato Jr eventually gives up the hold.

Damato Jr is looking for a kimura but Berkeley is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Damato Jr to get the leverage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
It looks like Damato Jr is going to stand back up.
Berkeley has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Damato Jr is working away from the top position though.
Berkeley moves into full guard.

Damato Jr postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Berkeley is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Damato Jr, into his guard.

Damato Jr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damato Jr working a defensive guard but Berkeley passes into half guard.

Berkeley is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Damato Jr is just riding it out for now. Berkeley eventually gives up the hold.
Berkeley thows a huge punch but Damato Jr dodges it nicely.

Berkeley is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Damato Jr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Berkeley.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Berkeley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Berkeley not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Berkeley thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Damato Jr's head.
Berkeley is thwarting Damato Jr's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Damato Jr is staying active underneath Berkeley, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cornelius Berkeley.
Well Berkeley has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cornelius Berkeley!