PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andy Berdich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and IP Freely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Freely has chosen The Trooper as his entrance music. IP Freely has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Andy Berdich's chin.

Berdich
vs
Freely

170 cm
33
142 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

160 cm
32
140 lbs
20 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andy Berdich!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, IP Freely!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berdich shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A little jabbing left from Freely on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Freely throws a jab when Berdich was well out of range.
Some wild striking there from Freely.
Berdich tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Freely defends well and Berdich ends up having to push Freely into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Berdich shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Freely sprawls well. Freely wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Berdich gets slowly back to his feet.
It seemed like Freely was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andy Berdich. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berdich moves forwards but Freely connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Freely looks to land a right hand but Berdich moved out of range.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Berdich.
Freely is not content to let Berdich control the position.
Freely is looking for a sweep.
Berdich lands a few punches from side control.
We've been hearing that Berdich has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freely tries to buck Berdich off but Berdich is having none of it.
Freely dodges the ground and pound from Berdich.
Freely is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Berdich landing strikes.

Berdich thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Freely is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Berdich off and has taken his back!

Freely is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Berdich defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berdich tries to escape the position.
Freely is trying to stick to Berdich's back but Berdich is turning into Freely. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Freely's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Berdich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berdich wants to control from the top but Freely keeps moving.
Berdich with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Berdich trying to control but Freely is working from the bottom.
Freely tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Berdich connects with a couple of short punches.
Berdich stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Freely swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Freely looking for a sweep. Not yet Freely, not yet.
Freely keeping moving, preventing Berdich from controlling successfully.
Berdich wants to pass the guard but Freely is keeping the position.
Berdich lands a couple of elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berdich distracts Freely with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Berdich wants to pass the guard but Freely is keeping the position.
Berdich is looking to work some ground and pound but Freely has wrist control.
Berdich postures up.
Freely keeping moving, preventing Berdich from controlling successfully.

Freely looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Berdich preventing the sweep.
Berdich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Freely wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berdich got a little sloppy there for a moment and Freely has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Berdich has managed to get both his arms back between Freely's legs - danger averted.
Berdich trying to control but Freely is working from the bottom.
Berdich throws a big elbow that misses.
Berdich trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freely looking to hit a scissor sweep but Berdich is one step ahead there.
Berdich controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Freely throws a jab when Berdich was well out of range.
Berdich feinted with a counter takedown.
A swing and a miss from Freely.
Berdich fails to land the takedown.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Freely! But no joy.
Berdich looks for a takedown but Freely sprawls well.
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 Andy Berdich will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Berdich with a poor takedown
and Freely counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Freely swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Freely throws a hook but Berdich blocks it.

Berdich gets a takedown into half guard.
Berdich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Berdich is trying to control. Freely wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Freely gets back to full guard.

Freely is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berdich is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Berdich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Freely is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berdich in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Freely is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Berdich passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Berdich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Freely knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Freely keeps Berdich under control for a moment.
Freely manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berdich is staying active underneath Freely, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Berdich blocking the ground and pound attempt from Freely.

Freely is looking for a kimura but Berdich is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Freely to get the leverage.
Freely throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Berdich is trying to get back to full guard.
Berdich is pressing down on Freely's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Berdich wants to sweep here but Freely controlling him for the moment.
Berdich trying to keep a closed guard but Freely is proving a slippery customer.
Freely tries to free his leg and advance position but Berdich is retaining full guard.
Freely content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Berdich wants to sweep but no luck.
Berdich bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Freely's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Freely throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Freely looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Berdich lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Freely looking for a sweep. Not yet Freely, not yet.
Berdich has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Berdich throwing strikes but missing.
Berdich loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Berdich working some strikes from top position.
Berdich wants to control from the top but Freely keeps moving.
Berdich looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berdich postures up in Freely's guard and throws a big left but Freely blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Berdich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Freely controlling the position.

Freely is looking for a triangle but Berdich pushes his legs off easily.
Berdich in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Berdich pushes down on Freely's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Freely is staying active underneath Berdich, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Freely slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Freely is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Freely is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berdich is aware though and is defending well.
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 Andy Berdich will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Freely gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Andy Berdich overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Berdich wants to pass the guard but Freely is keeping the position.
Berdich keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Freely's head.

Freely is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Berdich tries to free his leg and advance position but Freely is retaining full guard.
Berdich throwing strikes from guard but Freely blocks nicely.
Freely is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Freely pulls Berdich in close to his closed guard and prevents Berdich from doing any damage or advancing position.
Freely is trying to control the position but Berdich postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berdich got a little sloppy there for a moment and Freely has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Berdich has managed to get both his arms back between Freely's legs - danger averted.
Freely keeping moving, preventing Berdich from controlling successfully.
Berdich is pushing down on Freely's leg trying to pass to half guard. Freely is fighting to maintain full guard but Berdich has managed to sneak the leg through.

Berdich is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Freely to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Freely keeping full guard, as Berdich tries to pass.

Freely has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Berdich is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Freely.

Berdich is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Freely is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Freely is trying to control Berdich's posture but Berdich avoids it.
Freely tries to bench press Berdich off him but Berdich keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freely is trying to control Berdich's posture but Berdich avoids it.
Berdich wants to control but Freely is keeping him busy.
Freely tries to buck Berdich off but Berdich is having none of it.
Freely is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Berdich working Freely over with strikes.

Berdich is trying to work for a kimura but Freely is defending well.
IP Freely has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Berdich is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Freely moves into full guard.
Andy Berdich is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Freely is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Berdich defends well.
Berdich won't allow Freely to sweep him here.

Freely is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Berdich rolls with it to try and escape but Freely cranks on the arm and Berdich is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). IP Freely!
IP Freely thanked the fans post fight for their support.