PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luis Recoba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mauricio Berns (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luis Recoba has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Recoba
vs
Berns

165 cm
23
143 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
144 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Luis Recoba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mauricio Berns!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Recoba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Berns was covering up waiting for the punch and Recoba finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Berns trying to control the position.
Recoba postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Berns controlling Recoba's posture.
Recoba wants to control from the top but Berns keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Recoba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Recoba stopping the sweep attempt from Berns.

Berns working for submissions but it's allowed Recoba to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Recoba.
Recoba content to control rather than advance.
Berns blocking the ground and pound attempt from Recoba.
Berns preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Berns tries to get to full guard but Recoba has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Berns manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

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.
Berns is trying to keep Recoba in close.

Berns working for a triangle but Recoba defends it easily.
Berns looking for a sweep. Not yet Berns, not yet.
Recoba stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Berns swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Berns is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Berns has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berns misses with a series of wild punches.

Recoba looking to score a takedown here. Berns is defending well but Recoba drives through and ends up in Berns's guard.
Berns keeping moving, preventing Recoba from controlling successfully.

Berns working for a triangle but Recoba defends it easily.

Berns is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Recoba is aware though and is defending well.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Recoba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berns wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berns looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Recoba has picked Berns up and slammed him! Berns can't keep hold of the triangle and Recoba manages to pass to side control!

Recoba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Berns is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Recoba trying to control the position but Berns is working away.
You can see the frustration on Berns's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Berns is not content to let Recoba control the position.
Recoba lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Recoba dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

An inside leg kick lands from Recoba.

Recoba throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Berns tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Recoba is in Berns's guard.
Berns looking to control but Recoba passes into half guard.
Berns is staying active underneath Recoba, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Berns trying to control but Recoba postures up.
Recoba seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Berns does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Recoba tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Recoba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berns can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berns is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Luis Recoba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Berns is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berns makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Berns.
Recoba trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Berns working a defensive guard here.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Berns fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Recoba lands with a shot to the body.
Berns shoots in looking for a takedown but Recoba manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Berns's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berns shoots for a takedown but Recoba saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Luis Recoba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mauricio Berns.

Recoba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Berns looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Berns is breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Recoba's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Recoba in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Recoba seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Berns looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berns is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Recoba postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Berns looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Recoba throws a big elbow that misses.

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

Berns working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Recoba doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Recoba manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Recoba content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Recoba scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Recoba postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Berns controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Recoba looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Berns is trying to keep Recoba in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Recoba wants to control from the top but Berns keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luis Recoba dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Berns shoots in looking for a takedown. Recoba tries to sprawl out of it but Berns keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Recoba manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Recoba moves out of range of the body kick from Berns.
An inside leg kick lands from Recoba.

Recoba drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Recoba chips away with some ground and pound.

Recoba avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Recoba postures up and lands a big shot to Berns's brow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Recoba trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Recoba is in close to Berns's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Berns working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Recoba working some strikes from top position.
Recoba working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Berns can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Recoba controls the pace.
Recoba keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Berns's head.

Berns escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Recoba gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Berns is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Recoba frees his head nicely. Oh but Berns has switched to an armbar! Recoba is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Mauricio Berns!