PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Julz Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nick Swisher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Julz Bernard has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Bernard
vs
Swisher

173 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Julz Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nick Swisher!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernard misses with a takedown attempt

and Swisher moves into the clinch.

Bernard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bernard misses with a takedown attempt - Swisher sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Swisher clinches.

Swisher ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Swisher no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Swisher has a closed guard, preventing Bernard from standing up.
Swisher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard tries to stand but Swisher is controlling from the bottom.
Swisher is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bernard trying to control the position from guard on top but Swisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bernard wants to get up but he can't break Swisher's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Swisher feints and as Bernard raises his hands in defense, Swisher changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Bernard wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard wants to clinch up but Swisher keeps it at a distance.

Bernard closes the distance and clinches.
Bernard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Swisher walks away with a smile on his face. Bernard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julz Bernard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bernard tries to close the distance and clinch up but Swisher swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Swisher instigates a clinch.

Swisher wants the takedown. Bernard is fighting it off but Swisher persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bernard's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swisher missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bernard is looking to stand up but Swisher isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swisher looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bernard looking to control but Swisher passes into half guard.
Swisher sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bernard defending well though.
Swisher missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Well, if Swisher is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Bernard fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swisher avoids it really well and circles away.
Bernard is breathing heavily.
Bernard falls off balance throwing a combination

and Swisher counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Swisher lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Swisher is stalling in the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Swisher pushes down on Bernard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Swisher dominated that round.
That's time! Bernard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bernard gets tackled into the cage by Swisher. Swisher maintains the clinch.
Bernard is trying to pull guard but Swisher turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Swisher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Swisher circles away from the clinch attempt

and Swisher counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Swisher.
Swisher postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Swisher decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bernard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swisher tries to score a power double leg takedown but Bernard sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Swisher somewhat.
Bernard went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Bernard lands a jab-cross combination.
Bernard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bernard moves in looking to clinch but Swisher pushes him off.
Swisher is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bernard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bernard is looking for a counter combo.
Nick Swisher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Swisher is breathing heavily.
Bernard wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bernard wants it to stay on the feet.
Julz Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Swisher.
Swisher throws a low kick but Bernard moves out of range easily.
As Swisher looks to move away, Bernard throws a big counter combo but Swisher just gets out of the way.

Swisher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bernard, pushing him back against the cage.
Bernard tries to break the clinch but Swisher is controlling the position.
Bernard is trying to break the clinch but Swisher is controlling him.
Bernard tries to break free but Swisher pushes him back against the cage.
Swisher is trying to pull guard but Bernard has him pressed against the cage.
Swisher keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bernard's efforts to push away.
Swisher tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swisher is trying to pull guard but Bernard turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Swisher keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bernard's efforts to push away.

Bernard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swisher lands a head kick. Bernard smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Swisher has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Swisher has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bernard wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Bernard breaks from the clinch.
Bernard fails with a takedown attempt.
Swisher misses with a takedown attempt
and Bernard counters with a right hand to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernard misses with a wild body shot.
Bernard is looking to clinch but Swisher is avoiding it.
Bernard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swisher shoots in for a takedown but Bernard shows good takedown defense.

Bernard moves into the clinch successfully.
Bernard throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Swisher blocks it with crossed arms.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bernard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Julz Bernard is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swisher swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Swisher checks a low kick from Bernard.
Bernard sets himself, and Swisher steps forward looking for the clinch! Bernard avoids it this time.
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 Julz Bernard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Bernard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Swisher stuffs the takedown.
Swisher gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bernard counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Swisher looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bernard fails with an attempt to clinch.

Swisher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bernard, pushing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bernard breaks the clinch.
Julz Bernard is winning the standup battle so far.
Bernard is looking to clinch.
Swisher takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bernard closes the distance and pushes Swisher back into the cage.
Bernard tries to circle away but Swisher has him pinned against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard prevents Swisher from breaking the clinch.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Swisher just misses with a elbow thrown towards Bernard's brow.

Bernard escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Swisher moves into range and clinches up with Bernard.
Bernard fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Swisher landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Bernard breaks from the clinch.

Bernard gets a double leg takedown into Swisher's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bernard trying to control the position from guard on top but Swisher is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swisher is adopting a defensive guard.
Swisher looking to control.
Swisher is looking to stand up but Bernard isn't so interested in that idea.
Nick Swisher has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bernard stands and steps away. Swisher gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Swisher throws a series of punches but Bernard moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bernard misses with a leg kick

and Swisher counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Swisher.
Swisher throwing strikes but missing.
Swisher works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Swisher prevents Bernard from standing back up.
Bernard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Swisher decides to stand up.

Swisher moves into range and clinches up with Bernard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swisher tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bernard avoids it.
Bernard wants to break free but Swisher has control.
Bernard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Julz Bernard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nick Swisher.
Bernard can't break the clinch.
Bernard lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Swisher is trying to trip Bernard. He has hold of a leg but Bernard is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Swisher persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Swisher trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Swisher trying to control the position from guard on top but Bernard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nick Swisher comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Swisher has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nick Swisher!