PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Guy Bernier (ranked 2350 p4p, 2248 weight class) and Shinzade Murakami (ranked 250 p4p, 244 weight class). Shinzade Murakami is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bernier
vs
Murakami

160 cm
26
150
4 - 1 - 0

188 cm
28
155
8 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Guy Bernier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Shinzade Murakami!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Sam Margolis and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bernier dives in and grabs Murakami's left leg, looking for a takedown. Murakami pushes down on Bernier's head and hops out.
Murakami tries to close the distance and clinch but Bernier swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Murakami is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bernier shoots in but no luck this time.

Murakami clinches up against the cage.
Bernier prevents a body shot from Murakami.
Murakami swings wildly with an uppercut but Bernier uses good head movement to avoid it.
Murakami doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bernier misses with a knee to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murakami working aggressively here.
Murakami softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Murakami lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bernier backwards.
Murakami tries a body shot but Bernier blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murakami scores with a shoulder strike.
Bernier prevents a body shot from Murakami.
Bernier prevents a body shot from Murakami.
Nice body punch from Murakami - that landed with a thud.

Bernier pulls guard successfully.
Bernier 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.
Bernier might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Murakami wants to get up but he can't break Bernier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bernier definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

Bernier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Murakami can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bernier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Murakami would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bernier is looking for a triangle but Murakami pushes his legs off easily.
Murakami is looking to stand up but Bernier won't let him.

Bernier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Murakami wants to get up but he can't break Bernier's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

Bernier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Murakami defends well.

Bernier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Bernier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Murakami gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bernier has a closed guard, preventing Murakami from standing up.
Murakami really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bernier. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Murakami is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Murakami gets to his feet - Bernier follows without any prompting.
Bernier gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Murakami.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bernier shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Murakami defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guy Bernier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Murakami gets caught napping as Bernier dives in and scores a takedown. Murakami manages to retain guard.
Bernier is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bernier wants to pass the guard but Murakami is keeping the position.
Murakami is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Guy Bernier dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A left lands for Murakami.
Nice defenses there by Bernier.
Bernier with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Murakami counter with a right hand.
Bernier throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Murakami defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bernier.
Murakami uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Murakami clinches with his opponent.
Murakami goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernier tries to pull guard but Murakami holds him up against the cage and eventually Bernier drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guy Bernier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bernier tries to pull guard but Murakami won't allow it.

Bernier jumps guard and drags Murakami to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bernier looking for a triangle here. Murakami is fighting it but it looks tight! Bernier pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Murakami is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Guy Bernier!
A relieved looking Guy Bernier thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Shinzade Murakami had this to say: 'Congrats to my opponent, but I’ll be back.'.