PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ali Berzina (ranked 3344 p4p, 4005 weight class) and Jon Masvidal (ranked 418 p4p, 477 weight class). Masvidal comes into a darkened arena with his song building. scarface kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Berzina
vs
Masvidal

183 cm
22
170
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
170
4 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ali Berzina!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jon Masvidal!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berzina swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Berzina tries to clinch but Masvidal moves out of range.
Masvidal circles away from the clinch attempt.
Masvidal misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Berzina.
Berzina scores with a shot to the body.
Berzina throws a leg kick which misses Masvidal's front leg but catches the back leg as Masvidal tries to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Berzina. Masvidal does a little dance to reset his feet.
Berzina fails with a takedown attempt.
Berzina closes the distance and lands a one-two.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berzina scores with a nice head shot.
Masvidal tries to clinch up.
Berzina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Berzina's corner calls for a 1-2. Berzina obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A combination from Masvidal does no damage.
Berzina is looking to counter the offense by Masvidal and move into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berzina shoots in for a double leg but Masvidal sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Berzina fails in his attempt to clinch.
Masvidal throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Berzina.
Berzina throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Masvidal clinches up with Berzina and pushes him back against the cage.
Masvidal is struggling to control the position.
Berzina swings wildly with an uppercut but Masvidal uses good head movement to avoid it.
Masvidal misses with some punches.
Berzina jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Masvidal walks away with a smile on his face. Berzina gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ali Berzina. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berzina misses with a body shot.
Masvidal looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Masvidal wants to clinch up but Berzina keeps it at a distance.
Berzina is looking to score with low kicks.

Berzina forces Masvidal back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masvidal prevents Berzina from breaking the clinch.
Berzina prevents a body shot from Masvidal.
Masvidal lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Berzina backwards.
Good body shot from Masvidal.
Masvidal struggles to land a body shot inside as Berzina controls his hands.
Berzina blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Our sources have told us that Berzina has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Masvidal prevents Berzina from breaking the clinch.
Masvidal tries to circle away but Berzina has him pinned against the cage.
Masvidal misses with some punches.
Masvidal working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Berzina manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berzina throws a series of punches but Masvidal moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Berzina.
Berzina changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berzina does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Berzina misses with a jab, cross combination.
Berzina dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Masvidal dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Berzina closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Berzina lands in his opponent's guard.

Masvidal is rocked!
Berzina advances to half guard.
Masvidal is still in real trouble! Can Berzina finish him?
Berzina scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Berzina content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Berzina scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Berzina lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Masvidal quite badly. Masvidal pulls Berzina in close trying to recover. Berzina postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Masvidal on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Masvidal doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ali Berzina!
An out of breath Ali Berzina thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.